Disaster at Llangorse
Jul 7, 2008 23:55:33 GMT -1
Post by vlad on Jul 7, 2008 23:55:33 GMT -1
Last Sunday the 6 July, after rigging up my kayak with improvised anchor trolley with bits and bobs from B&Q( I do not have any chandler's shop near by), make shift anchor from scrap metal pieces found in my garage, and a crate from B&Q, I was finally ready to go on my first kayak fishing trip.
The forecast was for a dry afternoon at Llangorse Lake with moderate winds.
It took me 1hour and 50 min. to get there from Kidderminster - very pleasant journey.
I arrived at the lakes reception shop at 12.15.
I paid £12.50 for launching and fishing and prepared the yak.
At 1.30 pm the yak was ready to go in the water.
I started paddling across the wind and the ruder performed excellently. I kept steady course with ease.
The sun was shining, the wind was blowing and I was paddling on a kayak at last.
In 20 minuets I reached the reeds at the southwest end, and anchored in 6 feet of water.
My improvised anchor system worked beautefuly.
First, I started fishing for roach to use as bait. My very first cast produced an excellent size roach - just right for bait.
My first fish caught from a kayak!
The roach went on the trebles of the pike float rig and a gentle lob chucked it 20 yards out.
The waiting game began.
15 minuets later I noticed that the kayak started to lean to the left than to the right without a reason.
When I opened the central hatch I realised that the hull was filling up with water.
I quickly got the float out and started retrieving the anchor. I managed to pull it back in the yak but it was a very hairy experience because the yak was becoming very wobbly.
I started to paddle as fast as I could towards the launching site on the other side of the lake. I thought I will reach it with the wind in my back very quickly, but in the middle of the lake the kayak suddenly tipped over and I was in the water.
I managed to right up the kayak but couldn’t clime back on it because it was very unstable.
My rods were in the water hanging from the makeshift rod leashes I made from simple rope. It worked. I pulled them out of the water and put them in the rod holders.
All my other items were also secured with rope leashes apart from the anchor, which had fallen out and was on the bottom. I could not pull it up however I tried, and the yak remained anchored to the bottom in the middle of the lake.
My mobile was in my PFD front pocket but had taken water and packed up.
The only thing I had to raise the allarm was the whistle in the PFD and I started whistling. There was nobody around. From the launching site they could see only the yak. I was on the other side. My YAK dry salopets started filling up with water and started pulling me under.
The PFD was holding me up but I had to hang on to the kayak.
If I tried to swim to the shore I would’ve drown.
I was in the water for almost an hour. All the boats have despaired. Then a lady walking her dog appeared on the bank. She must’ve been old and deaf because she did not here the whistle.
When I started waving at her she realised I am in trouble and went towards the parked cars at the south end car park.
She must’ve raised the alarm because in 10 minuets all the hell broke loose. Suddenly there was a helicopter hovering over my head, a speed boat appeared, the fire brigade, the police and the ambulance with sirens on were approaching the lake.
The chap from the boat – his unusual name started with a “G” but I did not remember it, shame on me – pulled me up into the boat.
I survived!
Thanks god!
I was shaking with hypothermia and it was three hours before I managed to recover enough to drive home. The kayak was dragged out of the lake halve full with water. It took 20 minuets to drain from the drainage hole an after that when the local chaps turned it upside down a gallon of water came through the hatches.
I had to give details for the reports of the police and all the other services, getting more and more embarrassed for the mayhem I caused.
At the end, changed into dry clothes I thoughtfully brought with me, after 5-6 cups of hot tee, I loaded the kayak on the car with the help of the local guys. By that time there was a crowd at the parking lot. Everybody from the village and the camp came to see what was going on.
I was relieved to leave at last and got home by 9pm.
Anyway, I have survived.
I have called the Avoncraft this morning and they are taking the kayak back for inspection tomorrow.
I hope they will be able to repair it, because, I am not giving up!
As soon as it is ready, I will be back on the water.
" - We are gona fight on the beaches...... We'll never give up!...."
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I am sorry guys but it looks like I will not be coming to the VHF course and the meet next weekend.
Have to get my kayak fixed first.
I will do my best to make it to the next meet.
The forecast was for a dry afternoon at Llangorse Lake with moderate winds.
It took me 1hour and 50 min. to get there from Kidderminster - very pleasant journey.
I arrived at the lakes reception shop at 12.15.
I paid £12.50 for launching and fishing and prepared the yak.
At 1.30 pm the yak was ready to go in the water.
I started paddling across the wind and the ruder performed excellently. I kept steady course with ease.
The sun was shining, the wind was blowing and I was paddling on a kayak at last.
In 20 minuets I reached the reeds at the southwest end, and anchored in 6 feet of water.
My improvised anchor system worked beautefuly.
First, I started fishing for roach to use as bait. My very first cast produced an excellent size roach - just right for bait.
My first fish caught from a kayak!
The roach went on the trebles of the pike float rig and a gentle lob chucked it 20 yards out.
The waiting game began.
15 minuets later I noticed that the kayak started to lean to the left than to the right without a reason.
When I opened the central hatch I realised that the hull was filling up with water.
I quickly got the float out and started retrieving the anchor. I managed to pull it back in the yak but it was a very hairy experience because the yak was becoming very wobbly.
I started to paddle as fast as I could towards the launching site on the other side of the lake. I thought I will reach it with the wind in my back very quickly, but in the middle of the lake the kayak suddenly tipped over and I was in the water.
I managed to right up the kayak but couldn’t clime back on it because it was very unstable.
My rods were in the water hanging from the makeshift rod leashes I made from simple rope. It worked. I pulled them out of the water and put them in the rod holders.
All my other items were also secured with rope leashes apart from the anchor, which had fallen out and was on the bottom. I could not pull it up however I tried, and the yak remained anchored to the bottom in the middle of the lake.
My mobile was in my PFD front pocket but had taken water and packed up.
The only thing I had to raise the allarm was the whistle in the PFD and I started whistling. There was nobody around. From the launching site they could see only the yak. I was on the other side. My YAK dry salopets started filling up with water and started pulling me under.
The PFD was holding me up but I had to hang on to the kayak.
If I tried to swim to the shore I would’ve drown.
I was in the water for almost an hour. All the boats have despaired. Then a lady walking her dog appeared on the bank. She must’ve been old and deaf because she did not here the whistle.
When I started waving at her she realised I am in trouble and went towards the parked cars at the south end car park.
She must’ve raised the alarm because in 10 minuets all the hell broke loose. Suddenly there was a helicopter hovering over my head, a speed boat appeared, the fire brigade, the police and the ambulance with sirens on were approaching the lake.
The chap from the boat – his unusual name started with a “G” but I did not remember it, shame on me – pulled me up into the boat.
I survived!
Thanks god!
I was shaking with hypothermia and it was three hours before I managed to recover enough to drive home. The kayak was dragged out of the lake halve full with water. It took 20 minuets to drain from the drainage hole an after that when the local chaps turned it upside down a gallon of water came through the hatches.
I had to give details for the reports of the police and all the other services, getting more and more embarrassed for the mayhem I caused.
At the end, changed into dry clothes I thoughtfully brought with me, after 5-6 cups of hot tee, I loaded the kayak on the car with the help of the local guys. By that time there was a crowd at the parking lot. Everybody from the village and the camp came to see what was going on.
I was relieved to leave at last and got home by 9pm.
Anyway, I have survived.
I have called the Avoncraft this morning and they are taking the kayak back for inspection tomorrow.
I hope they will be able to repair it, because, I am not giving up!
As soon as it is ready, I will be back on the water.
" - We are gona fight on the beaches...... We'll never give up!...."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am sorry guys but it looks like I will not be coming to the VHF course and the meet next weekend.
Have to get my kayak fixed first.
I will do my best to make it to the next meet.