Technique

Over-the-Side Speed Rescue
by Phil Eccles

When you come to the aid of a capsized kayaker, you can do more than hold onto his kayak while he struggles to get back aboard.
Real-life capsizes don’t often happen in flat, calm conditions. If they do, then a rescue rarely poses a problem. But in much more challenging conditions, such as strong tidal streams, vicious winds and breaking waves, it may be essential to get a paddler back in the kayak as quickly as possible. A speedy rescue can prevent an incident from turning into an epic and can make you and your paddling friends into a safer kayaking unit.
Preparation is the name of the game. Making sure everyone in the group knows what to do in the event of a capsize will significantly boost the group’s overall safety. Communication is crucial. Practice may not always make perfect or permanent, but it will help highlight the difficulties that “real” capsizes cause, and it will develop a system whereby a group has a better chance to rectify the situation.
Generally, when someone capsizes, it’s because the conditions have become, even if just momentarily, too difficult for the paddler to remain upright. Ideally, the capsized paddler would roll back up on every occasion, but in reality, that isn’t going to happen. If the capsized person bails out, it usually means that the conditions for an assisted recovery will not be straightforward. Capsizes that occur where there is danger posed by rip tides, breaking waves or rocks require swift and decisive action. Let’s look at a technique I teach called an “over-the-side speed rescue.” This is the only assisted rescue technique I teach to my students, and it’s the one I use in nearly all rescue situations.
Someone capsizes and takes a swim. This swimmer should shout or blow a whistle to alert the rest of the group. Anyone in the group who sees the capsize should do the same. It’s important that the group remain together: Even if some of the paddlers in the group are not needed to assist in the rescue, they should stand by and not proceed until the rescue is complete and everyone is able to paddle again.
If the kayak is upside down, the swimmer should leave it that way and make his way to the end of the kayak. It doesn’t matter whether he goes to the bow or the stern. He should go to the safest end if there is one and if the option exists to do so. He should also keep hold of his paddle. Allowing the paddle to float away just creates another problem to deal with and can burn up valuable time or put others at risk. Paddlers may wish to consider using a paddle leash when appropriate to the circumstances so that the paddle can’t become detached. It’s worth practicing with the paddle tethered to the boat to see if you have a preference.