|
Incident on the Caloundra Bar
Thursday Afternoon, 28 December
The Caloundra Bar demands our respect. It is unpredictable and one of the toughest to get in and out of. Conditions not only change daily; they can change by the minute. If the wind picks up or changes direction, a once calm bar can turn nasty! Just like Uncle Bruce says, there is no such thing as a "freak wave", we are often the freaks for being there.
Three crews went out on Thursday 28 December and one boat was swamped in the middle of the bar on their way out. Some paddlers from the other two boats jumped out and assisted and a jet skier came to their aid to tow the canoe over the bar. One paddler sustained rib injuries while in the water trying to hold on to the canoe.
A number of factors directly and indirectly contributed to the incident:
- some paddlers arrived late to training and crews were made 'on the run'
- the crews were not even and it was the weakest crew that swamped
- some paddlers in the swamped canoe lacked the experience and mindset to get the canoe and themselves to a safe location
- when the rescue mission commenced, there was confusion about who was in charge of the situation
This incident is a timely reminder about the following. This is directed at all members not just the ones who were involved in the incident
1) You are responsible for your own safety. While there is always a coach in charge, safety is everyone's business. If you aren't a strong swimmer, wear a life jacket. If you think the bar is too rough to cross, speak up. If you don't think your boat has enough power or experience to cross the bar, speak up. If your boat is in trouble, you are responsible for yourself, your team mates and your canoe - in that order. If you are not willing or able to accept this responsibility, this ocean-based sport is not for you.
2) The Bar is particularly dangerous on an outgoing tide but it can be challenging at any time. Waves can stand up, seemingly out of no where, and you can easily swamp a canoe. We practice huli drills as a compulsory part of our AOCRA membership. However, swamping and how to recover once a canoe has been swamped is one of our biggest challenges in our local conditions.
If your canoe swamps and you are in the middle of the bar, the best thing to try and do is get the canoe back to the beach. Stay in the canoe, turn the nose around and paddle it back to shore. The canoe will not sink. Once on the beach, you can tip the water out. If this is not possible, the canoe needs to be taken past the wave break towards the open ocean either by paddling it or getting a tow. Once you are in calmer/flatter water, start bailing to make the canoe lighter then huli.
Whatever decision is made, it is important that everyone stays focused and takes responsibility. Don't assume that a hero will appear and you will be saved. Everyone has a job to do.
3) If your crew has committed to going over the bar, power is the key. You need to paddle hard and paddle together. Your steerer can only steer if he or she has power. Without boat speed, you will swamp, with or without covers if the surf is up. You need power to get through the waves. If you are about to hit a wave, it is best for seat 1 and sometimes 2 to stop paddling and duck. However, this is just for a moment and it takes wise judgement to know when to power through and when to duck.
4) If you are in one of the other boats witnessing an incident, your priority is keeping your own crew safe in the first instance. No good will come of one boat coming to save another and then two boats get in trouble.
Keep a close but safe distance to the boat in trouble. Let the boat in trouble try to get themselves out of their mess. If they call for help, offer your assistance if it doesn't jeopardise the safety of your own crew.
It is also important for the onlooking crew to keep quiet. When multiple people are giving directions, it creates confusion and undermines the authority of the steerer who is responsible. In the comfort and safety of your own canoe, everything can seem so clear and easy. Onlookers can find themselves thinking "what the hell are they doing" and shouting advice. This is not your job. There should be one voice and that is the voice of the steerer.
5) Use teamer and arrive on time. If you are late, let the coach in charge know. If you can't make it after accepting, change your response to decline. Coaches should be able to select crews and formulate a session based on the weather and attendance at the start of training, not 10 minutes later. Please take training seriously and respect the level of responsibility your volunteer coaches have to run a session. Coaches have the right to send you home if you arrive late.
Moving forward
Over the past few months we have had a few incidents on the bar that have demonstrated not all paddlers are ready to cross the Caloundra Bar to train in the ocean.
During the race season, crews will be increasingly selected at training based on race squads. Crews will not be evenly powered. This means some crews will have the strength and experience to cross the bar and others will not.
Crossing the bar to paddle in the open ocean is a privilege, not an entitlement. While this will cause some disappointment, the coaches and steerers do not want to put themselves at risk by putting you at risk. Please respect their decision if your crew is asked to stay in the passage for a training session.
|
