Michael Skellig

The hand of god

From the Winter 2010 issue of Wavelength Magazine. Read the entire magazine online.

skillset

By Alex Matthews

The “Hand of God” is a rather extravagantly named rescue that is very effective when aiding an unconscious or injured paddler who is unable to exit their capsized kayak. Because it’s quick and keeps the paddler in their boat (which reduces the stress and fatigue that swimming would impart), it’s also a terrific general-purpose rescue for instructors and guides coaching beginners in easy conditions.

The concept is simple: the rescuer rolls the capsized kayak, and its occupant, back upright. While this rescue does require a certain amount of brute strength, as with all skills, proper technique can go a long way to making it much easier.

1. Start by closing the distance as fast as possible, maneuvering your kayak into position parallel to the capsized boat.

2. Next, drape yourself across the overturned hull, securing a solid grip on the far side of the kayak’s cockpit coaming.

Do not be afraid to fully commit your weight onto the overturned boat – its flotation will easily support you, and this committed position puts you into a great stance to right the kayak.

3. With your hand closest to the capsized boat securely gripping the far side of the coaming, place your other hand on the capsized hull’s chine opposite your gripping hand. By aggressively weighting the chine closest to you (pushing it down) while pulling with your far hand, it is very easy to roll the capsized kayak halfway back upright.

4. At this point, move both hands to the gripping position on the coaming and pull the kayak towards your own, closing the gap between the two boats. This effectively ‘locks out’ the capsized kayak’s position, holding it very securely on edge.

5. Now shift hand positions, reaching your outer hand out to secure a grip on the paddler’s PFD, while the other hand retains its grasp on the coaming. A key step at this juncture is to move the boats apart again in order to create enough space for the angled kayak to roll fully upright. Complete the rotation of the capsized kayak by pulling down at the coaming and hauling the paddler upright over their stern deck.

6. Once the kayak is righted, the rescuer must continue to provide full support in the case of an injured kayaker, as a compromised paddler may well capsize again if not effectively stabilized. Wrap an arm around the paddler, get a good grip on a deck line and lean into them. Signal for assistance and have a paddling partner tow both boats to shore.

The hardest part of this rescue is completing the final rotation upright. Some kayaks are harder to rotate than others, and smaller rescuers will struggle to right heavy paddlers. But even if you find it hard to complete the full rotation to finished upright position, the Hand of God should still be in your repertoire because in many instances that first half rotation is enough to make a huge difference. In calm conditions, when dealing with anything short of an unconscious paddler (which is thankfully very rare), simply rotating the kayak up onto its side is usually enough to allow a struggling paddler to bring their head to the surface and breathe. From this position, the rescuer can communicate with the capsized paddler. Talk them through a wet exit, ask them to lie well back onto the stern deck to make rotation easier, or await assistance from another paddling partner.

Adapted from “Sea Kayaking Rough Waters” by Alex Matthews available at www.helipress.com.