Storm Rescue

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Key Points

............In stormy seas, a paddle placed as a bridge across two kayaks could slip out of position and cause the rescuer to capsize, so it is more secure if the rescuer pulls alongside so that the two kayaks touch. Then, extending his or her paddle farther across both kayaks, the rescuer reaches across the victim's kayak to grasp the far gunwale. Once the kayaks are securely held together, the rescuer can extend his or her paddle farther across the victim's kayak to reach the opposite side. Thus the paddle is across the foredeck of the rescuer's kayak and cantilevered beyond the opposite side of the victim's kayak. Then the victim can chin up on the outboard side of the catamaran formed by the two kayaks. As the victim rolls up, the rescuer allows the victim's kayak to rotate under the paddle bridge.

In the storm rescue, the victim can help keep the kayaks together in rough seas by chinning up on the rescuer's extended paddle from the outside.

............An advantage of this rescue is that the victim helps keep the kayaks together as he or she rolls up. A disadvantage is that the kayaks bump together as the capsized one is righted, which might cause hull damage to the kayaks or minor injury to either kayaker. In an emergency, this risk is insignificant, but care should be exercised in practice.
............This rescue should only be used with strong paddles, because there is greater bending load on the cantilevered paddle than there is in a paddle bridge, which supports the paddle at each end. In practicing this maneuver, the rescuer should relax pressure on the paddle at the first sign of excessive bending.