Any interest in a recovery practice half-day?

I'd like to put together a recovery practice day this spring.  Since I have started fishing up here this winter, I have done a few quick recovery practices myself (one of them unplanned!), but I haven't yet dedicated time to really get good, repetitive practice. Flipping my Revo at the Derby was an eye opener. I had a plan in place, but I hadn't rehearsed it. The plan worked, and I got back in the boat unassisted, but it didn't go as smooth as it should have, and would have if I had rehearsed.

Here is what I have in mind so far, this is all open for comment:

When: A weekend morning or afternoon in the next two months. I know our weekends are precious time, so I don't want to take a whole day. I'd like to do this sooner than later, so that folks have a chance to practice in a controlled setting before summer kicks in and people really start getting out on the water.

Where: I'm thinking "lake", out on the peninsula or closer to Anchorage (more participation, maybe?). I don't know lakes around here at all, so I'll have to do some homework to find one that can accommodate a small group, facilities for a nice warm fire, decent spot to launch, deep hole close to shore so we can practice in "can't-touch" water.

Why: Kayaking here carries risk. Our water is kill-you cold, and the only way to mitigate the risk is to have the right gear to survive immersion, and the right skills to be immersed as little as possible. Some of us have learned lessons about this through first-hand experience, and some of us haven't yet.   I'm hoping that a dedicated event will encourage people to come REALLY test their gear and their skills, so that they are ready for the real deal.

What to bring: I would encourage people to bring their whole fishing set-up, for a "full dress" rehearsal. If there is enough willing participation, we may be able to say "come as you are" so that folks who don't have a boat yet, or don't want to take the time to load up everything or dig their kayaks out of the garage can still participate. I don't have spare immersion gear, but I have an extra boat, paddle, and PFDs to share.

Incentive: Free lunch or dinner? If this comes together, I would provide burgers'n'dogs. If it happens at all, I expect a small group, but if things get out of hand I may ask for help feeding people. BYO-Beverages.

So.... That's what's bouncing around my brain-space.  Would anybody be interested in doing something like this with me?  I'm also open to ideas, like incorporating this into something already on the calendar, maybe the Barbie Pole tournament?

If you want to practice self-rescue by yourself, you can tie your kayak to a dock with about twenty feet of rope, and then practice flipping it and climbing back in.  If you don't succeed in righting and/or climbing back into the kayak, you can swim over to the dock or to shore and use the rope to pull the kayak over to you.

Before I practice kayak re-entry, I always install all my fishing gear on the kayak (fish finder, rod holders, downrigger, cooler, etc.)  I usually cheat and don't put any rods in my rod holders.  However, for practice it's worth putting a rod in a rod holder with a sinker (not a lure with a hook on it!) on its line and dropping the sinker to the bottom before you flip your kayak, so you can learn how to deal with the entanglements which can occur in a kayak flip.  If you flip your kayak to the right (clockwise, as viewed from the stern), and then also right it clockwise, your line will end up wrapped around your kayak, which is not a good thing.  Be aware of this issue, and if you flip your kayak to the right (clockwise), right it counter-clockwise, so your lines won't be wrapped around the kayak.  With some kayaks, if you end up in the water next to your kayak you can immediately push the near side of the kayak up to right it.  If you need to reach across the bottom of the kayak and grab the far side of the kayak, a scupper hole, or the Mirage Drive and pull it towards you to right the kayak, you should practice swimming around to the other side of the kayak before you right it, in order to avoid wrapping your fishing line around the kayak.

I know I've got a few kids that want to fish that will be playing in the local lakes until they can prove they can get their tails back into the boats.  Probably start once the ice goes out. 

Love the idea! 

I know I've got a few kids that want to fish that will be playing in the local lakes until they can prove they can get their tails back into the boats.  Probably start once the ice goes out.

You know, I didn't even think about ice. If an anchorage-adjacent event works best for the majority that want to participate, we may have to wait a while. Kenai and Skilak (I think) are still liquid, so we wouldn't have to wait for an on-the-peninsula event.

I know I've got a few kids that want to fish that will be playing in the local lakes until they can prove they can get their tails back into the boats.  Probably start once the ice goes out.

You know, I didn't even think about ice. If an anchorage-adjacent event works best for the majority that want to participate, we may have to wait a while. Kenai and Skilak (I think) are still liquid, so we wouldn't have to wait for an on-the-peninsula event.

True true, I've gotta get a smaller dry suit before I can make them start messing around, so I'm out a bit anyway.  Hence the ice going out bit. Lol

Definitely interested. Campbell Point (Beer Can) Lake in Kincaid Park is easy to launch at, has a deep hole right off the dock, plenty of parking and space to set up a grill. Not sure if open fires are permitted, but I've got a portable fire pit I could bring.

After my candy-assed cop out at the Homer tourney, I need all the practice and instruction I can get.

Definitely interested. Campbell Point (Beer Can) Lake in Kincaid Park is easy to launch at, has a deep hole right off the dock, plenty of parking and space to set up a grill. Not sure if open fires are permitted, but I've got a portable fire pit I could bring.

After my candy-assed cop out at the Homer tourney, I need all the practice and instruction I can get.

Thanks for the lead on a venue.  It looks like a great option from satellite imagery.  I'll go check it out and see what the facilities are like.  From what I have read, it looks like Anchorage area lakes normally ice out around mid-May, but with the mild winter we have had they may go sooner. 

I'd be in.

This is a great idea.   I could use a bit more practice ( been over a year ) and the Dilettante (AKA Susan) would probably want to get flipping too.