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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>Today we had a well
attended practice session in the Pond at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Channel Islands</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Harbor.</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And I expect that everyone who got
involved learned a lesson or two. Fortunately, since conditions were
benign, the price tags for our lessons did not include too much of a risk
factor.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>My lessons involved
a bit of complacency.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Most of the
Old Farts that I paddle with are frequently flopping about in the water,
practicing a variety of braces and rolls.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>So today when I saw one of them on his side, I thought he was
practicing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I even commented that
he was taking his bracing practice to a bit of an extreme because he was doing
it in the area of the Pond we call the Crazy Water where tricky wave
activity converges from multiple directions.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>The two of us
spectators actually expected our friend to roll up at any second.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What we didn’t realize is that his roll
had failed and he was actually using his paddle to hold himself up by poling off
the bottom.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When the next wave hit
he went under.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>Still we expected
him to roll up.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were surprised
when he did a wet exit.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We had
become so accustomed to his rolling ability that it had not occurred to us he
was having a problem.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>After he popped his
spray skirt, I figured he would walk his boat to shore since he was in shallow
water.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But he didn’t,
instead he held onto his boat and paddle and stayed in the crazy water with
waves converging at random intervals.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>It was then that it
finally occurred to me that he might need an assist.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It also occurred to me that the crazy
water could complicate things.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I
padded over to join my friend and found that he did want help.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The current was so strong that he
couldn’t make his way to shore, and he was already starting to feel cold.
</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>For a moment I
considered towing him out of the crazy water.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But the way the waves were breaking
worried me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Trying to tow someone
through surf can be difficult.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>With
the added drag of a swimmer there is a good chance of getting stalled in the
surf zone and then getting surfed backwards onto the victim and his boat.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The tow rope can even create an
entanglement risk.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>The solution we
chose was to raft up to assist him back into his boat as quickly as
possible.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This was another occasion
where all our practice sessions paid off.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>My friend handed me his paddle and then launched himself out of the water
and into his cockpit very quickly.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>A moment later he had secured his spray skirt and the two of us were
paddling to calmer water. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>My lessons
learned:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT
size=3>1)</FONT><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT size=3>Even advanced paddlers sometimes get into
trouble in the surf zone.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If
someone appears to be stretching his limits, don’t assume that it’s
intentional.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Be ready to help if
you can.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT
size=3>2)</FONT><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT size=3>There is no such thing as too much
practice.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’ve learned something
every time I’ve practiced with my friends.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>I really want to
thank everyone who participated in today’s practice session.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Not only were there several valuable
learning experiences, you guys made it lots of fun.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>Patrick
Martin</FONT></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>