Rolled over at PC.

 I was out last Thursday for the first time in my new OK Trident 15. I had gotten past the cape and was almost even with Haystack rock when a dory boat came zooming between me and another couple in a kayak. 
 I could see the evil grin on this asshole's face as he looked at me, knowing he was going to create a huge wake for me. I turned toward him to better ride it, then a large swell caught me from behind while dealing with his wake and dumped me. I tried and tried as I might but could not get right side up. I worked to the point of exhaustion which didn't take long with the cold water. Finally all I had strength for was to hook my arm in a strap and try to kick to shore. At about a mile out you know how hard this was going to be.
At this point I knew I was to tired and cold to make this happen. I called on my radio for help!
 The Coast Guard responded and attempted to find my location. I gave good directions and the knew where I was. Then then told me to stand by and they would check every 5 or 10 minutes. The Tillamook fire and rescue responded to the beach but they don't have a water rescue unit. Coast guard chopper flew over but didn't stop or acknowledge I was there. Finally after floating for almost 2 hrs. 3 surfers tired of watching them do nothing came out and dragged me in.
 When I got to shore I was so cold I couldn't walk without support and had uncontrollable shakes. Another kayak fisherman took care of my boat and pulled it to my truck and secured it there.
 The surfers who saved me and the kayaker who saved my gear took off without me getting a chance to thank them.
 So I'll just say it now, Thank you all who helped me this day! Without you it could have been much worse for me.
 Everybody out there needs to keep an eye out for one another, help is not always on the way. Someday I hope I can pay back what was done for me.
 Next I plan on more training for myself before going out to the big water again.

These sorts of stories make me sad.  At the same time, thanks for sharing.

ATTENTION ALL NEWBIES!!!  Please, please, please learn and practice re-entry until you are proficient at it before putting  yourself in a situation like above.

-Allen

That is a scary experience glad there were people out there to help you.... as for the ahole that tipped you surprised me cause most of the dory guys are really nice and have even said they respect us being out in the water. This is why it's good to practice self rescue and make sure you have your vhf and immersion gear...

I'm glad everything came out ok. However if you can't get back into your boat by yourself, you shouldn't be out on the water by yourself.

Tillamook Fire and Rescue, PC haystack rock, dory boats.....  I am really confused where you actually were ? Coast Guard couldn't find you. All of this does not sound good. I would never go out without a buddy system. I am interested in your immersion gear that you were wearing? Was this your first time ever out in the salt in a kayak. I'm glad you made it back but man you have got to be better prepared than that. Just having another kayak fishing buddy with you, is worth your life.

Tillamook county fire and rescue or nestucca valley fire and rescue both responed to incidents on the beach at Cape Kiwanda. Depends on who is free at a given moment. He was at PC.

That was me who grabbed some of your gear.  Gary Link, a PC local, was the surfer who pulled you to shore with his leash.  I could not get any closer to you because you were in the surf zone at that point.  I was on my way to drop some crab pots when I saw your boat overturned.

I will say you had way to much gear on that boat, and you did not have any flotation in your hull.  Your immersion gear - Farmerjohn suit, booties, dry-top (?) looked okay. 

T15s are big ass boats I have the same one. Just practice re-entry and you'll be fine.  Dory boats pass close by all the time, and you just need to brace properly.  They are not going to go out of there way if they don't need to.  It was really windy that day so I would wait for calmer conditions as well.

Glad to hear you made it back in OK BigBore!!!!

I'm really surprised that the CG didn't call for assistance of local boats.  That's standard protocol.  You call a Pan Pan, GC puts out a call to all boats in the area for assistance until they can arrive.

If you don't mind my asking, what were you wearing?

-Spot-

I am really bummed that you had such a negative experience. I am really confused about the CG response . They have been nothing but stellar in my dealings with them.

Yesterday I practiced self rescue.  Started out with simplistic self rescues and finished off with a  couple of overturned kayaks. It had been awhile since I done so.

I strongly recommend taking the time to practice. . I found where it was best to  crawl across and re-right the Outback. I also found that I need to time the swells to get back on top. Otherwise, you start over because you have just rerolled your kayak again.

Another benefit is finding out if your gear is positioned properly. I am going to move a few things when I get home.

It is always good to have a Buddy along. Craig was with me when I flipped the Outback in the dead of winter. He helped me collect everything and assisted me when I got back on. It is nice to have someone there.

Wobbler

Glad you are OK.  It could have been worse.  As Allen said, everyone should be capable of getting back in their boat on their own.  And, a boat wake should never be an issue for a kayak fisherman.  We really shouldn't blame them, especially in the ocean. It's too bad this discussion didn't happen before you went out.  Hopefully some newbies will read this and learn.  Thanks for your post.  It takes some courage to describe a tough situation like this, and I think it could help other newbies avoid the same.

Thanks for sharing your story. Glad everything turned out ok for you. Kayak fishing is a kick in the pants but can also bite you in the a$$ in a blink of an eye. Good reminder for all, old salts and new, to keep practicing re-entry's regardless of our individual skill levels.

Now ... got any video?   

-Allen

Totally glad to hear you made it to shore safely, although cold and exhausted and able to give us a report. Oregon ocean is some damn cold water!

I got dumped by a sneaker wave just inside the cove, and didn't have a chance to get back on my kayak. The damn thing got scared and swam to shore without me in a freaking hurry.  I felt fine bobbing around out there in my PFD, dry top, waders and several layers of insulation, but was only out there for maybe 15-20 minutes before I was back on shore.  A local surfer let me ride his board in and he body surfed back in riding his wet suit.

Few Q's:
Did you have a flag on your yak, a whistle or air horn on you? 

What color is your kayak, PFD and dry top? 

My thoughts seeing folks with dark colored kayaks, PFDs, and immersion gear are going to be a lot harder to spot in rough or swell filled areas of the ocean.   With that...folks that have fished anywhere near me know I dress like a traffic cone, and can probably be seen from space.  There is a reason for this. 

For all the questions about gear. I had Radio, whistle, air horn, flotation vest, wet suit, flag (lost). Pretty much all the safety gear required. I have practiced rescue drills but not in the ocean. This was my 6th time out in the salt but first in this kayak. It was a very humbling experience and once again thanks to all who helped and for your advice here.

One of the best signaling devices you can have if you are out of your yak in the ocean is a paddle with brightly colored blades. Holding it as high as you can and waving the blade is a pretty universal sign of distress ... Kind of like putting your hood up on you car on the side of the freeway.