Anacapa Practice
Our original launch was scheduled for yesterday. Due to bad weather we
launched today and completed our long distance practice paddle in very ugly
conditions. This is a good thing though as the conditions will be better
next weekend for our crossing or we won't launch. If we should get caught
in bad conditions in the middle, we certainly had some very good practice for it today.
We launched at 9:00 - 9:30 this morning and headed for Ventura Harbor. My
plan was to head for the electric plant off of Oxnard and see how we felt
the water and local conditions. There were six to ten foot breaking waves
and I watched the surfers on the outside of the break. They were riding some
large swells setting up for the next wave. The swells were very clean and
there wasn't any chop at that time.
Between Channel Islands Harbor and the Electric Plant, we were riding some
very large clean swells. They were probably in the six to ten foot range but
the break between the sets was very calm and glass like. This actually made
the paddle more interesting and not a boring paddle in calm water over the
distance. We took our first break at the electric plant for about 10 - 15
minutes. We were floating in the large swells about 1.5 to 2.0 miles off
shore just enjoying each others company and exchanging small talk. It was
time to continue on towards Ventura Harbor. We paddled for maybe 20 minutes
and the damn electric plant was still off of my right shoulder. We're not
getting any where I told Anneli. She looked at me and then over her shoulder
and realized what I was saying. We headed straight out for about another
mile and a half. We finally broke free of the tread mill currents and
started to make progress again. We were now about 3.5 miles off shore and
making great time.
We saw Ventura Harbor and headed straight in for the one mile buoy and then
into the harbor. We were riding some good twelve to fifteen foot swells.
Anneli and I were paddling almost side by side and trying to keep from
crossing one another's bow. "These aren't going to break on us are they" she
yelled at me? I've done this paddle in similar conditions several times and
understood her concern. Your fine babe I yelled back at her. We paddled on
in and landed at Mother's Beach in Ventura Harbor. We used the restrooms and
I gazed out over the ocean. I saw near white cap conditions and told the
crew that we couldn't stay long as we had a long paddle home. We launched
and headed back out through some very large swells.
We had paddled maybe 3/4 to a mile out and I decided to call the group
together as I didn't like what I saw. We rafted upped and I told them that
it wasn't going to get any better. I explained to them that we had the
option of heading back into the harbor and calling a cab to get back to CIH.
Everyone said they were comfortable with the conditions and we headed for CIH.
We started for the Electric Plant. My right shoulder started burning and I
knew I was in trouble. From the top of my shoulder all the way down to the
elbow I was hurting. I tried to stall and slow the pace down by calling
frequent breaks. We were in wind waves and they were coming over our bows
now. We were having to watch each swell and giving it a lot of respect and
react accordingly. We made it to the Electric Plant and we took another
break. I hadn't yet told the team that I was hurting. We saw a lone yaker
out by himself and wondered about him. I blasted my whistle a couple of
times trying to catch his attention as he was about a mile in front of us.
I'm not sure if he heard the whistle or saw us but he stopped and waited. We
got closer and I realized it was George out there alone and by himself.
George said his hellos and then took off by himself back towards CIH.
Anneli is my lead or point paddler and started to realize something was wrong
with me. She would look over her shoulder and look to see how far I was
behind the group. Tim paddled up next to me and we talked a little. I
finally told him that my shoulder was hurt and I was having problems.
We were about a mile off shore now when a swell broke on Anneli. Her boat
started racing 10 to 20 feet to it's side and she did a wonderful brace to
hold it upright ....This is a group sport that we do individually. When your
in trouble like that your on your own. The lady did great as she braced and
rode it with white foam flying off of her boat.
We paddled back into Channel Islands Harbor . I was damn near crippled at
this point and slowing my own paddle group down. My shoulder was on fire and
I felt like a steel rod was hot and sticking down the length of my arm.
The end result was, we did 16.5 miles today in very rough conditions. The
best part of it is, I have Tim, Geoff, Anneli that all paddled with me today.
You guys are awesome and handled the conditions like pros. I'm sorry I
slowed the paddle down and thanks for waiting on me...
Gregg
Submitted on April 12, 2001