Surfski Knowledge Base

Dean Jordaan
11/17/14 #16532

I'm sure most of you have heard the sad news that a surfski paddler lost his life on the weekend during a race in South Africa. Below is a letter written by Colin 'Copper' Simpkins, the secretary general of Canoeing South Africa (yes, kayaking is called canoeing in SA). He was at the race and gives a balanced perspective of the tragedy. You can see the letter referenced from surfski.info on FaceBook, as well as other information.

Regards
Dean

Dear Keith

By now most of you will have heard of the tragedy that unfolded at the Pete Marlin surf ski race on Saturday.

Friend, and Dabulamanzi Canoe Club member, Mark Feather went missing during the course of the race. He has not yet been found, and notwithstanding a miracle, we can only predict the worst.

I was down in East London for the race. I was at the house with Mark and the rest of the Dabulamanzi crew the evening before the race. Behaving like baboons as they usually do.

I spent Saturday afternoon with them while the search efforts were taking place. The sense of shock and helplessness was palpable.

I have been reading the comments on the NSRI website with interest. Many “knee jerk” reactions and criticism of the organisers. Many level headed comments and constructive suggestions for the future. Most just expressing utmost sadness and sympathy for Mark’s family. Some praying for what we would all hope.

There will obviously be significant media hype around the incident.

Before you place any credibility in what will, no doubt, be some sensationalist reporting, let me give you a personal perspective.

I arrived in East London on Thursday morning, and was supposed to drive through to PE to visit some of the development initiatives there. The SW wind was blowing a gale and I had my doubts that the hire car was going to make it out of the car park, never mind to PE. The development coach in PE informed me that there would be no activity in those conditions, so the trip was cancelled.

The next day, the wind switched, and a howling NE blew.

Weather predictions from the beginning of the week were ominous for race day, and the race organisers were preparing for an alternative course inside the harbor. Predictions moderated somewhat during the next couples of days, and paddlers were asked to meet at Orient beach early on Saturday morning, in the hope that the downwind could still take place.

On Saturday morning the wind had dropped significantly, and the swell size was very manageable. There was a prediction that the wind would pick up after ten. The race organizer’s made the call to continue with the downwind, informing paddlers that there was a predicted strengthening of the wind conditions later in the day, and advising those who were not comfortable with the conditions, to reconsider their participation. A number of paddlers opted to withdraw.

All of the recognized safety measures (PFD, leash and cellphone) were strictly enforced, and checked.

The C and D batches started 15 minutes before the A and B batch. Mark had a fantastic start, and was leading the batch for as long as I could see them.

I started with the A and B batch. Once we cleared the lee of the harbor wall, we experienced classic downwind conditions. The swell size was not small but it was by no means extreme. I had no incidents where the nose of my ski went under the water. The wind was blowing hard, but, once again, not extreme.

As a KZN paddler, I always find the temperature of the Cape water to be somewhat disconcerting, and was quietly praying that I would not vacate my seat during the performance.

The finish at Yellowsands was a little challenging if you were a first timer as you had to cut across the wind and ensure that you did not cut the point too finely.

A number of paddlers overshot the finish and either had to paddle back against the wind, or were rescued. Graham Holm found some difficulty turning into the wind, so he continued down the coast, with the wind, until he came to a safe landing spot.

The weather predictions were relatively accurate, as after ten o’clock, the wind picked up significantly, and the swell size increased as well. The reports of 40-60 knot winds and 6 metre swells did not apply to the conditions during the race. My estimate, as someone who lives at the coast and does downwinds every week, was that the wind speed during the race was probably around 18 – 25 knots, and the swell size at around 2 metres. Two paddlers of over 70 years old finished the race.

During the course of the afternoon, while the rescue efforts were being undertaken, the wind and swell size were severe.

What happened to Mark, we may never know. There are so many permutations. Equipment failure (broken rudder cable, broken paddle), whales, sharks, heart attacks, or the fact that he fell off and could not get back on and became hypothermic and exhausted in his efforts. Part of his ski was found more than 20kms past the finish. Those of us who knew Mark appreciated what a strong competitor and competent paddler he was. There were old men and young girls out there. It leads me to believe that something untoward happened.

The first organized ski race (Pirates/Umhlanga) was held in this country in 1957. The Scottburgh to Brighton started the next year.

To my knowledge, in the 57 years of organized ski races in this country, we have never had a fatality. We have one of the most challenging coastlines in the world.

The sport of downwind surf ski paddling, by definition, needs extreme conditions. There is no exhilaration paddling in a 4 knot wind with a six inch swell. Our sport must, therefore be considered an extreme sport.

Race organisers often face the unenviable task of having to make a call on race day. There have been occasions when the wrong call has been made, and we have been lucky not to have had any serious incidents. This was not one of those days. Bryan Slater, chairman of Dabulamanzi, where Mark was a member, made it quite clear at the prizegiving that none of Mark’s club mates, who attended the race, thought that the call was an irresponsible one. He went on to say that the rescue efforts by the NSRI and the local community were mind boggling. The number of local people who launched private planes (without asking for any remuneration), drove vehicles, or walked the coastline for hours on both Saturday and Sunday was astounding.

Ultimately, however, there has been a tragedy, and we need to assess what could have been done to prevent it.

The issue of a compulsory tracking devise for open ocean racing is foremost on the suggestion list. Ironically, the organisers of the PE to East London ski race have already made this call, and the tracking devises had already been ordered or delivered.

Another irony is that I was tasked at the last CSA board meeting to revamp the CSA safety manual, with special reference to surf ski racing.

Another issue is that of compulsory bright coloured clothing, and bright colours being incorporated in the decks of the ski’s.

None of these will, however, bring Mark back to us.

We can just hope and pray that wherever he is, peace has come swiftly.

This is indeed a very very sad day for us all.

Copper

(Ed. Article written after Mark Feather's body was found - DispatchLive - cause of death ruled as drowning)

allipp01
11/18/14 #16533

As a result of last weekend's mishap, Surfski.info has reposted an old article on some surfski sea rescue exercises that they performed.

Surfski Sea Rescue Exercise - Surfski.info - News, Product Reviews and Interviews (ED. this link no longer seems to work)