Downwinding safety.

[Off-Shore]

Whilst not nearly as serious as losing a board, in strong winds it is also possible to lose a paddle as I did at 2.27 in this vid. Jumping in the water to swim to get it while leashed up to the board would not have worked. So it is always best to stay on the board and hand paddle to retrieve it. Just another safety tip to add to wearing a leash..

[PonoBill]

Maui is definitely same ocean, same day as far as the buddy system goes. If I see anyone it's just Covesurfer, trying to sneak up and goose me with his paddle. Pretty much the same in Hood River. I don't wait, and I don't expect anyone else to either. Your safety is up to you. Sounds harsh, but it's the right thing to do for experienced adults. For kids and newbs that's different.

Taking responsibility for other people (going in a pack) means some folks won't have much of a plan--it's just how people are. The single constant in safety analysis of all kinds is that people consume safety margin. Add ABS brakes to cars and people drive faster in the rain. If you don't have your own plan for when everything goes to hell, then when it does it's all down to luck--and this video shows how that can go. DJ's backup plan was swimming and ultimately a PFD. It worked.

[pdxmike]

Hi DJ,
Thanks for posting that, very educational.  As you know, I built a similar camera setup and totally understand why you would not want to wear a leash with it but I think I will after watching this.  Obviously, the camera tower acts as a sail that just carries the board away even faster.  I guess you could attach a leash to the front of the board so it does not get tangled up with your camera setup?

Towing a board backwards upwind is pretty much futile, it was painful to watch her losing both boards. I'm glad everyone made it back to shore alive.

Thanks Robert.. Wearing a leash with my camera mount is no problem and has never been.. After taking so long mounting my camera I ran back to my car to ge my leash and booties.. Stood at the car door thinking do I need booties.. No.. and ran off forgetting my leash.. I always have someone help carry my board to the water with my camera rig so I don't have to tip it on its side.. I always carry the back.. (and would have noticed no leash) but this time I took the front.. Being at the front and walking in deep enough for the fin to clear I hopped onto my board from the side and onto my knees for a change.. unlike the way I normally just step on.. I was a few hundred meters/yards off shore when I realised..

Sounds like you're like me.  Routines are important.  Mess with the routine and the problems can just cascade from there.  It applies to everything...

[stoneaxe]

Routines can be important. I think we can all say we're thankful DJ remembered his boardshorts.

Sad thing is I forgot to bring all my leashes a few weeks ago because of a broken routine. Had to go to the closest shop and buy one. I just hope I can still SUP when I need a drool cup. I'll get to experience it for the 1st time every day. I wonder if you forget your skills or if you just think you're an amazing natural....

[covesurfer]

Maui is definitely same ocean, same day as far as the buddy system goes. If I see anyone it's just Covesurfer, trying to sneak up and goose me with his paddle. Pretty much the same in Hood River. I don't wait, and I don't expect anyone else to either. Your safety is up to you. Sounds harsh, but it's the right thing to do for experienced adults. For kids and newbs that's different.

Taking responsibility for other people (going in a pack) means some folks won't have much of a plan--it's just how people are. The single constant in safety analysis of all kinds is that people consume safety margin. Add ABS brakes to cars and people drive faster in the rain. If you don't have your own plan for when everything goes to hell, then when it does it's all down to luck--and this video shows how that can go. DJ's backup plan was swimming and ultimately a PFD. It worked.

Generally agree. But, on days when it's big and gnarly, we have gone in a pack. Kathy, Randy, Art and I have had a handful of runs on Maliko where conditions were hairball: Big swell and wind both, and I don't mean the usual 8 to 12 feet - I'm talking 20+ foot faces and breaking tops, the kind of days where I did not want to even go but somehow committed and ended up having to paddle out. Having done it a few times, even though it all turned out ok, I now avoid those days completely. Not worth the risk or the soiled boardies  On those days, we agreed at the start of the run to stick together. And we actually did, even sitting down and regrouping - which can be riskier than paddling as far as getting dinged on a big day.

On the other hand, Southbay and Kathy and I agreed to stick together crossing the Pailolo last July and again in April this year. Well, we stuck together by loose definition because we all crossed the channel at the same time, but we were all by ourselves on the July crossing and Kathy and SB left me like some old geriatric on the April crossing. At least I had the escort boat nearby!

So, yeah, the buddy thing is kind of half-assed but it can and does work if you really commit. When it's huge, the fear can drive you to stay together. Interesting that the south side, which is probably more dangerous but less threatening than Maliko, especially on a day when it's blowing out towards the channel, NEVER inspires people to stay together. Everybody is having so much fun and nobody waits. But board loss on that side would also mean a really long swim with all those grey tigers and even the whales. Overshooting Makena means 'sayonara'.

[Blue crab]

For those of you have had leashes snap, I am wondering if you can provide more detail on how it happened? Was it the tie down rope to the board, or did the leash itself snap? If the latter, where is the weak point in the leash? Is there any consensus on whether straight or coiled leashes are stronger? A snapped leash seems like such an unacceptable outcome.

[covesurfer]

Velcro on the calf closure let go, leash did not 'break'. Board was gone but I was able to retrieve it. I should have replaced that leash, it was obviously weak.This was a foreseeable failure.

[Off-Shore]

For those of you have had leashes snap, I am wondering if you can provide more detail on how it happened? Was it the tie down rope to the board, or did the leash itself snap? If the latter, where is the weak point in the leash? Is there any consensus on whether straight or coiled leashes are stronger? A snapped leash seems like such an unacceptable outcome.

For me I have seen / experienced
1. The tie down rope breaking (between leash and board). Too flimsy / incorrect tie used
2. The swivel at the leg cuff breaking and so the leash separated from the leg cuff. I think this was weakened by the cuff getting caught in the door of my car.

So for any big downwind day, I inspect not only my leash from board to cuff but also those who I am responsible for and always carry a spare leash in my gear bag. 

I also thing Surf Monkey's two leash system (one to the ankle and one to the waist) is an interesting idea for really big days which I intend to use although getting tangled up in them scares me. I do carry a floating knife in my CamelBak but cutting through a leash while trussed up in 30 knot winds in high seas seems a little ambitious...

[hbsteve]

On the knife idea:  When I raced ocean sailboats, I had a lanyard on my knife to my shorts.  I actually had a grommet put into every pair of shorts for an attachment point.  That way, the knife could be dropped with loosing it.

[Stand Up Pittsburgh]

In cold water safety training they teach you that anything you handle with your hands should be on a lanyard just in case you drop it due to the cold water affecting your motor skills. Main items mention whistle and knife.

[clay]

Wow!  Thanks for posting this, great video and I suspect it will save lives.  Glad to hear you guys made it back safely with your gear.  I really liked the edit, the end had me on an emotional roller coaster and I felt like I was living the experience.

[TN_SUP]

Unfortunately, if you want to look like a pro, don't wear a leash. There should be fine print in all the glamour photos that states  "picture was taken from escort boat".

[baddog]

DJ, Have you thought of trying a deployable kayak sea anchor?  More gear to tangle up with, but it might work???

[supdiscobay]

I applause you for showing the video.  Not wearing a leash in surfing usually just means you go for a short or sometimes long swim.  But on a DW a mile or so off shore, not having the right safety equipment can be deadly.  Glad you and your friend made it and that you found your boards.

I live on the inland waterways in Northern California between Sacramento and San Francisco.  Back in the 90's, when wakeboarding was really taking off, my sons and all their friends would frequently ride without a life jacket.  It was cool to not wear one, and the magazines all had photos with riders not wearing jackets.  We have had some great local boys that were gaining fame.  These kids were really pushing the sport.  One local kid, Corey Kraut, paid the price and changed the attitude of an entire industry.  Here is a link to a short video telling the story.



After this incident, no magazines would accept photos without life jackets, and wearing one became the norm.  That one tragedy change the entire industry.

So thanks for making us all think more about what can happen, when things go horribly wrong and maybe how to be better prepared for it.

[Eagle]

This leash works the best by far for our purposes - not designed specifically for SUP but works a charm -

http://thinkkayak.com/product/765/

The single velco flap can be too easy to detach compared to double flaps in heavy wind and seas.  This one comes with a stainless clip to quickly detach in an emergency or for beach races.