Rescue Breakdown | Sea Cave Extraction with Paige & Marcos
We recently attended the 2024 Freshwater Paddlers Symposium that’s based in the small and “Funincorporated” town of Cornucopia, WI. During the long weekend event, Saturday turned out to be the day to get out and experience some rough water paddling scenarios along the sea caves, cliffs, and arches.
extraction rescue
1 Rescuer — 1 Swimmer
When the cave or the slot is not too large or deep, which is to say the paddler needing a rescue has taken a swim relatively close to safer open water, then they can be extracted by a solo rescuer by way of a simple toggle tow.
Here's how it would go down.
Step 1:
Rescuer either paddles forward or reverse into the cave or tock garden slot, to present their bow or stern toggle to the swimmer.
The swimmer will have moved towards the bow of their boat, as the front deck of the kayak is taller and thus breaking waves will not flood the cockpit quite as easily.
Holding on to their bow toggle orients their sea kayak for an assisted rescue right off the bat.
Step 2:
The swimmer will hold their bow toggle in one hand, and whichever toggle is presented to them from the rescuers boat with their other hand.
Paddle management is key. Don't lose your paddle, and don't bother wasting time trying to stow it on your front deck.
It's surprising how much you can accomplish performing rescues while holding on to your paddle. All you need is that thumb and pointer finger!
Step 3:
Rescuer will now paddle back out of the cave, extracting the swimmer and their boat using this toggle tow/contact tow.
While it can be more challenging to get the hang of reversing into this rescue, it is ultimately easier for the rescue paddler to tow the swimmer and their boat back out to safety before finishing the rescue.
Step 4:
Once the swimmer and their boat has been extracted and you are now in a safer place to finish this rescue, then the standard T rescue any variation of your choosing can be performed depending on the situation.
As a side note, if there is wind that will continue to blow your rescue back into the cliffs or caves or rock garden, then another paddler can approach and clip their tow line to the stern of the rescuer's boat, and act as a simple "anchor tow". You don't necessarily need to pull them further offshore, you are just acting as a sea anchor so that they don't get blown back into the danger zone while finishing the rescue.
Assisted Extraction Rescue
2 Rescuers — 1 Swimmer
If the paddler needing rescued is too far into a cave or rock garden features, or is situation calls for a faster, more powerful and expedient extraction, then it will involve two rescue paddlers.
Here's how it would go down.
Step 1: Rescuer #2 clips their tow line to the stern deck line of rescuer #1. (Remember, gate up and clip to only one line)
Step 2: Rescuer #1 will now paddle into the sea cave /rock garden to make contact with the swimmer and initiate the T rescue or a variation of it immediately. They are sent in on the end of the tow line by rescuer #2, who stay out in the safe zone.
Step 3: As soon as rescuer #1 initiates contact and begins performing the rescue, rescuer #2 will begin towing rescuer #1 and the swimmer back out to safety. With practice, good timing and tow line management, rescuer number 2 can even get themselves spun around 180° so that they are paddling forward in order to extract rescuer #1 and the swimmer. It's important to remember if you do this, that you need to continuously check your 6 in order to keep tabs on the rescuer and swimmer, to make sure that they are doing fine as you extract them from the sea cave or rock garden.
Step 4: Once rescuer #2 has sufficiently extracted rescuer #1 and the swimmer to a safer zone, they can continue to act as an anchor tow while the rescue is being completed, to prevent them from drifting back into the danger zone.
What’s it like?
Marcos ZGar was a symposium participant and very keen to try the rescue as both the swimmer and rescuer for the first time. We caught up with him after the event and he had a few things to share from his experiences with the scenarios.
Performing the Rescue:
“I now know how much back sweep is required to pull back. I was way too gentle with the back sweep. I should have trusted the assisted kayaker a bit more to hold on and just give it more of a pull.”
“I was surprised by the unbalance created when releasing the assisted kayak. Paige had warned me, and there was no exaggeration. A low brace needs to be prepared just in case.”
Being Rescued:
“I found it easier to climb onto the stern of my kayak for the scramble. The stern is at an angle and basically at water level which reduced the amount of energy required to hop on the stern.”
“I was impressed how solid my kayak was when being held by Paige. A rather large wave took a swipe at us, and I just realized there was water flooding the cockpit but it did not impact my stability.”
“The speed at which Paige emptied my kayak and flipped it over so fast.”
The approached down from the rolling venue Siskowit Lake. From here you can almost see the launch beach at the symposium, Spirit Point and one of the Apostle Islands in the distance. Photo: Rose Rivard
About the Author:
Paige May
@wilderness.effects28
Paige is an ACA L5 open water coastal sea kayak instructor. He guided for 9 years in the apostle islands, 8 of which were for Living Adventure Inc.
Paige also paddles whitewater, and does as many trips to the west coast as possible. He has gone mostly the PNW for the incredible surf, rock garden and tiderace paddling opportunities.