Umzinyathi Canoe Club

Written on Fri 30th Sep 2011

Swimming to Safety: Rob Hill

More often is the case, in our sport of paddling, that "involuntary swim" is called upon. Most of us like to argue, it wasn't our fault, however, swimming take's place. I was once told by a legend of this sport, "we're all between swims, irrespective.!" 

To ensure your swim, or swims are safe and successful, I list below some tips to assist you for when the time comes, and come it shall, trust me.! 

Defensive: 

A style, manner or technique advised/taught amongst our safety guru's and even applied as part of the swift water course. This is when you're in control of yourself, are in the cocktail position, knees up, facing downstream and using your arms/hands to control your speed & direction down the rapid. (I stress at this stage that you're confident with your life jacket, in that it fits well, tight, has great buoyancy and is NOT hindering your movements and sight) This defensive technique affords you control, instead of the river controlling you. Assess your situation, where the safe zones are, eddy, pool, etc and steer/guide yourself towards these. At NO stage must you attempt to stand up in the fast flowing water, unless it's about shin deep, slower current flow, you're facing upstream and are confident that you can get out, safely. Normally this is at the bottom of a rapid, in a pool, or behind/below a large object, ie. rock, tree, bridge pillar, or inside a bend.

NB: If you're swimming, without a craft, but have your paddle, then grab the shaft, close to the blade, place over a shoulder, dragging the long end behind you. This can be used as rudder, and also keeps the paddle out of your way. You can change shoulders, when required for you to change direction. 

Aggressive: 

A technique that again ensures you're in control. As with the above, you're in the defensive posture and making your way down the rapid, and you've spotted some trouble some distance below, but you've also identified a safe zone before that, behind/below a big rock, close the bank on river right. So, you're swimming down, using the defensive technique, but now leaning slightly on your right side, using more committed right hand paddle strokes, drawing you across the current, sideways. Once you're correctly angled and are approaching your safety zone, you turn over, into the crawl position (now facing upstream) and swim into the eddy, or pool. Once in the safe zone, this will then give you time to recover and plan your next move. Remember, swimming drains you of your energy and at this stage, your objective is to get out of the river, safely and quickly. 

If you're swimming with your craft and have your paddle, assess your position and if you've got time, get the craft upright and straight, try quickly to get the paddle in the boat, tucked under the cockpit, but I stress, do this quickly, without turning the craft sideways, and don't hang onto the cockpit; you need to get to the back. If in a K1, keeping the craft straight, nose facing downstream, adopt the frog position on the back deck thus keeping the both the front and you out of the water; also giving you a slightly more elevated view point. If you can't manage this, then whislt hanging on to the back, wrap your legs up and onto the back deck. If in a K2 and both of you are with the craft, then as before, assess your position, get the craft upright quickly, pointed downstream, and try to get the paddles in the cockpits, without turning the craft sideways or hanging onto the cockpits. Both paddlers must try and get to the back of the K2, near the rear handle, on the same side, so you can communicate with each other and effect the necessary safety efforts, together. Always remember to steer your craft and keep your feet up, next to the craft hull. DO NOT, get between an obstacle and your craft. If at any stage, the craft is dragging you to an unsafe place, let go and then apply the noted swimming techniques. 

When safely at the river's edge, in shallow water and you need to empty the craft, in a K2, work together, at opposite ends and apply the seesaw technique. If in a K1, get to the middle of the craft, on the river bank side, wedge the front of the craft against the bank, turn over, then lift. Alot of what is outlined above is practiced in both the river proficiency process and the swift water courses. For more info, please get hold of your club safety officer and remember, safety first, safety always and NO compromise.

Here' wishing you all safe, successful and enjoyable paddling.

Regards, Rob Hill,  

CSA Safety Officer