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| Pacific City, Oregon |
Over the course of the last two years, I’ve taken quite a
liking to different types of water crafts. One being an inflatable pontoon boat
(Stealth Pro) and second fishing kayaks. The ladder being my primary focus this
year, but what’s important isn’t so much about boats but the focus for this
story is the adventure. Where one thing leads to another and how important the
little things tend to be.
One Sunday morning in July, my day began setting up my
fishing kayak for a planned Ocean trip to Haystack rock the following weekend.
This would be my first Ocean trip in a kayak and I was in a hurry to setup my trolling
motor. With my kayak and gear laid out in the yard under a shaded tree the sun
began to rise and the sweat began to pore, nearly 90 degrees and only 11am I was in need of refreshments, a cold one as I may say.
A few hours after lunch I was ready for a long neck, the
heat and frustration drove me back inside to the sound of the air conditioner
and screaming kids. My phone had been inside all day so I decided to check it. To
my surprise my wife stated I should call my friend back (Let’s call him Jhun). I
was concerned. Turns out he was kayak fishing near Haystack Rock in Pacific
City and flipped his boat, in need of help. I called immediately, I could hear
the distress in his voice as he explained… A sneaker wave surprised him and
flipped him over. He was unable to flip it back over. He presumed the marine
battery in the rear hit the hatch and provided a large enough gap for water to enter hull. He was safe, on the beach with no kayak. Kayak in need of a rescue I
thought… You see, I have a tandem sit-on top kayak so it seemed like a good
idea. I told him I was on my way, I quickly ran a list of items I might need in
my head and shortly after gathering everything I was gone. For legal purposes,
let’s say I drove the speed limit…
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| Screenshot: Pacific City Sun |
Photo to the left shows his rescue. Why they weren't able to bring the boat in from this point, i'm not sure, I wasn't there... However i'm sure Jhun was happy to be on board.
Upon arriving at the beach he explained where it was nearly 2hrs ago when he called, now pointing to where it was, almost a half mile away. Now, the first items I grabbed before leaving the house was keys, wallet and… my Smith Optics. However even with my Smiths on I was squinting trying to find this kayak… Where is it, what are you looking at? Oh right, yeah… I think I see it. We decided to talk to a few paddle boarders that had tried to help earlier in the day. We contemplated heading out at that point, but decided to climb the point to get a better visual. Note: Remember to stretch.
Upon arriving at the beach he explained where it was nearly 2hrs ago when he called, now pointing to where it was, almost a half mile away. Now, the first items I grabbed before leaving the house was keys, wallet and… my Smith Optics. However even with my Smiths on I was squinting trying to find this kayak… Where is it, what are you looking at? Oh right, yeah… I think I see it. We decided to talk to a few paddle boarders that had tried to help earlier in the day. We contemplated heading out at that point, but decided to climb the point to get a better visual. Note: Remember to stretch.
Upon climbing the hill, I did finally spot the kayak. A
Jackson Big Rig nearly 14ft in length, 36” wide, marine battery, trolling
motor, rod, gear, phone and wallet all on board. When the sun hit just right, I
could see its now vertical nose bobbing a foot or two just North East of
Haystack rock. Shoot, it’s going out to sea. At just past 7pm we could see a
calm spot about a quarter mile wide, maybe a mile or so from the break of the
rock just around the kayak, but after contemplating how long it would take us
to suite up and get out there, we knew we wouldn’t have much light. The other
thought in the back of our minds (due to the time), we had never kayaked a tandem
together. Now I have kayaked my 5 year old son and mother around but I’m doing
all the work (on a lake no less). So after staring into the sunset and
contemplating all the options, we decided to call it a night just after 8pm. He
mentioned he would come back in the morning to see if it washed to shore –or if
he could get the help from any Dory boaters, I mentioned let me know if you
need any help, said our good byes and that was the end. Over 3k in gear off to
never never land.
That night, after telling the story in detail to my wife and
discussing why you don’t paddle alone in the ocean at least without taking the
proper precautions. We decided it was best I went along to “Search” for this
kayak the following morning. We both knew, if it was my boat in the water – I would
want to keep looking. At that point, our gut was saying, hey it floated all the
way out to the rock, it’s going to keep floating somewhere. It’s not just going
to sink. Assuming it hadn’t found a few more rocks to play on. Shortly after
11pm we decided to get up bright and early to start combing the beaches and
chatting it up with the locals.
The following morning required coffee and away we went.
First upon arriving we notified a few kayakers getting ready to make the voyage
out, they said they would help if needed and keep an eye out. Jhun and another
kayak friend hiked the point to take a better look. No luck. I spoke to the
fire marshal and he just laughed in disbelief that we would find it. It’s sunk
they said, it’s long gone they all said.
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| Sheila and Jhun: In search |
A few locals said the current was headed south the night
before. Mentioning Nestucca Bay and some of the surrounding road ways. We
explored every access point and beach half way to Lincoln City. On one beach
South of Pacific City a local said he was watching the current all afternoon,
the current was heading north and recommended checking Sand Lake. Sounded plausible,
north we went. After arriving at Sand Lake an employee their said he overheard
on the radio of a boat being found, but was unable to provide any other
information, as if it was a treasure hunt and we had to find each clue. Back to
Pacific City we went, feeling a little ridiculous but hopeful, we had no luck
getting in touch with Police or Fire on the non-emergency lines. We arrived
back in Pacific City (PC) but once more we were disappointed to find no new
leads. Our thoughts of a kayak laying along the shores were cut short with the view
of Dory boats coming and going.
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| Devils Lake - Tandem |
I think we were all disappointed at that point, but we kept
truckin’ along and eventually made our way South to Lincoln City. No sign of
any kayak, but damn we were hungry. Off to the buffet, Chinook Winds it is! At
this point the mood was pretty grim. We spoke of alternatives for next week’s
kayak trip. Jhun had another kayak (not as cool as the one he lost) so we planned
for Nestucca Bay. After lunch we hit up the outlet’s and drove over to Devils
Lake, Jhun and I went tandem in my kayak thinking we mind as well make the best
of it.
Now a bit later in the day, we decided to go home the long-about way and head back north to PC
for one last look-see. No real hope
in mind but it would make a nice drive and we could end the day eating sea food
with a few drinks looking out over the “Rock”. As we pulled down onto the
beach this is where I would like to say we found Jhun’s kayak, but we
didn’t. It was bitter sweet, no kayak in hand but the day was finally coming to
a close. Jhun wanted to make one last climb up the point so I joined him so I
could say my good byes to his boat. We made it to the furthest, highest point
where we could get a better view of the Rock and southern shoreline, but to no surprise
- no dice. Made our way around to check the north face, with view of the bluff
as Jhun walked in front of me he stopped, paused… I stopped, paused… He
pointed, “Mike I think I see it…”. Now hold up, stop the press, we’ve been out
all day, Let me wipe the sweat off my face and put my Smith Optics back on. I
thought I could hear the crack in Jhun’s voice. Was he to cry in joy, scream in
excitement… I wondered. “Hold up, let’s get a closer look Jhun.” We walked, no
we leaped closer. Confirmed! Still bobbing out of the water by a foot or two we
had visual confirmation. Houston we are go, I repeat we are go for rescue. We hurried
around the hill side towards our rigs, I called my wife… breathing heavily,
load up! Start the truck! We found it!
Was that a crack in my voice? Was I tearing up? No just sand, it’s cool as we
skipped down the sandy hillside. We high tailed it out of their as my wife is
telling me to slow down, watch for people walking. They’ll move. 10 and 2, on a
mission!
Rescue in Progress?
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| On our way to the cliff |
We thought the best course of action would be to drive
around to the north side of the sand dune to access the bluff side of the rock,
at least to get a better look. With hardly anyone on the beach on the north
side, I’m not sure I’ve ever driven as fast on a beach in a full side pickup.
Don’t tell my father, it was his truck.
The kayak was still there. Bobbing in the water almost
taunting us. Feeling a little giddy but mostly things got real, really quickly.
This was now a full on rescue mission. We were no longer aimlessly stumbling up
and down the coast line, we had found it. However the kayak was not found lying
in the sand like some beached whale in a dream, it was 40-50ft from the cliff
side with a boarder of “danger zone” rocks in our way. We believed the tide was
beginning to turn and start coming back in, but how would that effect the kayak
in its current location. Would the kayak just repeatedly slam into the rock, or
keep circling in the danger zone. We climbed around the rocks and discussed our
options. With the waves much greater on the North side we thought it would be
safer to launch and go around from the South, thinking the kayak might be
circling and would kick back out to the south. We decided to suite up and head
back around. Although in the back of my mind I wasn’t certain what way it was
going to go. So we suited up. Jhun was longer going to screw around with the
ocean, he hadn’t tightened his wading belt enough when he was knocked off his
boat and had water in his waders upon returning to the shore
He brought a wet suit.
I had an incident in the Hood a year before so I tightened
my belt along with everything else extra tight.
Armed with:
- A pair of Korkers White Horse boots
- Redington waders
- Simms ChromaPOPs
- DryTop and a life jacket of course
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| No it's not a shark, that's the nose of the kayak |
Jhun aired up his raft and I gathered all the rope I had and
using carabineers to attach them to the raft. Now why aren’t we taking the
tandem out? Well, the water was a little rough for our liking and thought the
raft would be a little more stable. We continued to watch and wait and
calculate the water. At this point it was moving north, not south and calculated
it was moving about 5ft every 20 minutes. At that rate, we could almost go eat
dinner before it got out of the danger zone.
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| Houston we have landing |
So for all of you, stay safe, and remember the little
things. Purchase the right gear for the right job and enjoy the journey.
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