Safety Gear Is Like AMEX..Don't Leave Home without ALL OF IT!

[Jimm H]

Good of you to post
GBF- "Immediately, I was in the water trying to get to her as fast as I could. I'm a strong swimmer and after I hit the water I saw her."

Stay in your kayak. Rescue should not involve entering the water unless necessary. There's a lot of "strong swimmers" out there that think they are better than the conditions. And, being a strong swimmer does not mean you are adept at rescue.

In order:
Reach (like with your arm or an object)
Row (In a boat go assist a person farther off)
Throw (a flotation devise)
Go (swim).

Always wear your PFD.

Remain Calm (No offense intended, but it sounds like your wife wasn't the only one who panicked)

Drop a $100 on a JIS7 submersible marine radio with a clip and wrist strap, and retain it to your pfd with both. (I've seen a guy loose his clipped-on radio when he flopped in the drink.)

Thanks again for telling it straight up.

[Kayak Rookie]

Kind of late to the party on this one but, when I first thought about kayaking I found that SW had classes out on the strand on the bay side. They cover a lot of safety concerns and you get to dump you kayak and get back in. Heck we even practiced switching places in a double.

They covered attempting to get into your yak. If you dump, the simple thing to do is place your kayak on your side facing in to the wind if it squirts away from you the wind will push it back... versus you trying to catch up to it.

Loose a paddle you just turned your yak in to a surf board, on your belly and start paddling with your arms....and more. Safety was always stressed. You would be surprised how may people have no idea how to get back in to their kayak.....Classes are cheap you get to paddle all around the bay, build up some indurance, and figure out if you like it or not. After class I would sit over on the ocean side and watch the kids trying to learn how to surf.... one new thing at a time.

Hope this helps.