Bow carry toggle towing
Frequently, real world towing bears no resemblance to what most of us visualize. We think of hooking up a long tow line and towing an ailing comrade across raging seas (or at least seas). It happens, but for most of us, rarely. The most common reason seems to be motion sickness on a long crossing, but occasionally something else happens.
The fact is that most of us just don't get in any kind of trouble on open water. It's too easy.
The most common need for towing for most of us, is when we or one of our friends is actually out of our boat. Long surf zones and rock gardens are the usual culprits.
For surf zones it is usually easier to just swim the boat in. Party line is not to tow or rescue someone in a surf zone, but in some cases it is just the most practical thing to do. This is often the case in a large surf zone with multiple breaks, or in others where the landing might be difficult or dangerous due to rocks. It can be a combination of the two, or some other hazard such as kelp.
George treated us to one of these opportunities in a surf break just
north of Palos Verdes Point on 11/08/03. We were on the way back from a rock
garden trip and casually playing in the surf along the way. He got caught by a
set and capsized. He went for a roll, but was tangled badly in kelp and soon
took a swim.
Duane, Dave, and myself were all on the scene. Vickie was watching from a ways off. There was really no discussion amongst us as we all intuitively knew this was one of those surf zones situations when an assisted re-entry was the best thing to do (long way in). The only question was where?
I surfed in from the side to avoid running George over. Duane went straight in under control with no danger to George. I yelled at George a couple of times to get on the other side of his boat as I though he might be in danger if a set came in. He responded that he was swimming the boat out. Once outside the surf zone there would be several options for self or assisted re-entry. Good idea, which would have eventually worked fine except..........
Duane
immediately told George to grab his bow toggle and the one on his empty boat as
well so George and his boat could be towed out a ways. I have done that before,
and it's hard, especially in the very thick kelp we were in. I feeling a moment
of pity for Duane until he told George to wrap his legs around the bow of his
empty kayak.
This worked great!
I would estimate the tow speed with this configuration was about double what it would be with George being dragged through the water. Quicker rescues are a good thing, especially in a surf zone.
Bow or stern toggle towing is nothing new, but this was a great idea. The bow carry is a great way to carry a wayward paddler, but apparently also a great way to reduce water drag when doing a toggle tow. basically, the paddler carries himself on his own boat!
By
the way, Duane is smiling because he is so pleased with himself for coming up
with this great idea.
George is not having nearly as much fun as Duane. The kelp
is nasty thick. When he entered the cockpit it was wrapped and tangled around
his legs. He had to cut himself free with his dive knife.
This method should work just as well in tricky rock garden situations and the bow carry portion could be combined with a rope tow where needed.