Here's a similar story which I wrote about on another forum in February of this year.
I met up with Chris (aka sauerkraut) at 10:30 am as planned on Sunday. He was ther when I arrived. He had a hobie island adventure. I have only seen it on youtube although I own a hobie adventure. The difference is he has amas for stability, as well as a bigger sail. I have no amas and the smaller sail. Normally, it's fine but on days like today when the wind was really gusting, its quite dangerous. Bear in mind only a month or so ago, I made the trip solo.
My friends warned me to not go solo, and Elgeebee, a good friend, recommended I speak with Chris so I not have to go alone. We set out before 11am. At first it was fine, every time the wind would gust up I release sail and slowed the boat in time. But somewhere around the grillage, a gust came suddently and tipped the kayak before I had a chance to release the sail. In the water I went. It was cold. Very cold. Chris was near, but his yak although much faster turns slower. While he attempted to reposition, I attempted several times to right the yak. But it was full of water and had lots of gear including a cooler, fishing rods, lines, etc. By the time he arrived I had managed to right the yak. But was exhausted already.
Next step was to get back in the yak and out of the water. Without the amas, my 16' long hobie adventure is quite slim compared to other yaks, which means speed, but less stability. Had not Chris been able to get on the other side of the yak and offer his hand so I could inch my way out of the water, it would have been very difficult for me. I slowly climbed out of the water, inch by inch.
What also hindered my climbing back into the yak was all the lines I was tied up and tangled around me, they made it difficult. I swallowed a mouth full of water in the rough waves. That's how people drown. Eventually with Chris's aide I was able to take off my pfd just to climb back in the seat, and then untangle everything and put the pfd back on. So now we decided to shuck the trip and head back, but the tide was really ripping.
Even though we both pedaled and he had his sail out a bit, it seemed we were losing ground. Our goal was the lighthouse. He kept on saying keep paddling. When we finally got there, he opted to head back to the truck, and I headed to the shore.
Once there, I started checking for everything, and getting everything bakc i order. ONe thing I was concerned about is that I had only pulled one rod back in the rod holder, the other rod was dragging by a flimsy leash. I thought the pressure of us heading back to shore and dragging the rod might break the leash but we opted to press on and not stop.
Once we got close to the beach and out of the tides, I got to shore. At the shore, I dragged the yak up on the sand, and drank some much needed water. It was then I discovered the fishing lure had hooked both my pants and life jacket. I tried to pull the hooks out but it was no good. I was so cold my hands didn't function well anyway. I finally talked to a dutch couple and they had a knife I was able to cut the damn hooks out of my pants and pfd. It was then I got the shakes and started to tremble viciously from the cold.
I then called Chris. I thought he said he was bringing his boat back to the shore and coming back with the cart so I could walk it back. But I misheard him, so decided to peddle back. I didn't really want to get back in the water. But had no choice. At this point, everything worked well, and the boat was much more stable since I wasn't sailing but under peddle power. Crossing the grillage was rough the tide was ripping in all different directions. I made it back to Ft. Moultrie, and Chris met me at the beach and was kind enough to walk the yak back the last little distance to the truck.
He decided to go out for a spin after all this. I went home.
What I decided after the adventure.
No more winter trips in the ocean solo, ever. Lewis, Marian and Darrell are all right, the ocean is dangerous, take enough chances and eventually you will lose.
I'm getting the amas for stability. I spoke with Dave at time out sports and he said he'd order them for me. I tried to pick them up today, but he's off on sunday's and will didn't know anything about the order.
I'm probably not going back in the ocean until May or June.
No more solo sailing trips in rough dangerous water in winter.
The Adventure Island kayak is awesome, I want one. LOL
And this is the outcome:
I paid 180.00 for the sidekick stabilizer's (inflatable amas).
I love them. I have been out many times, with and without the sail, and haven't gone in the drink since. I also, wrote off sailing in the coldest months of the winter. Think October to around April, since the water is too cold if you fall in. That's my story of learning for all to read, learn and enjoy!!
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