2 Whidbey Sailors die kayak fishing

I just saw this and it turned my stomach upside down...God bless their families and friends...

http://mynorthwest.com/174/2537034/2-NAS-Whidbey-sailors-drown-while-kayaking

I hope everyone stays safe this weekend. A lot of people will be on the water.

That sucks.  Currents in that area can be very challenging.  Report doesn't say what, if any, safety gear they were using.

http://bit.ly/Ub6NZk

That sucks. A single VHF could of made a big difference in this situation it sounds like. My thoughts go out to their families and friends.

That sucks. A single VHF could of made a big difference in this situation it sounds like. My thoughts go out to their families and friends.

Since it sounds like someone heard the screaming for help a drysuit with layers and a PFD might have been enough.  A VHF might have gotten them help before hypothermia got them even without a dry suit.  Especially if it had DSC and coupled GPS.  That or a PLB.

Of course they could have had all that stuff for we know. 

Very sad.... My thoughts go out to their families.

-Spot-

My heart goes out to family and friends!

In this area there isn't much fishing pressure so they might have been alone. Also the tide change was medium high that day at 8ft and that can produce not only rough water but a current that can overpower any yak. The news article is a bit incomplete as it doesn't say that the yaks were recovered or what kind of safety gear they had on. I understand the draw so Rest in Peace my fellow fisher friends.

I was fishing in Admiralty Bay on May 9th and 10th with 2 to 3ft tide changes. Friday was rainy and calm with easy sailing but no fish. Saturday was clear but a bit more wind had picked up. By late afternoon I was in 6ft swells and fighting a bit of a current.
Out of the blue, I got hit from behind by a rouge wake (probably from a freighter) and it flipped me head over (front to back). I didn't have a chance to react and all of a sudden I'm in the water with my yak upside down. The yak actually hit me in the head as it flipped and I was lucky to have a skull cap on to pad the blow.
I knew what I had to do by righting my yak first and releasing my paddle to climb back on (Hobie outback with a mirage drive). I wasn't in the water more than 5 min as I was catching my breath to remount. At this point I was pretty tired and just hanging on positioning myself with the 6ft swells so I can attempt the remount.
A fishing boat comes along checking out the empty kayak and notices me hanging on to the side and says "what are you doing out here"? I said just hanging on and would love some help. I always wear a PFD but still its the elements that can get you. After only 5 minutes in the water I was still very warm if not sweating and hot (no hypothermia).
I was lucky! I usually fish in areas where there are other fisherman so that is what saved me that day.
I can't imagine fighting the wind we've had along with a strong tidal current and for all intensive purposes they were in the strait. The draw to fish is strong but this area can be very dangerous and unforgiving.
I for one will never fish in a yak in this area again.
I was pretty naive and I will be purchasing a VHF radio but if the yak hits you in the head as you flip it is only luck that can save you.

It is always sad to hear these things.  My sympathies go out to the family.

The news article is a bit incomplete as it doesn't say that the yaks were recovered or what kind of safety gear they had on. I understand the draw so Rest in Peace my fellow fisher friends.

From one of the articles: OAK HARBOR, Wash. (AP) -- The Island County sheriff's office says two enlisted men from the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station were not equipped for cold and windy waters when they went halibut fishing from kayaks off the island and drowned.

Det. Ed Wallace says they were in 10-foot, open, lake kayaks, wearing jeans and shorts and recreational life vests. Although the air temperature was 70 Saturday afternoon, the water temperature was 52, and winds were blowing about 20 mph.

 

 I've fished the west side of Whidby a lot. Double Bluff to Fort Casey. The tides can really get going off shore there and the freighter wakes can be brutal. If its a big tidal exchange I always stay on the shore side of the first rip lines. If the wind is more than 5-8 I'm not launching my PA. Large ocean swells can make life miserable in Admiralty Bay. You always have to keep your head up for freighters as they are usually at hull speed in and out of Admiralty Inlet. Wind, tide, and freighter wakes in any combination are dangerous there,
 RIP young sailors.

My heart goes out to family and friends!

In this area there isn't much fishing pressure so they might have been alone. Also the tide change was medium high that day at 8ft and that can produce not only rough water but a current that can overpower any yak. The news article is a bit incomplete as it doesn't say that the yaks were recovered or what kind of safety gear they had on. I understand the draw so Rest in Peace my fellow fisher friends.

I was fishing in Admiralty Bay on May 9th and 10th with 2 to 3ft tide changes. Friday was rainy and calm with easy sailing but no fish. Saturday was clear but a bit more wind had picked up. By late afternoon I was in 6ft swells and fighting a bit of a current.
Out of the blue, I got hit from behind by a rouge wake (probably from a freighter) and it flipped me head over (front to back). I didn't have a chance to react and all of a sudden I'm in the water with my yak upside down. The yak actually hit me in the head as it flipped and I was lucky to have a skull cap on to pad the blow.
I knew what I had to do by righting my yak first and releasing my paddle to climb back on (Hobie outback with a mirage drive). I wasn't in the water more than 5 min as I was catching my breath to remount. At this point I was pretty tired and just hanging on positioning myself with the 6ft swells so I can attempt the remount.
A fishing boat comes along checking out the empty kayak and notices me hanging on to the side and says "what are you doing out here"? I said just hanging on and would love some help. I always wear a PFD but still its the elements that can get you. After only 5 minutes in the water I was still very warm if not sweating and hot (no hypothermia).
I was lucky! I usually fish in areas where there are other fisherman so that is what saved me that day.
I can't imagine fighting the wind we've had along with a strong tidal current and for all intensive purposes they were in the strait. The draw to fish is strong but this area can be very dangerous and unforgiving.
I for one will never fish in a yak in this area again.
I was pretty naive and I will be purchasing a VHF radio but if the yak hits you in the head as you flip it is only luck that can save you.

You flipped a hobie outback end over front, from a frieghter wave in admiralty inlet? Were you sitting on the tip of the front fishing?

Sadly it's true. This is a dangerous area not unlike hundreds of square miles of coastal we access for our sport. Weather will change faster than you can anticipate. The best equipment is mandatory but will only supplement rock solid skills.

Knowledgable outsiders looking in are asking, how many kayak fishermen have the skills to handle these conditions?

Train in nasty weather. Flip in these conditions in February near a shore with a buddy to spot you for a start. Get these skills down before you need them. It's cheap insurance. Never assume you are good enough. The ocean cares NOT what you say or how many stars some rating agency gave you. Make a mistake and you will pay.

My 2 centavos.

I was firm in the cockpit. All I heard was the sound of rushing water from behind as the back of the yak raised up over my head.
It happened so fast, I was in the water before I realized what hit me.

My guess is one guy went in, the other guy tried to save him and he went in too.  It's very sad.   

The news said that they had "recreational life vests" and that they were not designed to keep the face out of the water. Could anyone explain that ?? I thought that was the whole idea of a life jacket to keep you face out of the water. Confused. ??

The ones that ensure you flip over are very bulky and not practical for what we do.


TYPE I PFDS / OFF-SHORE LIFE JACKETS:  Best for all waters, open ocean, rough seas, or remote water, where rescue may be slow coming.  Abandon-ship lifejacket for commercial vessels and all vessels carrying passengers for hire:
 
•Inherently Buoyant Type I PFDs - SOLAS Service
•Inherently Buoyant Type I PFDs - U.S. Service
•Inflatable Type I PFDs - SOLAS and Domestic
•Hybrid Type I PFDs - US Services

TYPE II PFDS / NEAR-SHORE BUOYANT VESTS:   For general boating activities.  Good for calm, inland waters, or where there is a good chance for fast rescue.
 
•Inherently Buoyant Type II PFDs
•Inflatable Type II PFDs
•Hybrid Type II PFDs

TYPE III PFDS / FLOTATION AIDS:  For general boating or the specialized activity that is marked on the device such as water skiing, hunting, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and others.  Good for calm, inland waters, or where there is a good chance for fast rescue.  Designed so that wearing it will complement your boating activities:
 
•Inherently Buoyant Type III PFDs
•Inflatable Type III PFDs
•Hybrid Type III PFDs

TYPE V PFDS / SPECIAL USE DEVICES:   Only for special uses or conditions. 
See label for limits of use:
 
•Hybrid Inflatable PFDs
•Canoe/Kayak Vest
•Boardsailing Vests
•Deck Suits
•Work Vests for Commercial Vessels
•Commercial Whitewater Vests
•Man-Overboard Rescue Devices
•Law Enforcement Flotation Devices

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg5214/pfdselection.asp

-Spot-