Lessons learned - WP 3/23

After battling more health issues, family issues, and challenges keeping me off the water for a while, I was very excited to get the opportunity to get out to Westport on 3/23.  Waves were about 4-5' with an interval of about 5-6 secs.  Now at the end of last year, I would not have hesitated to jump in and not think twice.  I thought the same thing on Saturday which is where the lessons come in.

I need to remember to take things slow first time in the ocean in a season after a long break.  The muscle memory is not there, the brain is in overload with excitement just being out there again and not thinking straight.  After an embarrassing tumble out of the PA when unable to brace properly on the way out, I was frustrated and just took off down the beach with my PA and launched in a calmer spot.  The previous tumble and the walk tired me and I should have rested a min or 5 before trying again.  I failed one more time trying to launch and finally sat and rested.  After a rest, visualizing what I know I should be doing on a launch, I got out there no problem.

Fishing was very slow, but I managed to get one underling and a pic.

Coming in the waves were about the same and I thought hard about my re-entry.  I stowed all my gear, put my rods in the PA and crept up on the surf zone.  I waited and counted sets watching for the pattern and should have paid better attention.  I counted the sets and thought I was ready to stage and pull my mirage drive.  I turned quarter to the waves to watch for the last wave of the set to follow in and realized too late that I mis-counted and was in bad shape.  Before I could turn into the oncoming last wave of the set, I was on the crest trying hard to brace.  I was tossed out and the PA was tossed up...  I lost a hat, a bottle of water, and my pride, but everything else appeared to be ok...until I tried to pull the PA up the beach.

Somewhere in the flight from the PA to the water, I assumed that I pulled my drive up, I even remembered unlocking it with my feet as I was staging....wrong...  Broke a mast and bent the other. 

I am grateful for the lessons without too much cost.  Grateful for learning on my home turf before heading to Hobuck or NorCal.  Grateful for time to practice and build skills as well as hone the basics back into practice.

Got an order in for parts, a new bottle of painkillers, and lots to think about and prepare for in the upcoming season.

I look forward to fishing with many of you this season!  Tight lines my friends!

Man, stories like this make me wonder if I should just pre-order some spare turbo fin rods. 

Glad you made it out without too much loss, and thanks for sharing!

  Waves were about 4-5'' with an interval of about 5-6 secs.

Did you mean feet? Or inches - as you wrote? If inches, you have a right to be embarrassed, but feet? Man, at 5-6 seconds that would be some feat to land your craft upright & dry, unless you airmail it to the beach like Langcod. My hats off to you for trying it. Glad things turned out OK.

Man, stories like this make me wonder if I should just pre-order some spare turbo fin rods. 

Raise your hand if you have Turbos and haven't bent them. (Mine is not up).

Thanks for the correction in units.

Oly I'm glad you're ok man. It could have been much worse if that PA came crashing down on top of you.

Glad it all worked out safely.  If it was truly 5 and 5 perhaps you should have reconsidered launching, especially with a full size Pro Angler.  That is a very short period.  Trust me DAHIK a shot to the head from a loaded kayak is nothing to mess with.

Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing.  Any landing where you can still use the airplane kayak again afterwards is a great landing.

Hey - look on the bright side.  You made a "good" surf landing.  And if your pride was the only body part injured that's not too bad. 

While reading I thought you were going to say you lost your drive!  Bent masts are a pain to deal with, but at least you didn't lose your drive.  Yeah, ~5 foot at ~5 seconds is certainly not something I would attempt with my PA12.  Especially if I hadn't been in the surf in several months. 

Man, stories like this make me wonder if I should just pre-order some spare turbo fin rods. 

Yep, like I've said before, if you've bent your masts at any time it's a really good idea to have spare ones handy.  I always keep at least one spare mast in my truck and a set of standard fins.  Depending on where the mast snaps, you may also need a new sprocket for the drive, so it's a good idea to have a spare one of those handy as well.  Keep the tools you'll need to make the repair in your kit too, such as a pair of vise grips, small allen wrench, and a wrench for the nut on the cables. 

Glad you make it back alright. Yea the waves were close together for sure.

Eric have you ever tried landing backwards? That might help next time.

I had actually thought about coming in backwards when I was quartering to look back to see the next set and will try next time I go out to practice.

Spare parts are a must now.  After losing a pin last year at CBY's, I have kept spare parts in my truck.  Adding to it is a couple more masts, a set of fins, a set of sprockets, and the tools to replace on location.  I broke down and ordered the mirage drive bag to ease the carrying of all the spare parts and tools and to keep my drive safe during transport.

Glad to hear that you made it in with only some minor damage Eric!

-Spot-

I have decided I hate that beach. The waves break on the beach. I plan on always putting In and taking out further down. Glad your ok.

I had considered putting in at the Marina with my 10 year old, would have added ~ 1 mile to the trip each way, but decided against it.  It was much calmer Sunday and I just walked her out past the breakers and put her in a holding pattern til I got out to her.  Too bad there isn't a nice walkway to the small beaches between the groins on the north side of the marina.

I have launched at the marina and worked my way around before, but it is a long trip and if there is a big exchange, the currents around the groins are wicked!  I have caught ling and rockfish from the areas around the marina, but only when the salinity is really high.  Every once in a while I like to launch at the marina and peddle around the marina looking at the boats and the marina sea life up close.

I have launched at the marina and worked my way around before, but it is a long trip and if there is a big exchange, the currents around the groins are wicked!  I have caught ling and rockfish from the areas around the marina, but only when the salinity is really high.  Every once in a while I like to launch at the marina and peddle around the marina looking at the boats and the marina sea life up close.

The surf spot between the main jetty and the 1st groin is called "paraplegic beach" for a reason.  I've broken 2 boards in that stretch.

-Spot-