Wickford Harbor - September 29, 2024

Paddling with Bill in the Spirit II

I was going to the RICKA Family Picnic, so I decided to paddle tandem with Bill in my Spirit II at the pre-picnic flatwater trip at Wickford Harbor. We paddled from Wilson Park out into Mill Cove, and then up to Mill Creek, and then past Calf Neck and Cornelius Island into Fishing Cove before returning. It was a little cloudy, but otherwise a nice trip. 

After the paddle we headed over to the picnic for lunch and the awards ceremony. It was cloudy and windy, so lunch was inside. Bill and I received the "Rubber Ducky" award from Chuck for our well documented swim at the Bradford Fish Ladder on the Pawcatuck River. 

Receiving the "Rubber Ducky" Award from Chuck

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Forth Swim of the Year – West River – September 21, 2024

Paul portaging the dam

It’s been a long time since I’ve had my whitewater boat out, so I decided to join Paul for a run on the West River. Unfortunately, the shuttle wasn’t running, so we would need to carry down the dam to the put-in. We met at 7:00 at Mc’D’s for the ride up to Jamaica, VT. I followed Paul so we would have two cars for the shuttle.

The plan was to do two runs carrying down the dam with my canoe cart. As it worked out, we couldn’t use the cart for Paul’s boat, and it was a little tricky even with just my canoe. Once I got down to the bottom I also realized that I didn’t want to have the cart strapped to my boat for the run. If I swam, which I did, the boat would be even harder to rescue, and more likely to pin. I left it at the put in.

Tandem canoe running Initiation

I took some pictures of folks running the top of Initiation before we headed out. At this level – around 1,300 cfs – there was a shoot down the center that terminated in a hole, so you needed to cut to one side or another. Paul went left, I went right. Once you are through that first drop, it’s a long wave train to the bottom. I pulled over to empty when we got down to the bridge.

I filled up again in the rapid below the bridge, and had to pull over to empty. I filled up again in the rapid above boof rock. Unfortunately, before I pulled over to empty I got pushed left, just caught the edge of boof rock, and flipped – swim number 4 for the year. I took me a little while to swim out, but Paul was able to corral my boat.

Paul heading down on his second run

The run through the Dumplings was uneventful – stay close to the rocks, and then hug the seam to the left of the large standing waves. Of course, I had to empty my boat out again at the bottom. We took out after the bridge at Jamaica State Park.

I didn’t feel up for a second run on the upper section, but I did want to do the lower section. We ran the shuttle down to the take out for the lower section at the Route 100 Bridge, then headed back to the put-in at the Ball Mountain Dam. Paul did his second run, and I carried my cart back up the dam. I met him at the put in for the lower section.

Running the lower section

The lower section was a little more active than I remember – easier than the top, but still worth the effort. There was a huge line of cars at the take out – everyone had the same idea. We packed up, got changed and headed out.

We stopped for pizza on the way home at Brattleboro Village Pizza. From there I got on I-91, and Paul took the back roads home.

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West River gage

Incident Management at Fort Wetherill - September 15, 2024

Discussing towing in the Dumplings

I decided to attend RICKA’s Incident Management session at fort Wetherill. We regularly practice assisted rescues on trips, but this would be an opportunity to practice more advanced rescues in real conditions.

We met at 9:00 at Fort Wetherill. Seas were calm and wind was from the west as we launched. We paddled out around Bull Point to practice towing in the easy tidal current around the Dumplings. I got to try out my new tow belt with short (15-foot) and long (50-foot) tows. On my tow rope there are two carabiners to unclip - one for short tows and a second for long tows.

Demonstrating the scoop rescue

On short tows my tow belt worked fine. I towed one person by clipping on to one deck line with clip up. Clicking on to one line will allow the tow will continue even if the anchor holding the deck line releases. Clicking on from the bottom with the clip up reduces the likelihood the clip with hit something and release.

I towed two people (rafted tow) by running the tow line through one deck line of the assist boat and clipping into one line of the victim boat with the clip up. This allows the assist boat to reach the carabiner to unclip the line if needed. The short tow line works great when you need to get some quickly away from a hazard, like rocks.

Two paddlers out of the boat

The longer tow works better when you are towing for a long distance – especially in swells so you don’t get run over by the towed boat as it comes down the face of the swell. On long tows, the knot and clip in the middle of my tow line created drag and a one point snagged a clump of sea grass that made it tough to paddle. I might consider removing the second clip and daisy-chaining the rope for shorter tows.

After using the tow belt we practiced contact towing with the person being towed simply grabbing the deck lines of the rescue boat and pushing/pulling the bows/sterns together depending on which way we were going. We practiced pulling boats out of the rocks with tow lines and contact tows as we worked our way along the rocky coast over to Mackerel Cove.

Getting Tim back in his boat

As we rounded one headland we saw Kelly out of her boat holding her arm like she had a dislocated shoulder. Cam was able to get her back in her boat using a scoop rescue. The scoop rescue is used to float a tired or injured paddler into a partially submerged boat, which is then rolled back up, pumped out, and towed to safety with a rafted tow. 

The seas were choppier with winds from the south as we headed back out after lunch. If you spend enough time playing in rocks you will eventually come out of your boat, and Tim demonstrated swimming out of the rocks as a proactive way to get yourself to safer water. 

Reviewing the hand of god rescue

When you are in the water near the rocks, the first thing that you need to do is get yourself to a safe position the with kayak between you and the rocks. Then you can flip the boat over, attach the tow line to the boat, and aggressively swim out of the rocks, all while holding on to the paddle. Tim did fine, and once he was in calmer water Bill and Eric got him back in his boat.  

We worked our way back along the shore continuing to practice assisted deep water rescues, scoop rescues (I did an anchor tow on one), two-out-of-the-boat self-rescues using one boat as an outrigger to get the first paddle in, and hand of god rescues. 

More rescue practice

The hand of god rescue is used to right a kayaker that can’t come out of their boat because they are unconscious or just can’t get the spay deck off. It involves a tricky combination of pushing down on the inside edge while pulling up the outside to right the boat with the paddler still in it - not easy. 

We got back to Fort Wetherill around 4:00 after a long day of practice. I learned a lot, but also realized how much I still have to learn.

View to Newport as we had back to Fort Wetherill

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Video of 2024 RICKA Sea Kayak Training Sessions

Deep Water Rescues

Swimmer out of the boat

The deep water rescue is a fundamental skill for all sea kayakers. It should be practiced until it is quick, efficient and can be done in a variety of conditions.

For the swimmer, the rescue starts with a wet exit – tuck forward, pull the grab loop to release the skirt, and push yourself out of the boat (hit the deck, pull the skirt, show the moon). Hopefully you can do all this while still holding onto your paddle. If for some reason you can’t find the grab loop, run your hands along the sides of the cockpit and release the skirt from the sides of the combing.

Rescuer empties the boat

Once out of the boat you need to keep hold of your boat and your paddle. Flip the boat over and move to the bow waiting for help, yelling “swimmer” or raising your paddle if necessary to get the rescuer’s attention. At this point the rescuer will come in to make contact with the swimmer's boat. It is usually best to come in at an angle, hook the boat with the paddle, grab the deck lines and once stable stow your paddle under the deck lines.

Once the rescuer has stable contact they need to empty the boat. The swimmer will move the rescuer’s bow or stern while the rescuer turns the swimmer's boat perpendicular, pulls the boat up on the deck and rolls it over to empty. Once the boat is empty, the rescuer needs to lift the boat slightly so the cockpit rim stays over the water as they roll it back upright. You usually only need to pull the boat up on the deck to about the front hatch.

Swimmer reenters the boat

Once the boat is empty, the rescuer will use the deck lines to move the swimmer’s boat alongside their own. It is usually best to orientate the boats bow to stern, but bow to bow is fine if that is easier. Either way the rescuer needs to hold on to the deck lines on the front deck to leave the rear deck free for the swimmer to enter.

With the boats in position, the swimmer moves into position to reenter the boat. If they still have their paddle, now is the time to pass it to the rescuer who can stow it in the deck lines or hold it across both boats to increase stability.

Swimmer back in the boat

The swimmer reenters the boat by pulling themselves up on the rear deck, reaching over to grab the deck lines on the rescuer’s boat, sliding their feet into the cockpit and scooting down into the cockpit, and rolling over to the outside of the rescuer’s boat back into the seat. You can also use a heal hook with the outside leg to roll up int the cockpit.

Once the swimmer is back in the boat, the rescuer will wait until any remaining water is pumped out, the spray skirt is attached and the swimmer has their paddle and is comfortable before releasing.

Rock Rescues

If you spend enough time playing in rocks you will eventually come out of the boat. How you respond depends on the conditions you are in and the availability of help.

The first order of business if you come out of your boat in the rocks is to get yourself into a safe position. You never want to be in between the rocks and the boat, so position yourself with the kayak between you and the rocks. Once you are in a safe position, you can begin to think about how to get out.

Swimming out is a proactive way to get yourself to safer water. If the distance is short, you can simply grab the boat and go. Flip the boat over, swim to the end of the boat furthest away for the rocks, grab the toggle, and aggressively swim out of the feature. You can either stow your paddle in the deck lines or hold it in your hands as you swim.

If the distance is longer, it may be easier to attach your tow line. Once again, get to the end of the boat furthest from the rocks, clip on your tow line and go. Once in calmer water you can pull in the boat, unclip and tuck the towline in your PFD to prevent it from getting tangled in the rocks, and do a self or assisted rescue.

If someone is nearby and the distance is short you can do a toggle tow. Flip your boat over, and move to the toggle at end furthest from the rocks. The rescuer paddles in and presents the bow or stern toggle for the swimmer to grab, and paddles out of the feature. Once in calmer water you can do an assisted rescue

If conditions are rough it might be better for the rescuer to use the tow line. The swimmer gets in the safe position on the rescuer’s boat while the rescuer clips the tow line on the swimmers boat and paddles out. Once in calmer water you can pull the boat to you and do an assisted rescue.

Once the rescuer has the swimmer out of the rocks, it is often helpful to have a third member of the team clip on to the rescuer’s boat for an anchor tow that prevents them from drifting back into the rocks during the rescue.

Nashua River - Peperrell to Nashua - September 8, 2024

Peperrell Covered Bridge

I got an email from Jonathan looking to do some tandem paddling on Sunday. We bounced around some different options, and decided on the South Branch of the Nashua River from Peperrell to Nashua. It is a section that I hadn't done before.

The Nashua River has two main stems. The South Branch of the Nashua River arises at the Wachusett Reservoir in Clinton and flows generally north for 56 miles through north-central MA and southern NH before emptying into the Merrimack River in Nashua. The North Branch of the Nashua River arises west of Fitchburg and flows generally south for 30 miles until it joins the South Branch near Lancaster.

Below Runnells Bridge

I have done several sections of the Nashua River over the years including Leominster to Lancaster on the North Branch, and Lancaster, the Oxbow Wildlife Refuge in Harvard,  Ayers to Groton,  Groton to Pepperell, and now Peperrell to Nashua on the South Branch. 

We met at the take-out at Mine Falls Dam (16 Riverside Street, Nashua, NH 03062) to leave a car and ran the shuttle back to the put-in at the Nashua River Access (14-4 Lowell Street, Pepperell, MA 01463) just below the Peperrell Covered Bridge. The river was at 1.4 feet, 195 cfs on the East Peperrell gage - low but fluid. 

Deadwater approaching the Mine Falls Dam

The start of this section seems surprisingly remote as it winds through pretty woodlands. We saw skydivers coming down as we passed the Peperrell Airport. We ran the rapids at Runnells Bridge down the center, and only got hung up once. It would have been better with more water. We took a break for lunch at a bench across from the Overlook Golf Course. 

Below the golf course you enter 4-miles of deadwater behind the Mine Falls Dam. Fortunately, the wind was to our backs or it would have been a real slog. We checked out the dam at Mine Falls Park before shuttling back to the put-in to pick up my car. Nice trip.

Take out at Mine Falls Dam

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Nashua River Gage - East Peperrell

Nashua River Watershed Association

Launching and Landing - September 7, 2024

I had some repair work done on my sea kayak (skeg and bulkheads), so I decided to check it out at Lincoln Woods. I also decided that I would spend some time on launching and landings.

Being and open boater, I find one of the hardest parts of kayaking is getting in and out of the boat. I am OK launching and landing using the paddle as a brace, but that doesn’t work so well in surf. Mike tried to explain a surf launch at the RICKA Meeting on the Water,  but it didn’t work out so well.

I knew I needed to get better at a surf launches and landings, so I practiced today. Here is what I came up with for launching:

• Pull the boat out into the water – it should be floating, but the stern can rest slightly on shore for support.
• Straddle the boat, and drop into the seat - I found it easier if I didn’t settle all the way down in the seat.
• Using the paddle as support, bring your first leg in – not the leg on your paddle side.
• Continuing to use the paddle as support, bring your other leg into the boat and slip all the way into the seat.

I didn’t have the skirt on, so I’ll have to try it with the skirt next time. Landing is similar:

• Paddle in to shore bow first – bow can rest slightly on shore for support.
• Pull one leg up and out of the boat – I find it easier if I push myself slightly up and out of the seat.
• Using that leg as support move the other leg to the center of the boat.
• Holding onto the cockpit combing push yourself up to a standing position.

I paddled around Olney Pond stopping anywhere that I could to do a landing and a launch. I got pretty good at it by the time I got all the way around. I did cheat a little by have the bow and stern resting slightly on shore for support.

Pawcatuck - Potter Hill to Westerly - September 2, 2024

Heading out from Potter Hill

I’ve been paddling my sea kayak a lot this summer, so I decided to take my canoe out on Labor Day to paddle the Pawcatuck River from Potter Hill to Westerly.

The Pawcatuck River arises at Worden Pond in South Kingstown and flows southwest for 34-miles to Westerly where it flows into Little Narragansett Bay on Long Island Sound. Perhaps nowhere in Rhode Island has dam removal and river restoration been more active than on the Pawcatuck River. In 2010, the Lower Shannock Falls Dam was removed and replaced with a short rapid that allows fish to swim upstream, and paddlers to run downstream.

Paul running the Kenyon
Fish Weirs in 2014

In 2013, an 85 foot long fish ramp was added to the downstream side of the old Kenyon Dam. This ramp is made up of five gradually ascending stone weirs, which serve like terraced steps. Gaps were left in the weirs to create channels for water to flow and fish to swim, including the main current down the middle that forms a nice channel for paddlers.

In 2016, the White Rock Dam on this section of the river was removed. For nearly 250 years, this dam had blocked upstream passage to Rhode Island’s largest watershed. The dam redirected much of the river’s flow down a granite-lined raceway whose rapids made a fun run for paddlers. With the dam gone, the river now flows through a restored riverbed.

Lined up to run the Bradford
Fish Weirs in 2024

In 2017, work began on the removal of the 200-year old Bradford Dam. Like the reconstructed Kenyon Dam, the Bradford Dam includes a fish ramp that allows fish to swim upstream to their traditional breeding grounds. The ramp also includes a 10-foot wide channel allowing canoes and kayaks to pass downstream.

Combined with fish ladders at Potter Hill and Upper Shannock Falls, the removal and modification of these dams has opened up the 34-miles of the Pawcatuck River to migratory fish. In 2019, the Pawcatuck River and its tributaries received National Wild and Scenic designation.

Restored riverbed at the site of the
old White Rock Dam

I met I met Sharon, Paul, Aaron and Burr at the put-in at Post Office Landing. We dropped off our boats and headed down to the take-out at boat ramp on Main Street in Westerly. Parking is limited, but we were lucky and found enough spots. There is an intermediate take out at Route 78.

The river was at a nice level – 3.7-feet, 225 cfs on the Westerly gage – low but fluid. Below Potter Hill the river is mostly flatwater running though woods and fields for 3½-miles until it reaches the remnants of the White Rock Dam.

Quickwater below the
old White Rock Dam

The original White Rock Dam was built in 1770 and was replaced in 1888 by a stone crib dam. When the old stone dam washed away in the 1938 hurricane, it was replaced with a 6-foot tall concrete dam that stretched 108 feet across the river.

Before the removal of the dam, the typical route around the dam was down the millrace. Depending on the flow, it could range from quickwater to class II rapids. I ran it once in 2012, and we found Duke Wavewalker enjoying the playhole with a couple of friends.

Quickwater in Westerly

With the removal in 2016 all that remains of the White Rock Dam are the stone abutments on river left. The restored riverbed is nice, but not as exciting as a run through the old raceway. The old raceway is high and dry, but has not been removed. We took a break for lunch just downstream from the old dam, and I was able to hike over to find it.

Below White Rock, the river is mostly flatwater with a couple of short quickwater sections before we reached downtown Westerly. We took out at the boat ramp on Main Street.

The crew at the take-out

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Aaron's Video

Westerly Gage