missing kayakers - Page 4

FishersDad · 10-20-2007, 09:29 AM

Sad news indeed........

potto · 10-20-2007, 10:07 AM

From my buddy who worked on the Island gave me a more in depth view of what went down.

6 kayaks were being loaded on a truck. Immediately my buddy who is an avid kayak fisherman thought that they were going to move the kayaks to another location because no one in their right mind would be kayaking on a day like today. 20-25 constant winds with gusts up to 40, and swell at 6. He was wrong. These kayakers wanted to travel around the Island which would have been a 20mile round trip? Also I don't believe you can do this legally. Obviously these guys are not experienced. My buddy wished he stopped these guys from going out, by telling them of the dangers. We experienced kayakers need to be pro-active, this accident is only going to make things worse for us. I can bet right now, there are going to be more "rules" on the Island because of this. Who knows maybe shut it down completely.

The 6 people and kayaks were trucked down a road to the only "legal" kayak launch on the Island. The cove is called "Sissy cove". 2 never launched, the other 4 did.

The 2 that didn't launch drove back with the Truck and 2 of the kayaks.
So the other 4 didn't have transportation back. The base isn't far as the crow flies but they do have to travel up a steep road.

Of the 4 kayakers that went out, 2 came back because of the conditions. As the 2 were back in shore they watched the other 2 have trouble out on the water. They watched 1 of the kayakers fall out of his kayak and get back in, so they grabbed the aluminum boat and used the oars to get out there to help. But that didn't work. They jumped ship and swam back to shore. Later the boat washed to shore.

Then the 2 went back to base. Since there was no truck, they walked. And instead of getting help, they first changed clothes.
Finally they went for help, by this time hours went by. A navy boat was nearby to help with the search and a couple of helicopters helped as well.

This screw-up, is going to make things even harder on my buddy who fishes there.

Judges 19:30 "consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds."

GDmike · 10-20-2007, 10:17 AM

The ocean is very dangerous, you must respect it! to bad these two had to find out the hard way. Hopefully they somehow made it to shore, but unlikely.

Exudedude · 10-20-2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by potto

worse for us. I can bet right now, there are going to be more "rules" on the Island because of this. Who knows maybe shut it down completely.

The 6 people and kayaks were trucked down a road to the only "legal" kayak launch on the Island. The cove is called "Sissy cove". 2 never launched, the other 4 did.

The 2 that didn't launch drove back with the Truck and 2 of the kayaks.
So the other 4 didn't have transportation back. The base isn't far as the crow flies but they do have to travel up a steep road.

Of the 4 kayakers that went out, 2 came back because of the conditions. As the 2 were back in shore they watched the other 2 have trouble out on the water. They watched 1 of the kayakers fall out of his kayak and get back in, so they grabbed the aluminum boat and used the oars to get out there to help. But that didn't work. They jumped ship and swam back to shore. Later the boat washed to shore.

Then the 2 went back to base. Since there was no truck, they walked. And instead of getting help, they first changed clothes.
Finally they went for help, by this time hours went by. A navy boat was nearby to help with the search and a couple of helicopters helped as well.

This screw-up, is going to make things even harder on my buddy who fishes there.

Judges 19:30 "consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds."

What would be wrong in making more rules so this does not happen again.. what's more important fishing freedom or a couple of lives....My reply here is not a personal attack to you but your post sounds like the loss of fishing rights is more important than the tragedy that has happened..

All persons who were involved in this should be held accountable, especially the 2 who made it back to shore and did not rush in to report the other 2's peril. In my opinion they should be prosecuted.

potto · 10-20-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exudedude

What would be wrong in making more rules so this does not happen again..

There is error in your logic. Just having more rules will not prevent this from happening again. Rules are only good for those who keep it. If the 6 had kept the rules, none of this would have happened.

Exudedude · 10-20-2007, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by potto

There is error in your logic. Just having more rules will not prevent this from happening again. Rules are only good for those who keep it. If the 6 had kept the rules, none of this would have happened.

No error in my logic, just responding to what you posted, maybe go back and re-read it. I do not know if the yaks were military property or personally owned... but maybe the only new rule is needed is to put the yaks under lock and key on days like this if they are military property or a shore patrol if they are personal property. It's sorta like a rolling stop everyone does it until the cops are around.

**Carnivore** · 10-20-2007, 08:50 PM

We have more then enough rules and laws that are made solely to over come humans lack of common sense. You can get a ticket now for not having a PFD on in a kayak or personal water craft so little good it does if they don't want to use them.

IslandFox · 10-21-2007, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carnivore

You can get a ticket now for not having a PFD on in a kayak.

?? News to me..we've only needed to have them on deck. Racing yaks and outriggers dont even need to have one onboard.
I just about always wear mine. And am shocked to always see the rental yakkers not wearing theirs...and that it is not an insurance requirement for the rental shops.

And again...will reiterate..that WIND is a kayakers worst enemy on the water. In the conidtions they were in it is almost impossible to stay on the yak.

potto · 10-21-2007, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exudedude

.. but maybe the only new rule is needed is to put the yaks under lock and key on days like this

You error because you think more rules will prevent accidents. Rules are only good for those who keep them. Just having the kayaks under lock and key won't prevent this from happening again, but somehow in your infinite wisdom you think it will. Sorry to hear you have a mental block and think more government will solve the problem. Bigger government will only makes things worse.

Exudedude · 10-21-2007, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by potto

You error because you think more rules will prevent accidents. Rules are only good for those who keep them. Just having the kayaks under lock and key won't prevent this from happening again, but somehow in your infinite wisdom you think it will. Sorry to hear you have a mental block and think more government will solve the problem. Bigger government will only makes things worse.

Dude you just must be paranoid of "Big Brother"..these rules work for the rest of the country and island nations like The Bahamas etc...why should Cali be any different? And I'm not just saying add rules, just add afew people to educate and enforce what rules there are so to help out the ignorant, so they don't earn their "Darwin Award" (death by stupidity award)