The weather has been lousy, so I jumped at an opportunity to exploit a weather window for paddling today. I launched at 1230 from Channel Islands Harbor and paddled SE to get a good workout and enjoy being out on the water on a fairly nice day. It was partially sunny, SE breeze, 3' swells with 1 1/2 ' wind waves.

I paddled my 18'10" Current Designs Extreme out of the harbor, down past Silver Strand Beach, Port Hueneme (lots of commercial and military activity), down to the Hueneme Pier and toward the Ormand Beach power plant. From there, I headed out to investigate two ships at anchor-- a tanker and an automobile carrier. On the way back, I aimed for the Hueneme Buoy to watch the pinnipeds.

I stopped about 40 yards off the buoy, a little past it, so the wind would blow me by it while I was sightseeing. As usual, the larger creatures, highest in the pecking order, had the prime seats on the buoy, while everyone else swam. The youngsters came over to investigate and swam around and under my kayak, occasionally barking and holding themselves up high to get a good view of the terrestrial stranger.

Paddling back toward Channel Islands Harbor, on a 315 deg. M. heading at about 4.5 kts., no more than a minute or two on my way again, I noticed a medium-sized brown sea lion on the surface, about 10 yards away, swimming toward me. It was on my starboard aft quarter, on a collision course amidships. I slowed and slapped the water with my paddle to attract its attention, to no avail.

In a split second, it was nearly upon me. I saw that it appeared disoriented, not focusing its eyes/possibly vision-impaired. It sensed me at the last possible moment. In panic, it reared up about four feet high and came slamming down at an angle, striking my deck near the compass mounting and creating a huge splash of water. I immediately braced to starboard, since my boat started capsizing in that direction and sinking down in the water.

The sea lion very quickly backed off, creating another huge splash, sank beneath the waves and was gone in an instant. I barely had time to be scared and was ready to strike out with my paddle, if it attacked in its fright. Glad that bridge didn't have to be crossed. The incident left the boat dead in the water, with me completely soaked and mouth full of water. I transited out of the area at a brisk pace, shaking off like a wet hen.

The remainder of the trip was supremely uneventful. On shore, I talked to some of the Manson dredging company personnel, who are working next in LA Harbor, now that their local project is finishing up.

Couldn't find any damage to body or boat, so no lawsuits will be filed against the Pinniped Family, LLP. Pain and mental anguish was treated via survivor filing a CKF trip report and participating in counseling sessions with Miller family members.

Regards,
George Miller