They’ve been working for car to car coms with the windows up and a few traffic lights of distance between us when we’re shuttling too lol, so the range isn’t bad all things considered.
I am using this as an example for educating folks, not trying to come off as a hard ass on you specifically.
Using VHF on marine frequency on land is illegal. A few special organizations like the Coast Guard are exempted from this.
It looks like a recreational VHF license is not required in the US unless the boat isnover 65 feet. Nonetheless, there are a whole set of regulations governing the use of VHF comms that anyone who uses one is responsible for knowing and following. Getting educated on these is an essential step in being a responsible member of the marine community.
VHF is not a toy like walie talkies one might give to kids and improper use can place other recreational or professional mariners at unnecessary risk.
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Sharks. Man that story is sketchy. A big dolphin spooked me in Cape Town and I could not for my life get back on foil. This guy gets attacked and manages to get back on foil. Nuts!
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Great thread and lots of good advice. I have a lot of stories about things that have gone wrong during downwind runs after 20 years of guiding folks down the Maliko run. Don’t really want to get into those stories but here’s what I’ve learned.
Extra leash strings are a good idea till you have to try to fish one through the leash plug in rough water especially with cold fingers. I’ve switched to zip ties. Zip ties are much easier to fish through the leash plug and can be used to mend a leash together if the leash breaks.
Rubber strips from old bicycle inner tubes come in handy for cuts. Sometimes you just need to stop the bleeding. I’ve tied them loosely around foreheads, hands, shins and arms and we’ve been able to continue paddling. Luckily haven’t needed them for a tourniquet (knock on wood). I think it could be used for a tourniquet in a pinch but they do make more sophisticated kits like the one mentioned above in this thread.
I found out half way through the run that one of the paddlers was diabetic and struggling to continue so I always carry gel packs now.
I recently lost my phone after a high speed wipe out. It was around my neck under my vest. It sank to the bottom of the ocean somewhere outside of Ho’okipa. I believe the weak string/clips failed. I’ve doubled up on the connecting lines and added flotation to my current phone bag.
I carry tools, whistle, mirror, gels, zip ties, water, rubber inner tube strips in my Vaikobi pfd. My phone is in a bag around my neck. I also have 2"x4" Tegaderm and 2"x4" piece of chamois in the bag with my phone. That can be used on a small cut or a small ding on your board. I carry a vhf radio for runs where I can’t receive cell phone service.
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Yeah I have a DSc vhf from standard horizon that I think solves both extra backup communication and gps distress call with location, supposedly the text packet can go way further than voice also, I have a PLB for my ski but think the DSc enabled radio is great for paddle downwind.
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Riggs a piece of kiteboarding line is great for linking your phone case to your vest. Larks head straight to a strap, I lost a phone too using the clip in the pocket, now it’s secure to the shoulder strap
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Amazing to have you sharing some experience here @Riggs thank you. What do you think is the most overlooked risk? Personally I worry about leash snapping and then the board floating off, but you seem to have experienced that without issue? The cable tie idea is a good one.
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I am at the very beginning of my downwind journey. Flopping around like an injured bird and on foil for maybe a few times, 40 feet max. As a result, I don’t know what doing an open ocean channel crossing (or anything nearing it) is like.
However, if you do, and you’ve been close to any situation where you wanted a tourniquet (real arterial bleeding), I’d say it’s worth just carrying a good CAT style tourniquet from somewhere reputable like North American Rescue. They’re so light and flat when properly staged that it’s almost silly to not have one and know how to use it properly.
The esmarch-style wrapped band (essentially what you’re doing with the tube) usually doesn’t have enough pressure for someone with a bunch of leg muscle like you downwind fiends to properly occlude a bleeding artery. Often you can actually make the bleeding worse by applying something that doesn’t have enough continuous, even force. All that said, I don’t carry one right now on my 4 mile runs down the beach…maybe should.
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I’m still seeing so many downwind foilers going without PFD. All ages, men, women, all skill levels. I find this baffling, but also frustrating that influential foilers would ever share clips of themselves not wearing one.
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Prone foil contest, no helmets. Oskar took a foil to the head.
Pro street skateboarders. Nyjah Huston just had a horrible head injury. Back at it and not wearing a helmet. It’s a problem in all pro sports.
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I have to admit that as downwind hours are clocked up at a rapid rate around the world it does surprise me that you don’t hear of more instances of people needing rescue or help because of having no PFD.
I am one of those that was very vocal at the beginning, regarding influential foilers downwinding not wearing bright colors and PFD, but it does look like the statistics are against me.
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Yes, similar reflections
Also compare with surf skis early days where I heard of lots of people disappearing, almost freezing, desperate rescues etc. Maybe the sup bar to getting into danger was just too high for your average Joe to a get into trouble (and I wonder, does parawing change that)
Which one? I have been thinking of buying hx891 for the DSC SOS button but worry it is too large currently have hx40 no DSC
Also have a phone with satellite sos and watch with lte that has no plan but still can get 911 if there is signal.