A nice clear demonstration of the re-entry and roll self rescue from Keith Wikle of the Go Kayak Now website. If practiced and perfected, this method of self rescue is arguably the fastest and ‘cleanest’.
From Keith’s Vimeo Site:
Demonstration of a quick re-enter and roll rescue from a Sea Kayak. The candidate wet-exits a sea kayak, re-enters and then rolls it back up full of water. The re-enter and roll is an excellent skill to possess when sea kayaking far from shore. There is no need for a paddle float, or any other equipment than what the kayaker already has in hand. The key is not to lose contact with the boat, or the paddle at any point. The paddler enters the kayak from the side, then slips in, and fully capsizes again, and then rolls up. Note the supportive sculling strokes after the initial roll for stability.
Find out more at:
www.gokayaknow.com
I learned a slightly different reentry and roll technique for an ocean cockpit, and now I use it for all kinds of cockpits. It works like this: Swim under the cockpit so that your head is under the seat. Face stern. Grab the sides of the cockpit (one of your hands will be holding the paddle) and do an underwater somersault into the boat. Then roll up.
Question from a beginner….why would the paddler have exited the boat instead of performing an Eskimo roll – assuming he could perform one? Would seem to be an easier technique to perform.
Regards
Colin
There are a number of reasons Colin. Even a paddler with a very reliable roll gets caught off guard sometimes. I hadn’t had to wet exit a kayak for 18+ years, always being able to roll up in a range of conditions. That was until last Summer when playing in a tide race I capsized and after 3 attempts to roll were thwarted by the waves coming from different directions I ran out of breath.
Another reason may be to land in rough conditions on a shoreline, exit the boat (tied on with a towline) and swim in to shore then pull in the boat. The launch is the reverse – push out the boat, swim after and then self rescue.
A third option may be to repair damage to the hull of a kayak when afloat – something that can and has happened. Or perhaps a paddle snaps during the roll – again this has happened to me out surfing.
Having a good roll is great thing to aspire to, however it cannot be completely relied on so self rescues are a superb thing to practice.
Hope that helps? Cheers, Duncan