•
General
Safety
• Kayak
Fishing Check List
• Self Rescue Technique
•
Should I swim for it?
•
A
Lucky Escape
Self
Rescue Technique
Having bought
your kayak, wetsuit and PFD, you'll be keen to get out fishing, but there
is one very important technique you need to practice before paddling out
to sea, the Self Rescue.
Ideally on
a warm day with a calm sea, or a sheltered bay. With another paddler on
hand or a person on shore watching your progress, position your kayak
so that you are just out of your depth and jump into the sea, cold isn't
it!
Swim alongside
your kayak and position yourself at the mid point of the cockpit, place
both hands on the gunwale at shoulder width apart, bring the kayak close
to your chest and allow your feet to float behind you. Pull your upper
body across the gunwale and into the centre of the kayak kicking with
your feet will help. Your belly button should be about centre of the cockpit.
Roll over so that your bottom is in the seat, sit up and swing your legs
back into the footwell.
Check your
surroundings, if it's safe take a breather, if not paddle out of danger
and take a rest.
Unlike a
canoe your are less likely to roll in a Sit-On-Top Kayak, if this does
occur you will need to flip the kayak up the right way. To do this position
yourself in the middle of the kayak, reach over to the opposite side of
the up turned kayak and grab the side, bring your knees up to your chest
and press down on the nearside of the hull, lean backwards and the kayak
will turn back over, you may get a bang on the legs but nothing to worry
about. Time now to use the self rescue technique as described above.
If you do
fall in remember to keep a tight grip on the paddle, this should be leashed
to your kayak and is your safety line. The only time I would advise letting
go of my paddle is in the surf zone (but only if this does not endanger
any other water users), the force of the waves can cause the kayak to
be catapulted back towards your head/face, best to swim in after it. Whilst
on this point, never attempt to return to shore through surf if there
is anyone in the water between you and the beach.
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are not liable for any problems or issues that arise from the use of this
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