Well that sucked!!!

Actually, I had a decent day. I managed to get out of the lake area before the temporary population drove me batty, and I did get several hours and miles on the water. Waves weren’t hectic or wild, and did have one small break where I was able to surf the wave face for about a hundred feet or so.

What sucked was a capsize. Not even accidental. There were several people near where I put in at and we had been talking for awhile, and I told them what I wanted to do before hand. I paddled about 15 maybe 20 feet off shore where I knew the bottom was deep enough to not knock my brains out. Set myself up, forward tuck, paddle off left side, slowly lean and whoosh, under water!!!!

Total!

Disorientation!

Shit!

Paddle goes to this side! Nope other side, PFD pulling me back and up on wrong side,

SHIT! Pull for surface. Oops facing down! Pull in tuck forward pull to surface BIG GULP OF AIR bloop!

About that time new friends arrive and help me get rolled back up. Never left the boat, skirt never imploded, but I did take on some water (about a popcan full) at the coaming lip and some around the skirt tunnel during my flexing and pulling. (I’ll add some sealer around the under lip today so it can cure overnight. Needs a smooth surface apparently and its a “rope surface” currently.)

Embarassed? A little. I did say that I was likely to blow it, and I did. I knew that I would be changing orientation and I still managed to goof up.

That said, things happen FAST when you go over. I was probably under less than 15 seconds, but that 15 seconds seems to last a minute per second hand tick. Your hind brain goes into overdrive and really truly needs muscle memory to keep itself straight. I can see that more now than I did this morning. A good and well practiced hip flick just as much.

So, I now see my weaknesses, but rolling into the water is not part of that NOW. I can do this, but I WILL be tracking down assistance, and that may be THIS WEEK!!!!🤙🤙🤙

Sometimes social media can be a good thing and there is a certified instructor offering lessons nearby (as in 2-1/2hour drive for me.) during his vaca week.

If it means I tell bossman ‘won’t be available days x-z,” well, so be it. I WANT THIS SKILL!!!!