Please make no mistake: we at Paddle Monster are massive proponents of security gear like leashes and PFDs whereas paddling. We’ve written fairly a bit about it. Not too long ago, although, I helped outfit some new outrigger canoe paddlers in search of assist with PFDs; they’re doing Chattajack for the primary time, and race guidelines require life jackets.
Their question tells me that they aren’t sporting PFDs when paddling now or need to guarantee they’ve the correct life jacket to be used within the OC-2, particularly in the course of the race. As a six-time CJ paddler (twice a podium finisher in OC-2), I’ve some ideas on that, and the first one is that this: sporting a LEASH within the OC is simply as necessary, if no more so, than the PFD, race guidelines, however. Like on a sup, the leash retains you linked to your greatest and greatest private floatation gadget: the canoe. Outrigger canoes can fly away in present and wind simply as quick, if no more so, than SUPs. So, staying linked to the canoe always is important. In a two-man outrigger, a minimum of one individual ought to be leashed up.
When the canoe overturns, the leash will probably wrap across the hull, requiring some consideration earlier than flipping the canoe over. Some canoe-specific leashes have swivels that may assist with that. Typically, swimming below the hull to the opposite aspect will deal with it. Attaching the leash to the canoe and the place you put on it may possibly have an effect on this. It would take some trial and error to determine what positions work greatest with the leash you’re utilizing. You need to keep away from detaching the leash out of your physique within the water, particularly in tough circumstances. If the leash is a bit longer, you’ll be able to swim below the hull, remount (on the ama aspect), then as soon as safely within the canoe, you’ll be able to undo the leash, pull it below the hull, and reattach. Puakea Designs has an incredible video on this, and this method is demonstrated at in regards to the 1:11 mark. My favourite leash for the OC is the Metaleash.
Supply: Metaleash.com
Let’s get again to the life jacket situation. Chattajack is 31 (or 32, relying—if , ) miles. You need your PFD to be comfy, match appropriately, and never be too heat. In that regard, an inflatable PFD may look like the most effective concept, however take into account this: to be authorized, the inflatable PFD should be worn within the entrance. That isn’t comfy for the seated OC place. It might impede your stroke as you bend on the waist. Plus, you do not need to be making an attempt to proper your canoe after a huli (capsize) AND mess with pulling the rip wire, inflating your PFD, and placing it on. Some inflatables aren’t formed like a vest, so it’s going to get in the best way of huli restoration and getting again within the canoe. With the inherently buoyant possibility, you don’t have to consider most of that.
Paddlers should guarantee they will nonetheless remount the canoe sporting the inherently buoyant PFD. That’s the place the low quantity facet is useful. Vaikobi makes my favourite life jacket for this. Consolation, match, and performance are very good, and there may be loads of buoyance to maintain my more-than-ample physique floating, even when utilizing the built-in hydration sleeve on the again of the jacket. One other model to think about is Astral, which makes some nice ladies’s-specific PFDs.
Supply: Vaikobi.com
One thing to bear in mind within the race situation is temperature management. Remember to plan what you’ll put on below the life jacket, whether or not heat or chilly circumstances exist on race day. The inherently buoyant PDF is an effective way so as to add further thermal safety in chilly circumstances, however you don’t need to get overheated in sizzling ones. Gown in accordance. Be ready for changeable circumstances. The coldest race 12 months in my Chattajack historical past, I wore an outsized comfortable shell jacket over my PFD to rapidly shed it if I began getting too heat. Certain, I seemed like a blue balloon within the race pictures, however the technique labored like a allure. This adaptability and preparedness for changeable circumstances is essential to any profitable race.
As soon as a paddler selects a life jacket, they need to follow huli restoration. Nicely, we ought to be working towards huli restoration on a regular basis. It’s important to determine what must be accomplished to untangle the leash after flipping over and follow getting again in that cockpit. The extra you follow, the better it is going to be while you unexpectedly capsize, and that can occur! The primary Huli can take you without warning; the adrenaline rush could make you progress too quick with out considering and get you into hassle. Once I huli, I take a minute with some good deep breaths, take into consideration what steps I’ll take to proper the canoe, execute these steps calmly, and make my re-entry. As soon as again within the canoe, I take one other beat to resettle myself and keep calm. These few aware moments maintain me targeted and out of the panic zone. The extra you follow, the extra it turns into routine and the higher it’s going to serve you in a race.
So, to recap:
- leashes in OC-1s and a pair of’s are simply as necessary if no more so essential than on SUPS;
- choose a PFD that’s comfy, purposeful, and doesn’t hinder your huli restoration;
- follow, follow, follow capsize restoration with the life jacket on so it turns into second nature;
- plan out your race day equipment to account for changeable climate circumstances.
