Another Anti-leash true story

Another anti-leash true story:

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110105/NEWS/110109990/in-dale-moses-own-words-i-

If this guy had looked at his current atlas before he went out, he would have known that the rip eddies out just north of the light house, and the water there is only 5-10ft deep 400yds from shore. he was literally 50ft from being out of the rip, but kept trying to go straight into shore through the rip and got carried out into the channel.

I play in this spot regularly, and right next to shore at the point where the light house is is the fastest water and the biggest waves. 100yds E of shore it's docile because the water is deeper. 50ft NW of the lighthouse it eddies. Know before you go!

any suggestions as to where to pick up "current atlases"?

That seems somewhat goofy to leash your paddle to your PFD. If you end up swimming, you'll either have to hold it to swim or drag it through the water behind you, neither of which will aid you in getting back to or into your yak. His story also illustrates why ankle gaskets and surf booties are more reliable than stocking feet suits or waders. Sounds like he would benefit on a trade-in for a SOT. He could have left out the part about rectal temperature readings, but I'm glad he lived to tell about it.

Alder Creek

We use the Fisheries Canada Current Atlas for Strait of Juan de Fuca, Georgia, & SJ's. That book is a one time purchase, and then the Washburne tables to go with it are an annual purchase. I honestly wouldn't paddle up there with out them. You can get the same info from the web and compile it from different sources to get to the same conclusions, but these two books stay in my chart case on deck, and when you're out for a few days without net access, it's the only way to go! (+weather reports on the VHF)

http://shop.aldercreek.com/Books-Videos/Nautical-Charts-Maps/Current-Atlas-Juan-De-Fuca-C38-i1675.html

I haven't received the 2011 current tables, but these guys have them now:

http://www.shearwaterkayaks.com/shop/chartsnav.html

Also, rips, whirlpools & other hazards as well as ebb & flood direction and max flows are shown on NOAA/CHS nautical charts, but the tables tell you what it's doing at each hour of the day. The only catch is these books are designed for sailing vessels, so they don't show any current bigger than 2.5kts......it just says 2.5kts+ which could be 2.6kts or 15kts. I generally just either avoid the 2.5kt arrows, or plan on using them to get to my destination. Also helps determine when and where the hazards/rips/rough water will show themselves if you know current direction and wind direction. 5kts of current is no biggie if you're traveling the same direction and the wind is as well. 5kts with 10kts of apposing wind is a whole different story. We use these 5kt currents to tour and try to plan our trips so we "ride the conveyor belt" to our destination, have lunch at slack, then ride it back on the change.

That seems somewhat goofy to leash your paddle to your PFD. If you end up swimming, you'll either have to hold it to swim or drag it through the water behind you, neither of which will aid you in getting back to or into your yak. His story also illustrates why ankle gaskets and surf booties are more reliable than stocking feet suits or waders. Sounds like he would benefit on a trade-in for a SOT. He could have left out the part about rectal temperature readings, but I'm glad he lived to tell about it.

really rather than an SOT, he needed to learn more about his area and practice more with the paddle float. the gasket thing was just kinda dumb IMHO. Him getting a SOT would just put off learning what he really needs to know and give him a false sense of security. He didn't try the float until his 3rd attempt, and when he did, he did everything wrong. It's super easy to re-enter with a paddle float IF you have practiced and had another more experienced person educate you on what NOT to do and what to do and why.

The real issue is he lives there, so he felt comfortable and didn't pay attention to the current whizzing him by as he was paddling. Not paying attention is also the issue. You can see the waves breaking off the point from a few miles away, yet he continued towards them. Being complacent I think is the overlying problem.

It's kind of like the old adage that if you have to find your position on a chart, you are already lost. The key is to pay attention the whole time so you never lose your position in the first place

any suggestions as to where to pick up "current atlases"?

Your Eagle Cuda 350 or your Lowrance M56 or M68?
 But those don't work without batteries or knowledge/sense enuf to actually consult them. (come to think of it the printed atlas does not work with out the latter either)