Sailing Upside Down

Hey Ya'll
Well it was bound to happen one of these days and today was the day
I went out to our local water hole and took a buddy with me who had never seen a Hobie Mirage Drive Kayak before and then got us flipped upside down in moderate winds.

We were using both my sails , the Hobie standard sail with the Windpaddle Adventure model on the bow and they were working just great together.

The wind was 14 to 22 mph but not super gusty so we had been cooking along on a zippy downwind leg and just having a blast for a couple miles.

I have not replaced my one flat sidekick float yet so I have just been sailing without them.
Jeff had never used a sail before yet he was doing just fine on the Windpaddle sail in front.

We had made several course changes and downwind tacks because the lake is long yet somewhat narrow.
You have to zig one way then zag on back when you run too close to shore or else risk hitting the bottom.

I said "time to come about" one more time and made another downwind jibe.
We then must have caught a big gust justas the main sail came across and it tipped us over upside down like a frog off a log.
We managed to get the boat righted and had both climbed back on in under a minute flat.

That was the easy part.
The hard part was that I had drowned my digital camera because the Seal-line Dry Bag around my neck had failed miserably.
Even though I had rolled the top down closed three times like always it somehow filled with enough water in less than one minutes time to totally kill my camera.
I would have faired better if I had kept the camera in a 5 cent zip lock sandwich baggie and then stuck it in my pocket.

So all you people out there with cell phones and camera's take heed. Test out all your "small sized, cell phone , camera , ipod , iphone electronics type dry bag / cases at home in the tub with a test item in it before you go out and ruin your expensive gear.

Anyway it was still a good learning experience and fun sailing that fast with two sails up.
Heres a few of my last photos for quite a while since my camera is now dead and we will have to save up for a new one.

Oh yeah the inside of the boat was bone dry no leaks, no water, just perfect always has been but I never thought it would stay that way upside down.


Jeff..says cheese we are rigged and ready..



Getting underway with just the main sail up.


The skies were a bit dark but the forecast was for clearing skies later on.


The sun was starting to break out more and things were looking good


Jeff decided to try his hand at the forward Windpaddle sail on a port tack.


He got the hang of it and we were just cruising along back toward the other shoreline on a downwind starboard tack..



We were really smokin' and heading toward a point that we would have to tack back again or run aground


Last photo worth posting before we jibed and rolled over ..


Still a fun day but I just wished the Sealline dry bag had not failed and killed my camera.
Everybody please test out your electronic type dry bags with a harmless object at home in the sink first to make sure they function as advertised.
If it fails like this "Sealline piece of crap did take it back before you ruin expensive gear.
That Windpaddle sail is simply just a blast and fairly easy to use, get one if you want more sail power without a lot of rigging hassles.
The Sidekicks are very helpful and I recommend their use to anyone with a sail and more so to anyone with two sails its a really great product.
If I had my sidekicks on and in working order maybe this would not have happened and I would still have a camera.
My cellphone just was in a Hobie fanny pack and it still works.
Have fun out there and
stay right side up if possible it just works better that way
Kepnutz

Yea Kep,
I barely missed disaster with my original Sony digicam which I carried in a Ziploc bag. However, I had finally gotten my first waterproof digicam (a Pentax Optio W10) and flipped for the first time while sailing during my first trip with the new Pentax. As you can see here, the Pentax camera is fully waterproof, and I am still using it a couple of years later. I later got the waterproof Pentax Optio W30, and am still using both. Good investments!



This was my last sailing pic before flipping, but the camera and gear all came thru without a problem. All I lost was a pair of sunglasses.



Or, you can go with one of these babies for your non-waterproof camera. Pretty pricey though...



A cheaper solution might be one of these cases from Boater's World.



Or, one of these Pelican cases:



Good luck!
Best,
Dick

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Hey Apalach
Hows it going over your way?
Thank you for the tips and pics.
Thats good information I somehow missed the first time you posted it.

I plan to start studying up for our purchase of a new digi camera as soon as Mrs Kep extracts the old one out of my asp.
I cant even sit down long enough yet to consider searching online for a new model.

We are both pretty sore at REI for selling us that SealLine "piece of sheet" dry bag for our small 'lectronic gear.
I should convert the Sealine Dry Bag to an on board porta potty as it does hold in liquid fairly well actually.

Oh yeah my Garmin GPS wrist unit took a bath and its just fine.
It probably would have drowned too but it was not in the Sealine Dry Bag.

Have Fun Dick and Thanks
Keep the pedal side up Ya'll
Kepnutz

Oh Yeah heres a real nice shot....


Actually this is the very last shot my camera would ever take.
If you look close you can see the shoreline in the background was coming up fast.
Jeff was putting the Windpaddle sail control line over his head and down around his neck.
I explained this was not a very wise method to cleat a line just moments before I got the boat knocked over.
Oh yeah .. I know what Im doing... just listen to me talk... sploosh

G'Day Kep,
So you've finally taken that swim in the drink.
Glad everything worked out OK apart from the camera dunking. I have had some success with drowned electronics by sealing them in a plastic bag with a cup or so of silica gel. Remove the battery. Left for a few days a camera and a phone came back to life although a GPS didn't. Chances of recovery are better if it was freshwater.

How You Going Stringy ?!
Yeah it was just a bit of a swim allright
Fresh water, however the camera simply has no pulse anymore
I do like the silica idea and will remember that one for any future disasters
Cheers
Kepnutz

Hi all

Been there too I just bought a Sanyo combination movie/still camera at CostCo that's waterproof (1 meter, 1/2 hour), It survived it's first dunking with flying colors.
http://store.sanyousa.com/webapp/wcs/st ... &langId=-1
It was quite a bit less than the posted price at CostCo. So far I really like it.

Steve S.

Wow kepnutz, never done that yet (that is: with sail and involuntary). I wonder when it will be my turn... A dead camera isn't fun at all. I hope we don't have to miss your great photo's for too long...

I must say I am also quite happy with the pentax optio w30 (same as Apalach). A great family point and shoot but fully waterproof and video quality is nice. Some of my pics posted in the sailing forums actually are video stills. Something like that can be an option.

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skua

kepnutz sorry to hear about your camera and glad I am forewarned about dry bags and waterproof electronics.

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Tim
'09 Adventure, Golden Papaya, Turbo Fins, Large Sailing Rudder, Turquoise Sail, Grey Haired Kayaker, ...

Hi Ya T-City
Hows it going young feller ?
I thought maybe you runt off on holiday down to S.D..
Hows the adventures with your new Adventure?

Take it easy
Kepnutz

Hi Kep,

It must be extra frustrating having that happen after taking special precautions to prevent it.

I also use a Pentex Optio W-10 thanks to Apalach's excellent review some time ago. It's taken about 11,860 pictures so far and still going -- with the original battery! It's nice not to have to worry about getting it wet; it's been in the drink a couple of times.

It seems like they put out a new model or two every year, so there are frequently some excellent bargains on the outgoing versions (which IMO are virtually identical).

Hey Kep,

So sorry to hear about your camera and the unexpected bath.

I use a Canon Powershot A720 IS with the waterproof housing. I personally do not trust dry-bags for electronics. Heck even waterproof housings can be unreliable. Sadly the housing (though was a birthday present) was as $$$ as the darn camera. Dry bags, baggies, watertight vinyl cases are the cost effective alternative but very pricey if they don't meet their claim.

My choice was a lower priced $199.00 camera and the $169.00 waterproof housing not just for the kayaking but also for diving/snorkeling. I also have a Sea Life DS500, there is a newer 8MP DC800. Both are great cameras and housing for land or sea use at around $500.00.

The sail and Wind Paddle combo looks like a FUN ride. I bet had you zipping along very nicely.

I agree sidekicks take the worry out of sailing.

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I would rather be kayaking and think about work than to be at work thinking about kayaking.
A Thrill Ride is being dragged around in your kayak for 40 minutes by an extremely large fish.

Hi-Ya Revo
Thanks for the the camera tips, we are shopping around here and there.
We even ordered one on line this week but the E-Tailer was trying to scam Mrs Kep into buying more of this and that to go with it and she just told them to cancel the whole damm thing.. just never mind.
Mrs Kep does not like to feel hustled especially when it comes to buying stuff online from people you dont know etc.

As for going upside down its all part of sailing anything I imagine..
Ive had some turtles and pitchpoles in Hobie 16's in 30mph winds that make this incident with the kayak feel similar to rolling over in the bathtub.. no big deal
Im suprised it took us this long to finally roll 'er over but we would not ever sail in winds like those until I got the pair of sidekicks mounted.
If it was getting up over 10-15mph we just pedaled everywhere and put the sail away.

After frequent sailing with the sidekicks I think I was complacent and perhaps over confident while sailing in much stronger winds and waves on a regular basis.
Problem is I have a flat now in one sidekick float due to a split seam and I was sailing without them and got caught off guard I guess.
Anyway it was a good thing to know I could turn it rightside up and get back on in a hurry. To bad the camera got killed though

I always tried to get Mrs Kep to come out and practice flipping it over and getting back in on purpose under controlled conditions but she/we never got around to it.
Its a good idea though if ya'll get a chance ..hint hint..


Have fun out there
Kepnutz

Hey Kep & Mrs. Kep,
You may have discovered the first rule of purchasing online--never go for the least expensive price. Those are usually the scammers and scum bags who try to suck you in with a low-ball price and then try to load you up with a ton of extras that you don't need. Or they will send you a damaged product, or a refurbished one that is sold as "new".

Anyway, congrats to Mrs. Kep for seeing thru the scam and cutting them off at the pass. I have dealt with the New York (and other) camera suppliers for many years and some of the good ones are still in business, but the bad ones keep reappearing every year under a different name. Send me a PM of who you are dealing with, and I will give you a couple of names of some of the reliable ones, at least IMHO.
Best of luck,
Dick

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Hi-Ya Apalach
Here's the link to the "scumbags" HD Camera World at:

http://www.hdcameraworld.com/SearchResu ... agodZQ416w

They had the lowest price on the camera we were looking for, just like you said and when they called to confirm our e-mail order they tried to load on all this other garbage just like you said".

They even asked mrs Kep if she wanted the lens with it.
Thats like the car salesman asking you if you want the windows , tires, ,engine, seats , steering wheel, doors , trunk , turn signals and headlights with your new car..

Thats right about when she said told them they could go Phuc themselves
Mrs Kep may have been born at night but it wasn't "last night"

Thank You Dick
Kepnutz

Hey Kepsx2,
Another suggestion is to go thru Amazon for these things. You won't get the lowest price, but you will get a supplier that Amazon has found to be reliable as a general rule. Of course, I know that there are folks out there who may have had a bad experience with Amazon, but for electronics, cameras and the like, Amazon always uses specialty suppliers that have caused Amazon the least trouble, and who have provided generally good service for their customers. Otherwise, cya!

A couple of reliable dealers IMHO include B&H Photographic and Adorama, both of whom have been around for a number of years. Anyone out there with some online photographic dealer suggestions (either positive or negative), feel free to jump in here also.
Best,
Dick

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