Mayday incident at kayak fishing match, Exmouth

[Bassyken]

The kayak match went ahead this morning as planned with a reasonable swell on and was attended by 40 plus anglers. But by mid-morning the easterly wind blow up and the swell had increased to a very choppy 12/15 foot. I came in at this point as I was feeling rather tender from the evening before      , ye I was groundbaiting. The match was instantly aborted and all kayakers were summoned back to the shore. Within minutes a flare had gone up and a mayday call was made to Portland CG. It turned out a kayak angler had got himself over a bar, the swell had thrown him off and he was unable to right his yak. The inshore lifeboat was launched and other vessels attended. He and his yak were taken back to the harbour by a fishing vessel while the lifeboat escorted the remaining kayakers back to the safety of the bay. It was a very somber experience listening to the incident unfold on the VHF with both the distressed yakker, another kayaker assisting and the CG communicating but fortunately he was fine and the only casualties were his pride and several fishing rods.

I'll post a couple of pictures when I get them uploaded to my laptop. I'm now at Weymouth ahead of the early morning ferry to Guernsey

Ken

[Jellyworm]

Was the wind forcast Ken ? Something with pre planned big events that bothers me slightly is the "go ahead anyway" possibility...not saying that was the case as it sounded from the reports like a well organised event and as you say good that no one hurt......we ve had the weather warnings round here while we've been out as you know and stayed ahead of the game as far as bad weather goes up to now.   

[Bassyken]

Not sure about the wind Dave. On the whole it was well organised, lots of marshalls on and off the water, a marshall watching from a high vantage point all in radio contact. In hindsite I think maybe there should have been a rib or something on hand, it would have saved a mayday call.

[quint]

You can have as many practice drills and lifeboat days as you like but nothing builds experience and skills like real events - the anal nerve has amazing powers   

[Spawney Bass]

RNLI got a bonus, practice yesterday, real thing today, they must be well chuffed. 

[Ramrod]

It,s all happening down there Ken  Full marks to the RNLI

[Bassyken]

It didnt help that it was a bass nursery inshore so you had to go out past the point were the swell was ripping around to fish. The problem is that these events attract anglers of all abilities.  Apologies for the quality of pics, I seem to be losing quality between photobucket and posting, no idea why.

They bl*dy love it Dave -but good on them  

[robq]

Good to see you're having fun Ken !!  that does look a nasty bit of wind against sea chop out there though 

[Yakkerman]

wish i could hae gone but was in middle of damn flood repairs ..  glad all was ok in the end ... those waves on the sand bar do look a bit mean i must say      

hopefully will have a much clearer report of the weekend events when john gets back to me ... 

[bigfat]

nice post ken,have fun in Guernsey,the 12ft Er's was fun,have you got back to a propper color yet.

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