ORC Safety Concerns/Issues

RE: relief zipper closed tight and checked before launch, then never used.

Took a huli one day at Cape Kiwanda with the relief zipper not "set" and while I got a little wet, it was nothing like this.  This time I was soaked.

It's been over a year since I've practiced self rescue.  Need to remedy that.

What about making folks show they can self rescue before they can participate in the ORC in the future?  I don't like heavy handed rules, but we already require immersion gear and safety flags, which are not state regulations, and I can foresee the possibility that the Coast Guard could object to the permits in the future if such problems become common during the tournament.  This could be a way to cut that off at the pass.

It could be as simple as finding a spot that is more or less out of the way in the harbor with >6' depths.  With someone official watching, jump off, climb back on, they check your name off the list, and away you go.  Yeah, it's nothing like doing that in the wind/swells outside the harbor, and it doesn't necessarily involve having to flip your boat back upright, but it at least shows that you are capable of doing it under controlled, nearly ideal conditions.  If you can't even do that the argument can be made that you're not up for leaving the harbor.

RE: relief zipper closed tight and checked before launch, then never used.

Took a huli one day at Cape Kiwanda with the relief vipper not "set" and while I got a little wet, it was nothing like this.  This time I was soaked.

Any way it came in through your neck gasket? Does it fit tight?

The suits tight enough I get claustrophobic in it when talking about neck and wrist gaskets.  Been using the thing for maybe two yearsa with no issues until now, so I know how to put the damn thing on.  Now I know why I don't (or shouldn't) post up so much

The suits tight enough I get claustrophobic in it when talking about neck and wrist gaskets.  Been using the thing for maybe two yearsa with no issues until now, so I know how to put the damn thing on.  Now I know why I don't (or shouldn't) post up so much

I don't think anyone is insinuating you don't know how to wear your dry suit.  They're just trying to figure out how so much water got in, and trying to eliminate the issues they're either witnessed or personally experienced. 

My money is on your suit having a leak that will show up when you send it to the manufacturer for inspection/repair.

The suits tight enough I get claustrophobic in it when talking about neck and wrist gaskets.  Been using the thing for maybe two yearsa with no issues until now, so I know how to put the damn thing on.  Now I know why I don't (or shouldn't) post up so much

Ah dude, not what I meant at all. With the semi-dry suits, like mine, if you get water over the neck line water will flow in through the neoprene gasket. Like if you're floating on your back with the back of your head in the water, it will let water in. We learned this the hard way during our safety training Maybe it's a seam?

Yep, a semi-dry suit will leak through the neck pretty easily - but you notice it really damned quick, cuz it's COLD!

Found a not to bad article basically saying Dress for the water not the weather.

http://www.atlantickayaktours.com/pages/expertcenter/how-to-dress/How-to-Dress-1.shtml

I wasn't there (but hope to be able to make it next year) and don't want to armchair quarterback and am a bit reluctant to bring this up but reading this discussion I am curious whether, as ORC continues to grow, it would be possible, feasible, or intelligent to have someone in a standby zodiac or some other powercraft? 

On one hand it seems like it'd increase the self-sufficiency of the tournament and decrease the reliance on the coast guard or whale watchers in the event of an emergency.  On the other hand it'd require someone to not fish themselves and man the boat, probably open a whole new can of worms in the liability department, and may encourage people to push their boundaries/not take good personal responsibility.

It's not a perfect solution by any means.  I remember once being on Lake Washington by UW's waterfront activity center when I saw people in a rental canoe spill after a "large" wake cause them to lose balance.  No lifejackets on and in a T shirt and jeans (of course).  One guy swam to shore but I had to tow the woman to shore while another guy in a kayak toed the canoe.  Eventually the WAC "patrol boat" came over to watch the situation, but they weren't exactly helpful or timely.  Having good communication is definitely a higher priority so that you can get help to the person in distress ASAP.

The suits tight enough I get claustrophobic in it when talking about neck and wrist gaskets.  Been using the thing for maybe two yearsa with no issues until now, so I know how to put the damn thing on.  Now I know why I don't (or shouldn't) post up so much

Hey brotha,

I don't think anyone is trying to put you down here.  Just trying to live and learn.  When you figure out what leaked, please let the rest of us know.

-Allen

I wasn't there (but hope to be able to make it next year) and don't want to armchair quarterback and am a bit reluctant to bring this up but reading this discussion I am curious whether, as ORC continues to grow, it would be possible, feasible, or intelligent to have someone in a standby zodiac or some other powercraft? 

On one hand it seems like it'd increase the self-sufficiency of the tournament and decrease the reliance on the coast guard or whale watchers in the event of an emergency.  On the other hand it'd require someone to not fish themselves and man the boat, probably open a whole new can of worms in the liability department, and may encourage people to push their boundaries/not take good personal responsibility.

It's not a perfect solution by any means.  I remember once being on Lake Washington by UW's waterfront activity center when I saw people in a rental canoe spill after a "large" wake cause them to lose balance.  No lifejackets on and in a T shirt and jeans (of course).  One guy swam to shore but I had to tow the woman to shore while another guy in a kayak toed the canoe.  Eventually the WAC "patrol boat" came over to watch the situation, but they weren't exactly helpful or timely.  Having good communication is definitely a higher priority so that you can get help to the person in distress ASAP.

If it ever gets to the point that we have to supply our own safety boat, I'm just going to shut this event down.  That being said, I don't think it will get to that.  But I do thing we need a heightened sense of awareness w.r.t. self rescue.

-Allen

We did have islandhopper standing by last year taking pics and helping people with his TI

Your base layer is very important! Personally I wear a thin wool base layer unless it is really cold out.
"Cotton kills" avoid cotton anything on the ocean. When wet it will quickly rob your body of heat.

Sent from my Motorola Flip phone.

We did have islandhopper standing by last year taking pics and helping people with his TI

That was not in any official capacity.   Just out of the goodness of his own heart.

-Allen

I agree! BTW where is he? I didn't see him this year