rylevine

http://wbztv.com/local/4.rescued.after.2.1034863.html

At least the children had PFDs. Maybe PFDs should be made available to borrow for free at local police stations?

Bob

It was excellent -- I'll let others supply details. There were 17 of us!

As for pictures... ummm... I pushed the shutter button and heard an ominous beep. Yup, left the SD card back in the reader in my office. ;-((( So, no pictures. Sorry.

--David.

Great trip. Thanks to David, Peter, Rick and others who provided excellent skills instruction. Would really like to do this more often; maybe in progressively rougher seas and/or during breaks in normal paddling trips.

Bob

I'll be coming up from Salem way after dropping Lorrie of at 8:30 and will have room for 1 boat if some one wants a ride.

Also, paddled out of Manchester today and the outside had 2-3 with the occasional 4' swell. Kinda close together but you get what you get.

Phil

Phil,

My wife is dropping me off before going to Rockport. I may be interested in a ride back to Salem at the end if you have room on your car. Not a problem, though, if you have a passenger already. I'll check with you at the start. Thanks.

Bob

Hoping someone will comment on the appropriateness of this paddle for me. Just joined NSPN a few weeks ago but have been paddling in the area for past 7 years. Reasonable amount of fair weather open water paddling experience, but self-rescue and assisted rescue practice limited to flat water (and, sad to say, not all that much practice there either). Skills mostly self-taught from books. Under meticulously controlled conditions on flat water, successful roll is, uh, let's say "not too uncommon". Bracing OK in theory, but limited experience with real-world use. No towing experience. No surf experience. Kevlar CD Gulfstream. Wetsuit only, no helmet, never-used tow rope, no knife, cheap paddle leash.

I'm looking to improve my rescue skills and comfort level when in less-than-ideal conditions. I plan on attending some Chebacco Lake sessions this summer for flat water work, but felt like this trip might be a good introduction to some open water practice. If I lack the baseline equipment or background skills, however, please let me know. Thanks.

Greg

Greg,

My skills and equipment are similar to yours. We could form a "newbie pod" to work on open ocean bracing, rolls, and perhaps some self- and assisted rescues within highly controlled conditions (away from rocks and surf). At the very least, it also sounds like a nice paddle.

Bob

Meet Sunday at Pebble Beach on Cape Ann for a 10:00 butts-in-boats toward Straitsmouth and the Salvages. Objective -- practice lots of rescues of all kinds and some towing, in water rough and plain, with demonstrations, instruction and just passing it back and forth. There are lots of ledges and rocks out there for those inclined to rougher, and open water for not-so-rough. We can paddle a bit for lunch break on a beach or other interesting place.

Come prepared to get wet. It's at the upper end of dry suit water temps, but some may be fine in wet suits -- you know yourself best. Helmets mandatory (I have a couple of loaners). Bring short and long tow lines, and we'll have some for loan. (If you tow, you should have a line cutter, knife or sea-snips.)

CAM style rules.

Directions to Pebble Beach are in the put-in section of the web site, and here... http://bit.ly/ZZcdG. Park head-in to minimize our footprint.

--David.

David,

I'm interested in attending. Would appreciate borrowing a helmet, if necessary, although I'm content to watch others in the rocks for the time being. Mostly I would like to practice rescues away from rocks and ledges.

Bob

Just a reminder that we'll be at Forest River this Friday. Please see the calendar for details!

Kevin,

I'm planning to attend.

Bob

Some are meeting at 11:00AM Tuck's Point. Destination TBD. Seas and winds look moderate. May be some rain. All are welcome

Gene,

I'll be going. Thanks.

Bob

I don't now where these comments are coming from, when we don't even know whether these paddlers had vhf or not. The might well have gotten help by vhf, we don't know. They might have been versed in rescues but attempts failed. We don't know.

I second all of Florrie's comments, and I must say, that reading this makes me reluctant to paddle at all, or to freely share information about paddling for fear of what might be said about me should I run into some little problems of the water.

"With three or more paddlers on the water in rough conditions sometimes the only way to communicate is via vhf" is a truly scary statement: I second Ed's comments re: communication among paddlers.

I agree with Gene. In terms of cost/benefit, is there a downside to having a VHF radio available?

Bob

FYI: Yesterday Boston Harbor Rescue

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_...ayakers_pl.html

Bob

Kevin,

I'll be able to make it.

Bob

Hi Kevin,

Tentative for Salem Sound or Tinkers from Beverly on Monday. I also have some time constraints. By the way, great practice session on Friday. Thanks.

Bob

Discovery Aurora yellow on white

Hi Kevin,

I will be attending the practice session at 5:30, and will probably be at Forest River Park at 2:30.

I'm not new to nspn, but haven't participated in trips before. We met at the Forest River pool class last July. I have paddled Salem Sound for the past few years, but unsure of the pace since the trip you describe seems more than three hours. Anyway, will see you this afternoon. Thanks.

Bob

Robert Levine

Discovery Aurora Yellow on White.