Stand Up Paddle > SUP Safety
Downwinding safety - Rendevous points along route protocols
Off-Shore:
I'd be interested to know what others are doing in downwinders to ensure safety and all paddlers present at planned "rendezvous" points along the way
In our 10km downwind run "The Port Shelter Express" we have 2 Rendevous meeting places along it. The first is behind a small peninsula that juts out into the run and has a small lighthouse on it and we can all gather behind the peninsula out of the wind. The 2nd is when we get to a point parallel to the start of an island before the last technical portion of the run where there is a groundswell coming in from the left to contend with.
When we did this run we set out with 6 of us, and at the first Rendevous point only 5 of us turned up. We waited for 5 minutes and then 2 of us clambered up the rocks to see if we could see him but there was no sign. After 10 minutes a Surfskier who started after us came by and we asked him if he'd seen our friend. He had not. We then attempted to call one of the paddlers relatives who was at the start with us but could not get through. We also did not receive any message or call from the paddler and could not reach his phone.
The wind was too strong for us to paddle back up to the start and with paddlers getting cold we decided to head as quickly as we could to the finish.
Fortunately when we arrived at the end of the run our friend was already on the jetty. He had rightly decided conditions were too wild for him and had headed for the shore shortly after starting. He'd found his phone was dead so could not call us so took a taxi to our ending point to meet us (also the right thing to do). We were all mightily relieved to see him.
After this situation we are reviewing our safety protocols as clearly this could have turned out differently. I'd be interested in hearing what is best practice or what others are doing with regard to Rendevous points, buddy systems, phones, walkie talkies etc.
PonoBill:
The bigger the run, the less well rendezvous works. As you realized, there wasn't much you could do to look for your friend. When it's particularly sketchy we sometimes stay together, but I view downwinding as a solitary sport that you do with friends. I'm slower than all my buddies. It sucks, but there you have it. I won't hang them up except at the end, with the single exception being when Headmount (Bill Boyum) and I agree it's just a good idea to stick together. Even then I feel like the ugly girl on a blind date. Usually I'd just as soon everyone go hard and we'll meet at the end.
laszlo:
I remember that in the early days of downwinders in the Gorge (at least early for me, back in 2010) there was much more attention to staying together, occasional rendezvous points and generally looking out for other paddlers. Since then, as the sport has become much more popular, I have observed a more laissez faire attitude.
People tend to be competitive, and for some paddlers there is more interest in who beats who, with the lowest times, even during a casual run. Hard to do that if you stop to let other people catch up. It's about who is the "fastest". Differences in skill level also make staying together very unlikely. My group of paddling buddies are fairly well matched and not so obsessed with "winning". Whoever is leading on a given run will stop and wait for the others, sometimes several times during a run. If a paddler who is less experienced comes with us someone will definitely stay with them.
supuk:
--- Quote from: PonoBill on January 08, 2017, 07:36:51 PM ---The bigger the run, the less well rendezvous works. As you realized, there wasn't much you could do to look for your friend. When it's particularly sketchy we sometimes stay together, but I view downwinding as a solitary sport that you do with friends. I'm slower than all my buddies. It sucks, but there you have it. I won't hang them up except at the end, with the single exception being when Headmount (Bill Boyum) and I agree it's just a good idea to stick together. Even then I feel like the ugly girl on a blind date. Usually I'd just as soon everyone go hard and we'll meet at the end.
--- End quote ---
for me its the opposite its all about having fun as a group, taking bumps side by side every one hooting and hollering down the drops, ect ect kinda like surfing but were the more people the better. Generally I'm the one having to do the waiting but thats cool its nice to stop and have a quick chat and chill out a second when you off shore in the peace and quiet. We always stay within sight of each other and make sure we all know what is going on especially if there is some one who is struggling a bit and needs a bit of encouragement. Over here in melbourne it doesn't seam quite the same i sense a lot more competitiveness and more every man for them self but its been good to stretch my legs a bit :)
yugi:
Coming from ski mountaineering and fleet sailing trips it’s a reflex to discuss an itinerary and stay grouped. Like SupUk I enjoy long downwinders riding side by side, sometimes enjoying the same wave. It’s fun to be planing and chatting at the same time. It’s extremely easy to manage if the slightly faster rider is willing.
Then, of course, there’s:
- the ego type. Need I say more? They’ll be the way they are. Don’t count on them to be saving you. I sometimes wonder whether I should save them, but invariably do anyway. Favors given are returned but not necessarily by those who you gave them to.
- the type who goes a different way. Usually the “no idea of where they’re heading” kind of paddler. Typical nOOb move but it can be surprising how some decent paddlers haven’t learned to look and master where they are going. Or too lazy to go sidewind. If they aren’t willing to make an effort then I also let them be.
Mostly among our downwind core team we’re pretty chill and enjoy the company. We do long downwinders (20 miles) so it ends up just being more fun to stay together and chat and share the fun along the way. I try to remember to tell new joiners I’ll happily wait for someone in the same line as I am but if they choose to go another line it’s a clear statement they choose to leave the group. I’m not going to get sucked in to going a bad route to take care of someone I’m not responsible for. I do make it clear up front. More than anything it awakens them to pay attention and make an effort. Otherwise they just seem to expect you to be making the effort. People can have weird expectations if you don’t spell things out for them. (lessons learned from mountaineering too)
For the most part our downwinds are not very exposed. One can head to shore and there’s a road and plenty of cafes the whole shoreline. Good mobile coverage everywhere. I’m very comfortable going it alone and often do. Yet in cold waters a mile or 2 out it’s better to be grouped. Shit does happen and can happen fast. We have avoided 2 possible casualties, a lost board and a broken kite line [kiter in our group]. Both in cold waters and beginning to get faint. Lucky to have a partner nearby when needed.
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