| |
|
| |
|
I've been goofing around in the surf with my O.K. Scrambler. I've recently picked up a sit-inside white water kayak, but I'm too aprehensive to bring it into the surf until I learn how to eskimo roll. If anyone knows where I could find some Eskimo Roll classes, or if there is anybody out there willing to give me a lesson, let me know.
Probably the best way to find out if sea kayaking is for you is to go with an outfitter on a day paddle. Many offer trips for raw beginners. Central Coast Kayaks offers the "Tomol Tour for novices, Paddle Sports (805) 899-4925 in Santa Barbara has beginner paddles, Channel Islands Kayak Center has the "Coastline Paddle Experience" others have similar outings that include all rental of a kayak, all the gear you need, and some instruction. See the Outfitters page.
After that you should consider taking an intro class such as Central Coast's Introduction to Paddling to learn more about "strokes, paddling weather, necessary kayaking equipment, personal and group management, launching and rescues."
You can go on to rent kayaks and join in
an SBKA.ORG beginner paddle.
Renting gear allows you to try out different types of boats, such as
sit-on-tops or sit-inside kayaks, and decide what's right for you if
you decide to get your own equipment.
Sit-on or sit-in debate:
*Originally the only kayaks were sit inside. The Eskimos didn't have
roto-molding
plastic technology, only skins and bones....
*But now new kayakers have a bewildering choice of designs.
Many consider
sit-on-top (SOT) kayaks as casual recreational kayaks without the capabilities
to handle adverse conditions, but with the bonus of extra
width and excellent stability, which is of paramount importance to the
casual paddler. The can be cheaper, but often heavier, than sit inside
(SI) kayaks.
Sit-inside (SI) kayaks are often more comfortable for longer paddles,
carry more gear, and handle rougher weather and therefore tend to be
the choice
for touring and expedition kayaking. But the SOT designers are working
on adding more capability to SOTs all the time.
SI kayaks have less initial
stability than the SOT recreational kayaks, yet still have a fair bit
of secondary stability, but more importantly,
have the capabilities to handle more adverse conditions. Initial stability
is the "tippyness" or lack thereof that you first feel when
you sit on or in a kayak. Secondary stability is the self righting force
that
helps a kayak roll back upright when it's leaned farther over by a wave
or the kayaker.
The SI paddler needs to learn to wet-exit a kayak and to get back in
(called a "rescue" or "re-entry"). These skills are
generally aquired in a one-day basic proficiency course plus a little
practice. The
paddler of a sit-inside kayak is protected from cold water, and wind,
which is also a comfort factor. Wind chill can substantially reduce the
temperature
experienced by the kayaker.
The bottom line is most people start out in SOTs because they are easy and less intimidating to use. Many kayakers stay with SOTs and enjoy recreational paddling, caving, and even some open water trips (SOT paddlers have made the Channel Crossing). Others decide that they want the added seaworthiness and speed of a touring SI and go that way. Some get a specialized river type kayak for ocean surfing:
The consensus seems to be to first consider immersion and dangers of hypothermia. According to the Coast Guard, hypothermia at 50 to 60 degrees produces exhaustion or unconsciousness in one to two hours, and the expected survival time is one to six hours. Note that most of us wear type III PFDs that will NOT keep an unconscious person face up, which means that you will likely drown even with the PFD once you loose consciousness. Several kayakers have reported on how quickly (only a few minutes} immersion in cold water (winter So Cal ocean water temps are in the mid 50's) can rob you of strength and judgment.
As to what to wear, a popular choice was a "Farmer John (or Jane)" wetsuit with a paddle jacket top. Avoid cotton as a base layer, which holds water and chills. A surfer's lycra "rash guard" or a Polartec (warmer) base works and can help keep you warm even when wet. Poly pro is also suitable for a base layer. Some paddle jackets are "semi dry" with seals at the neck and wrist. Or you can wear a neoprene jacket as a top but neoprene jackets are restrictive for paddling. Even though they can provide more protection the thicker they are the more resistance and more energy can be wasted fighting the jacket. Don't forget a hat or even a hood in very cold conditions, as a lot of heat is lost from your head.
Sit on top kayakers seem to dress warmer as they are more exposed, likely to get wet, and easier to cool off.. Sit inside kayakers need to make choices balancing safety and comfort. People with little body fat may be more susceptible to hypothermia...
Reasons to dress warmer: Cooler water and air temps,
sit on top kayak, surfing, practicing rolls, going out alone, rougher
water, learner body
type, beginner, safer.
Reasons to dress cooler: Warmer water and air temps, sit inside kayak,
calm waters, in a group, expert.
More:
Randell Washburne in his book The Coastal Kayker’s Manual p 53
says: “ In
warm-weather, cold-water environments, finding a suit of clothes that
provides reasonable immersion protection without cooking you when you
paddle is
an almost impossible task, and a decision has to be made about the acceptable
level of discomfort while paddling versus the degree of risk of capsize,
which might force you to swim. If your brace and roll are very strong,
you may judge the risk to be minimal and dress more for the air than
for the water.
Or, as happened to a few paddlers, one dunking in cold water may convince you to always wear full immersion protection, no matter how hot the weather. As a compromise, you might adjust your clothes toward immersion protection during times of more significant risk, such as exposed crossings.”
Wayne Horodowich suggests: "Practice and perfect your capsize recovery skills so you won't have to spend much time in the water. This will give you more options for what you wear. Your two main goals regarding capsize should be: minimize exposure to the elements and be back in your kayak with kayak being sea worthy again."
Washburne goes on to talk about layering options and risk factors. Even when talking about the colder conditions in the Pacific Northwest, he rejects 1⁄4 inch wet suits, survival suits or mustang suits as too hot and bulky to paddle in. He says, “Many kayakers choose light wet suits as a compromise between paddling and in the water comfort. A 1/8 to 3/16 farmer John (no arms) worn over polypropylene underwear and under pile clothing or a shell provides good weather protection and fairly good immersion protection.”
Derek Hutchinson from England, who paddles
all over the world says, in The Complete Book of Sea Kayaking, “..if
I know I’m going to
get wet, either surfing or demonstrating, I wear a thin, zipperless wet
suit Long John over a long sleeved Hele-Hansen “liffa” shirt.
On the other hand, if I don’t’ see much likelihood of getting
wet and I’m embarking on an extended trip, then I am all for the “old
comfort” outfit (polypro underwear, woolen pullovers, baggy trousers
and a paddling jacket). Of course, he’s an expert paddler.
Most of what’s written is for sit inside kayakers, sit on top kayakers
have different conditions. Their ride tends to be wetter than a person
in a sit inside. The sit inside kayaker is wearing a spray skirt, which
adds an extra torso layer. And the sit on top kayaker has an easier option
to slide off his boat and cool down in the water and then has an easier
time getting back on (but practice in a safe place with a partner first!).
On the other hand, the sit inside kayaker may be less likely to unexpectedly end up in the water, in my experience. Kayakers who plan to spend more time in the water may like the additional buoyancy a wet suit provides. Bottom line for kayakers in our area is you have to make your own informed judgment about what to wear based on conditions, your skills, the nature of your paddle, the possibilities for rescue if you end up in the water, and even your body type. Sit on top kayakers may prefer a farmer John or full wetsuit at all times, with an appropriate top, while many sit inside kayakers make the decision to skip the wet suit on hot days, if conditions are benign and he (or she) has partners he trusts to assist. But if they expect to be rolling, surfing, or facing tough conditions they may decide wear a wet suit, even in summer. Paddling in Alaska or the Pacific Northwest or other colder water regions may choose to wear wet suits (or sealed dry suits) at all times, even in a sit inside kayak.
Wayne Horodowich suggests: You may wish to consider an emergency dry bag with extra clothes when you go out with a group. Pile pants, pile pullover and pile cap (you can loose considerable heat through you head) are light but effective. Because of the size this bag it will probably end up strapped to the back deck. Don't store it in your main hatches because you don't really want to open any hatches when on the water unless it is a day hatch.
In your day bag which is kept behind your seat bring a space blanket for wind protection or a garden size plastic bag that can be made into a paddle vest to keep the wind off of the torso.
Highway 101 to Montecito. Exit Olive Mill Road. Turn
towards the ocean. Olive Mill Road turns into Channel Drive. Drive past
the Biltmore Hotel.
About 1/2 mile past the Biltmore heading up Channel Drive you’ll
see Butterfly Lane. Park on the street and walk down the cement steps.
The surf is unusually small here.
Channel Islands Harbor - Oxnard
Maptech Chart
coming...
Haskell's is in northern Goleta, in between the Sandpiper Golf Course and the new "Bacara Resort & Spa" that is presently under construction. It's easy access to the beach (you follow the road for the Golf Course/Hotel, just off Hollister Ave., and take a left at the small "Beach Access" sign) but part of the road is dirt and quite bumpy. Also, this is a surf entry/exit site, and the water can get rough here.
Take Highway 101 to Santa Barbara. Exit Las Positas Road. Turn towards the ocean. Take Las Positas to Cliff Drive (about 1 mile). Turn right on Cliff Drive. Go about 1/4 mile, turn left into the Brown Pelican Restaurant parking lot. There can be some surf here and underwater rocks to the right as you face the beach. Best to launch to the left of the beach. Great kayaking in both directions.
Take Highway 1 North from San Luis Obispo Take Los Osos exit. Turn left under freeway and head south for approximately one quarter mile on South Bay Boulevard. Turn Right on State Park Road. Follow it around by the bay. Continue past the entrance to Morro Bay State Park. When you see a bunch of boats moored on your left, turn left. This is the "Marina". When you get into the parking lot, turn right and go to the end, where you'll find the public launch ramp. (NOTE: Don't launch from the dock. It's only for the kayak/canoe rental concessionaire. The rest of us have to launch from the beach just to the right.)
CAUTION: Much of the Morro Bay Estuary is very shallow. It's really easy to get stranded, and the bottom is so mucky you can't really "get out and walk." Many of the locals know where the channels are, and many of the out-of-towners try and paddle where they see locals, and end up getting stuck. It's advisable to explore on an incoming tide, so that, if you do end up poling through the mud, the tide will quickly come to your aid, instead of stranding you for hours.
Take Highway 101. Exit Bath Street if you’re heading north, exit Castillo Street if you’re heading south. From Bath Street, take the next two lefts (you’re on Castillo Street heading towards the ocean now.) From Castillo Street exit, turn right, heading towards the ocean. Take a right on Cabrillo Street. Take the next left into Harbor Way. Left to the kiosk then all the way down to the boat launch. Costs to park…up to $5 for a few hours. Another option is to park on Castillo or Cabrillo Streets and haul the kayaks down to the boatlaunch.
About 7 miles north of Santa Barbara on Highway 101 is Refugio State Park. Exit at Refugio Road. $5.00 to park for day use. Excellent kayaking in both directions. Occasional surf in the winter. Good fishing here.
Exit 101 at Spyglass Drive. Go south on Shell Beach Road (the frontage road on the west (ocean) side of the freeway) for about one mile to Vista del Mar Avenue. Turn right and head for the beach. Street parking is available. The best place to put-in is at base of the stairway at the north end of Ocean Avenue/Vista del Mar.
From the San Fernando Valley, take the 101 Fry west to Ventura, off at Telephone Rd. Go left on Telephone (south) to Olivas Park Drive, turn right on Olivas Park Drive. Stay on Olivas Park, and it will cross Harbor Blvd. and turn into Spinnaker Drive. Stay on Spinnaker until it ends and there is a Family beach and a parking lot on the left hand side of Spinnaker.
If you are coming from the 101 freeway and get onto Harbor blvd. going south, turn right onto Schooner Dr. (this is the street before Spinnaker Dr where you turn to get to the NPS and Island Packers). When you get to the end of Schooner make a right turn onto Anchors Way (when you get to the end you can only go right or left) go about 1-2 blocks and you'll see the parking lot on your immediate left, turn here and you'll see the launch ramp.
If you are coming from Olivas Park Dr. then turn right onto Harbor
Blvd (you would not go into the harbor) and the next signal light will
be Schooner
Dr. Turn left here and follow directions as above.
WAHOOOO! Now this is a great place for yak surfing. Channel Islands Harbor
(Hollywood Beach) is pretty good too but this (Mondo's) is more of a
point break. I was in the water by 8 am, the only person there until
a few boarders
arrived at about 8:30.
The waves had smooth forgiving faces. There were steep short waves for some snap turns, a few flips, and 360s but the best part of the day was catching some of those "longboarder" waves. They were steep right at the break then tapered off. I dropped in and shot a line right at the whitewater. Touching the white water with the bow then carving hard away from the roaring water. Since the waves tapered off in front of the white water I was able to roller coaster up and down the face so long as I stayed in the power pocket. I was able to get some 100 + yard rides.
Unbelievable! The sets lost power at about 100 yds from shore and closed out but it was easy to peel over the foam pile. The paddle out from shore was a workout because the waves trip up and become a beach break, walling up immediately, as Bill discovered. We tried a T rescue but the sets were back to back. I tried to tow him out beyond the breakers but wasn't making headway. He decided to swim in. His e-mail to me said it was a SWIM and the worst part was loosing his bootie and now he knows why I write my name on my gear... (I think I saw the bootie on one of the surfers...he only had one on his right foot). Maybe we can get his name next time out and offer to sell him the other one LOL. And yes, my name and phone number is on everything (The real reason...my wife wants to be able to make the claim with the insurance company...that is why she only requires the info written on my PFD).
The day was grand. I will be going back there soon. Before then, we should get some others interested in surf-zone play together for roll practice. Some good beaches where the surf flattens quickly after the break...Venice Beach or the like.Mondo's AKA Fariah Beach can be reached by taking the second State Beaches exit on 101 north of Ventura (the first State Beach Exit going north is Seaward), go under the freeway and then west until just past the second group of houses. Park on the right off the road. A popular spot for board and yak surfers.
Use of VHF RADIO
