Someone Drifting towards swell on Sunday

[andymc4610]

This guys been in the water a while, looks like he's making good progress. hope he does not get to cold. kinda helpless watching from the computer.

[SWinder]

did you call rescue?

[andymc4610]

[ericandholly]

There is a water rescue, actually. Call HRCSD and a deputy will come out on a boat or ski with a sled. He helps many kiters, windsurfers, and now SUP'ers every season.

Eric

[sissybar]

DO NOT expect Hood River Rescue to respond to anything they may, might, or will deem outside of their jurisdiction, e.g. your car is parked at The Hatchery, Cheap, Swell City, etc.

Better yet, DO NOT expect any rescue to come at all except from fellow sailors.

Seriously.

[andymc4610]

From what I could see there were kites around him for a short bit but wind was dying fast and they landed at the hatch. I don't think anyone could tow at that low wind threshold unless they were on big gear (WS or Kite). A WS could ditch there rig and paddle but a kiter on a board with no floatation just the kite might be pretty slow swim. Of course this is all speculation from gleeming off an internet cam.

[isobans]

My namesake will have more to add, but here are a few pointers that he and I always apply:

When an equipment problem or adverse sailing conditions make it impossible for you to return to shore, a self rescue allows you to paddle back to safety. Remember to ALWAYS stay with your board. Also, ONLY attempt a self rescue when you're sure you can paddle. If the wind is blowing too hard, leave the sail attached to the board and use the distress signal to let people know you need help. A fully rigged windsurfer is far easier to spot in the water. Derig your sail. Sit on your board and face the rig with your feet in the water. Make sure you handle only one loose piece at a time while leaving other pieces attached to the board Loosen the downhaul completely to separate the rig from the board, keeping the mast extension attached to the board The downhaul should remain with the mast extension. Loosen the outhaul, then the inhaul, freeing the boom from the rig. Put the boom on the board, with the mast extension inside it Without touching the battens, pull the mast out of the sail. Hold on to the tack of the sail and place the mast so it sits parallel with the bottom batten, then roll the sail tightly around the mast When you're done rolling up the sail, put the boom on top of this “sausage” and tie the uphaul around the mast, boom and sail. Next, go to the clew and use the outhaul to fasten the back end of the boom around the sail and mast Use the downhaul to secure the mast extension around the back of the sail and boom. You can also attach it to the footstraps, if you have any Place everything on top of your board with the boom lying on the deck and the rig across the board to give it stability. Kneel on the board and start swinging the rig along the centerline of the board. Eventually you will get on top of the rig, with your knees inside the wide point of the boom You're ready to paddle back. Lean forward so your chest is on your thighs, rest your head on the rig, dig deeply in the water and paddle. Or you can lie on top of the rig
These are known as retrospective analyses of actuarial data. The idea is that hindsight can be turned into foresight. One or more of these factors were common in case histories:
Failure to recognize a potential environmental threat; unfamiliar with area for activity or characteristics of weather.Equipment failure; inspections and replacement neglected. Too ambitious an undertaking for current skill proficiency. Solo activity; itinerary not known to others. Hypothermia (cooling of the body and brain) owing to improper clothing. Lack of rest (fatigue); poor physical conditioning. Thirst (hypohydration during salt water activities).
There are some things you should know before getting out on the water. Run through this list:
How am I doing? Had a long, exhausting week? Been exercising and stretching? Had a good long drink of water? What part of my equipment is suspect? What do I tend to break? Determine where you would end up if you are left to drift. Stay upwind of the launch site or know alternate landing sites. Weather report says what? Anything hairy on the horizon? Tide table says what? What is propelling me when the apparent wind drops? Local conditions. Where's that shipping lane? Where's that rip current? Where's that fin eating rip rap? Where's that 3 cm deep reef? Check with several locals. Where's my buddy?
Once out, take breaks to rest and refresh. Go in to assess the situation from shore if storm waves, barges, or overpowering gusts are beginning to appear. Don't sail to exhaustion; always reserve the strength for a self-rescue.
Decades of actuarial data indicate that people wearing these are more likely to survive and be rescued following boating accidents. Coast Guard and water safety agencies consider the issue to be similar to that of seat belt use by car occupants and helmet use by motorcycle riders. Certified and maintained safety devices work. The net talk concerning convenience and freedom of lifestyle choices is often tangential to that fact.
Coast Guard officials recommend a Type I PFD for high speed water sports and/or turbulent waters. US Coast Guard certification appears on a tag sewed to the PFD. State laws requiring windsurfers to wear PFDs usually specify that the devices must be certified in accord with federal performance requirements.
Because Type I PFDs are so bulky, most windsurfers who wear approved PFDs wear Type III. A Type III PFD will provide at least 15 lbs of buoyancy, enough to maintain the wearer in a vertical or slightly reclined position at the surface of calm water. Passively buoyed by a Type III PFD, you may or may not be face up, so it is best to be semiconscious following your encounter with the mast. There are several models of Type III PFDs that are appropriate for windsurfers; widely available are those for waterskiiers and kayakers, who also need freedom of movement in the arms.
There are also PFDs for windsurfers that are not tested or certified by safety agencies. Like the certified PFDs, they provide buoyancy during waterstarting, insulation of body heat, and protection during slams. They differ in that they are usually less bulky (providing less flotation) and are cut to allow unencumbered arm and shoulder movement. They may include features such as:
Pockets for keys, spare line, or small tools. A nice feature. Be careful about what you might fall on. Pockets for packets of lead shot. These are used rarely by professional racers who know how to leverage 2-5 kg of additional upper body weight. Not recommended. Always check your position of passive buoyancy if you do put some of these anchors in your PFD. A loop to place over your harness hook to prevent the PFD from annoyingly riding up your body in the water. There is a tradeoff here. In rare emergencies it is vital to have the PFD pushing under your chin. Blue, green and black panels to coordinate with the colors of your wetsuit and rig. Not recommended--you want to be seen. Day-glo yellow is definitely a fast color. Pockets to insert sheets of closed cell foam to provide more flotation. Make sure that the foam is distributed so that the buoyancy does not put you face down. Try it out. As with other safety considerations, whether and what you carry requires consideration of sailing habits. Given the broad goal of soon returning to land, you may want to make repairs or replacements, you may want to be detected, and you may want to be towed. Here are some common ideas about what to carry in a belt pack, PFD, or harness pocket. If you put any of this stuff on the rig--mast protector pocket, for example--consider that it might be gone when you make it back to your board. About 10 meters of 8-10 mm Nylon cord. Strong and stretchy for tow line use. About 1 meter of 3-5 mm rigging line. Should fit pulleys, masthead, and boomhead slots. Also used for tying repairs. A fin screw driver that can also be used to dig out knots. A knife. As flat as possible, perhaps with screwdriver accessory. A spare fin. Perhaps cut down and shaped from one with a damaged tip. Whistle, flares, mirror or submersible strobe light. Check marine supply outlets. Helmet. Posts indicate that a helmet may be especially warranted in crowded rigging areas and when attempting high speed or aerial maneuvers.

[SlightlySalty]

Wow! That's a lot to consider.
How about just kick your legs and paddle your arms until you get there. It's only a river and the shore is not far away. Pick a side and go.

[masterblaster]

in that sailers situation (no wind,strong current,) i would look for the closest shore. watch for barges. take your time. pay attention to your BREATHING. do not panic. do some kicks while next to your board and make a little headway at a time. stop and rest when you need to. practice this.

[WMP]

.