“The seas were angry that day, my friend, like an old man trying to send soup back in a deli.”- George Costanza
The e-mail came through. Help as a kayak escort for a 24-mile marathon swim from the Magnuson Resort at the north end of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to Ben T. Davis Park on Rocky Point. Hmm. That sounds like my cup of tea. So I e-mailed the organizer back submitting my name. I also went to my office and mentioned it to my friend Lloyd and he immediately jumped on board.
Never one to back down from a challenge, I was intrigued by the thought of traversing Tampa Bay, south to north having the safety of others around you. It is not a paddle I would attempt by myself, so I was all over this. I would be able to put it on my bucket list along with the BWCAW and the trip now referred to as the Alafia River South Fork Debacle.
Lloyd and I had it all planned out. We would drop his truck at Ben T. Davis at 5am Saturday; load his kayak on my truck to transport down to the Magnuson. When we finished we would reverse the procedure and haul my kayak south so I can pick up my truck. At least that was the plan.
Come Friday night at the pre-race meeting, we checked in to meet our swimmers and get briefed on the procedures. Lloyd met his swimmer, Chelsea. I went to check in to meet my swimmer and the race organizer told me my swimmer dropped out and they would probably not need me.
Bummer.
So the meeting concluded and I told Lloyd, “Here’s the deal. I will still meet you at Ben T. Davis tomorrow morning and bring you down for the event. Then I will bolt.” Lloyd then says, “No, why don’t you paddle with me.” Deal. I can still make the crossing. So, I unofficially joined Chelsea’s team.
The team consisted of the swimmer, kayak escort, and a support vessel. We were number 3. And I would act as relief for Lloyd if he got tired, or, the race organizer asked me to be on standby to be called back to assist other teams. So we were all set.
Saturday morning at 7am we shove off. I take a quick selfie with my phone and text my Sister letting her know. My family was participating in the Relay for Life in Martin County, and since I could not come down, I was also doing this in honor of my Stepfather who passed away last year from Cancer. Since this was a paid event, m y proceeds were going to be donated to the cause.
The launch was uneventful as we headed southwest from the beach. There was a bit of chop, but we expected that. Those conditions would soon change. We continued sw and then started a turn to the north to parallel Pinellas County.
Chelsea was on here second break and I had to paddle to the support boat to replenish her fluid supply. That girl was a rocket. I have never seen anyone swim so fast and steady. Especially given the conditions we were entering. I could hear Chelsea saying, “ I cannot see the landmarks. I need one of you in front of me so I can follow.”
It was getting rough. We had a 20-knot north wind and an incoming tide. The waves were stacking up in the bay. But she was driving hard.
Now I had her supplies in my kayak and started heading back to her. I noticed Lloyd was behind her so I powered by him to catch up and lead. But, I could not catch her. She would stop and yell back to me, “I can’t see where I’m going”! So I was yelling to her, Bear right, bear left”! Whatever she needed. But the waves were getting higher and I was falling behind.
Here is my soapbox. If you are going to participate in certain adventure sports, know some basic rules. Three blasts from a whistle, horn or firearm means someone is in distress. Learn it, pay attention to it and heed it. You will see where this plays in.
Another team was coming up. Boat 20. This was a relay team. They would switch swimmers every ½ hour or so.
Chelsea is continuing to tell me she could not see and to get our boat in front of her. So, I am waving our boat, which was behind me, to move up. But they are not coming and I am in no position to turn around as I am still trying to catch Chelsea. By this time my waves are getting more frantic because I am falling behind.
Now I am getting close to boat 20 and start yelling at them to call boat 3 on the radio. But I am not getting a response. Out comes the whistle. Three blasts- nothing. Three more blasts- still nothing. Then I just let out one long, shrill blast and get their attention. I yell, “Call boat 3 and get them up to their swimmer. She needs a lead.” They answer. We tried, they are not answering.
By this time, I am no longer of any help to my swimmer. She was on her own, but I could see boat 20 tossing her drinks etc. This is an absolutely horrible feeling. I was entrusted to care for this swimmer’s needs. But I am of absolutely no help. I felt like I let her down and to be honest, I started to get depressed. But I had to still head north and try to catch up.
We are heading due north. Lloyd was behind me and the waves are getting bigger. I am paddling, just trying to make headway and keep upright. Then I hear from behind me, “TOM- Tom”! It’s Lloyd. I turn to my left the same time I am heading up a wave and my kayak pivots left and I start down the face of the wave sideways. I have know idea how I did it. But, I saved myself from going over. Lloyd said he saw the whole thing and was sure I was toast. Somehow I righted myself and continued struggling north. I tried yelling, “ I can’t hear you.” Lloyd was on his own.
This is getting bad.
Taking a quick look to my left, I can see our support boat. Bow down, motor up and someone bailing from the front. Not good. Another glance to the left and I see people on the boat donning life vests. They are going down!
I am now on my own.
I am 6’6” tall. So I figure while sitting in my kayak, my head is almost 4 foot above the waterline. The waves I am navigating are much taller. I am sitting in the trough looking up at a solid green wall of water. This is no lie, I am looking UP at the wave. Five footers? I don’t know. They were BIG. And they are coming in groups of four.
Up one wave, down the back, up the next. Repeat. It was hard paddling.
It has become a survival situation. Every stroke was deliberate. And now I am contemplating my next action. Do I paddle to Gandy? Can I paddle to Gandy? Where is the pier? Can I get there? How can I move west without getting crossed up in the waves?
What do I do? Where is Lloyd?
I prayed. I prayed for God to knock the waves down, and I prayed for Him to just end this thing safely.
Every year you hear about one or two kayakers getting rescued from a channel marker. Is Mr. Responsible now going to join the same club of those whom we ridicule?
There is a monster wave coming at me. I try very hard to cuss. But, I just yell out Oh S#$%! This is the one. The bow buries in the top of the wave and a wall of water rolls right over me. But I am still up right and floating.
Scupper plugs! Instinctively when I launched, I inserted my supper plugs in the tank well. I reach back and sure enough my tank well is slammed full of water. So, I pull the scupper plug out.
What do I do, what do I do, what do I do? I know, I cannot continue status quo. I need to make a decision.
A Coast Guard inflatable heads south with lights and siren on.
On my left I see a swimmer with a kayak escort passing me. This is the same kayak Lloyd and I made fun of earlier in the morning. It was a green, 9 foot Ocean Kayak Frenzy. Little did I know I would soon be introduced to the paddler- Brian.
On my right a powerboat, #5 pulls up. The Captain says, “Dude, you okay”? “No, as a matter of fact, I am not. I lost my swimmer, I think my support boat is gone and I have no idea where my buddy is.”
You need help? Yes, I do.
All right pull along side, and get in. So I pull along side, hand him my gear and flop into his boat. We lift the kayak in and I am out of harms way.
The Captain’s name is Guy. He does follow P-F.com and HCKFC.
So he asks me what boat I am with and I tell him #3. #3? Oh, they sank.
The radio is crackling. “Where is swimmer #3? Where is Tom? Where is Lloyd? In addition, there are other calls from other boats. We are taking on water!, Another boat is sinking!, We need to pull our kayaker from the water. It is radio mayhem.
I tell Guy our swimmer, 3, is now being escorted by boat 20 and the escort, me, is safely onboard boat #5. Now we need to find Lloyd and start asking. Another boat says he has Lloyd. Okay, all present and accounted for. I have now become an adopted member of team #5.
So here is the text to my wife and my sister:
Two vessels sank, one taking on water, Three Coast Guard vessels assisting, I had to be rescued by a boater. Four foot seas. Fun.
Now I start receiving texts back from my wife, my sister, and Lloyd.
I tell Lloyd, I am on a boat, I hear he got picked up and let’s meet at Gandy Beach. He was already in touch with our support boat and tells me it sank. But he also tells me he did not get picked up by a boat. He could not make the transfer to the boat, so he headed west. We were about a mile and a half off of the shore and it took him 2 hours to reach a home on Coquina Key. He saw a house with a couple kayaks in the yard, paddled up to the dock and stepped ashore. The lady who lived there came out and he explained our situation and asked her to call a cab for him so he could get his truck from Ben T. Davis since I was still on the water and it looked like neither of use would make the entire trip. She was awesome. She called a cab, brought him a towel and something to drink. Lloyd said he would be sending her flowers this week. Yes- he is quite the Gentleman.
I cannot say enough nice things about the crew on boat #5. They offered me food, drink, and support during the ordeal. And I will confess right here in front of the P-F.com family, I had one episode where I blew chunks over the side of the boat. Don’t know if it were nerves or what. But once I evacuated, I was good as gold. Guy said, dang, I never saw anyone blow chunks inside the bay before.
Hours later, I met up with Lloyd at Gandy beach. We dumped about 2 plus gallons of water out of my kayak and he took me to my truck. We discussed the trip and he told me tomorrow he was calling human resources to have me tested because he knew I must have been on drugs to agree to this trip. He said he was also going to call the president of the company and have me transferred to Duluth, Minnesota as punishment.
By the way, our swimmer won the race with a time of 10 hours, 3 minutes.
So, how was your weekend?
The e-mail came through. Help as a kayak escort for a 24-mile marathon swim from the Magnuson Resort at the north end of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to Ben T. Davis Park on Rocky Point. Hmm. That sounds like my cup of tea. So I e-mailed the organizer back submitting my name. I also went to my office and mentioned it to my friend Lloyd and he immediately jumped on board.
Never one to back down from a challenge, I was intrigued by the thought of traversing Tampa Bay, south to north having the safety of others around you. It is not a paddle I would attempt by myself, so I was all over this. I would be able to put it on my bucket list along with the BWCAW and the trip now referred to as the Alafia River South Fork Debacle.
Lloyd and I had it all planned out. We would drop his truck at Ben T. Davis at 5am Saturday; load his kayak on my truck to transport down to the Magnuson. When we finished we would reverse the procedure and haul my kayak south so I can pick up my truck. At least that was the plan.
Come Friday night at the pre-race meeting, we checked in to meet our swimmers and get briefed on the procedures. Lloyd met his swimmer, Chelsea. I went to check in to meet my swimmer and the race organizer told me my swimmer dropped out and they would probably not need me.
Bummer.
So the meeting concluded and I told Lloyd, “Here’s the deal. I will still meet you at Ben T. Davis tomorrow morning and bring you down for the event. Then I will bolt.” Lloyd then says, “No, why don’t you paddle with me.” Deal. I can still make the crossing. So, I unofficially joined Chelsea’s team.
The team consisted of the swimmer, kayak escort, and a support vessel. We were number 3. And I would act as relief for Lloyd if he got tired, or, the race organizer asked me to be on standby to be called back to assist other teams. So we were all set.
Saturday morning at 7am we shove off. I take a quick selfie with my phone and text my Sister letting her know. My family was participating in the Relay for Life in Martin County, and since I could not come down, I was also doing this in honor of my Stepfather who passed away last year from Cancer. Since this was a paid event, m y proceeds were going to be donated to the cause.
The launch was uneventful as we headed southwest from the beach. There was a bit of chop, but we expected that. Those conditions would soon change. We continued sw and then started a turn to the north to parallel Pinellas County.
Chelsea was on here second break and I had to paddle to the support boat to replenish her fluid supply. That girl was a rocket. I have never seen anyone swim so fast and steady. Especially given the conditions we were entering. I could hear Chelsea saying, “ I cannot see the landmarks. I need one of you in front of me so I can follow.”
It was getting rough. We had a 20-knot north wind and an incoming tide. The waves were stacking up in the bay. But she was driving hard.
Now I had her supplies in my kayak and started heading back to her. I noticed Lloyd was behind her so I powered by him to catch up and lead. But, I could not catch her. She would stop and yell back to me, “I can’t see where I’m going”! So I was yelling to her, Bear right, bear left”! Whatever she needed. But the waves were getting higher and I was falling behind.
Here is my soapbox. If you are going to participate in certain adventure sports, know some basic rules. Three blasts from a whistle, horn or firearm means someone is in distress. Learn it, pay attention to it and heed it. You will see where this plays in.
Another team was coming up. Boat 20. This was a relay team. They would switch swimmers every ½ hour or so.
Chelsea is continuing to tell me she could not see and to get our boat in front of her. So, I am waving our boat, which was behind me, to move up. But they are not coming and I am in no position to turn around as I am still trying to catch Chelsea. By this time my waves are getting more frantic because I am falling behind.
Now I am getting close to boat 20 and start yelling at them to call boat 3 on the radio. But I am not getting a response. Out comes the whistle. Three blasts- nothing. Three more blasts- still nothing. Then I just let out one long, shrill blast and get their attention. I yell, “Call boat 3 and get them up to their swimmer. She needs a lead.” They answer. We tried, they are not answering.
By this time, I am no longer of any help to my swimmer. She was on her own, but I could see boat 20 tossing her drinks etc. This is an absolutely horrible feeling. I was entrusted to care for this swimmer’s needs. But I am of absolutely no help. I felt like I let her down and to be honest, I started to get depressed. But I had to still head north and try to catch up.
We are heading due north. Lloyd was behind me and the waves are getting bigger. I am paddling, just trying to make headway and keep upright. Then I hear from behind me, “TOM- Tom”! It’s Lloyd. I turn to my left the same time I am heading up a wave and my kayak pivots left and I start down the face of the wave sideways. I have know idea how I did it. But, I saved myself from going over. Lloyd said he saw the whole thing and was sure I was toast. Somehow I righted myself and continued struggling north. I tried yelling, “ I can’t hear you.” Lloyd was on his own.
This is getting bad.
Taking a quick look to my left, I can see our support boat. Bow down, motor up and someone bailing from the front. Not good. Another glance to the left and I see people on the boat donning life vests. They are going down!
I am now on my own.
I am 6’6” tall. So I figure while sitting in my kayak, my head is almost 4 foot above the waterline. The waves I am navigating are much taller. I am sitting in the trough looking up at a solid green wall of water. This is no lie, I am looking UP at the wave. Five footers? I don’t know. They were BIG. And they are coming in groups of four.
Up one wave, down the back, up the next. Repeat. It was hard paddling.
It has become a survival situation. Every stroke was deliberate. And now I am contemplating my next action. Do I paddle to Gandy? Can I paddle to Gandy? Where is the pier? Can I get there? How can I move west without getting crossed up in the waves?
What do I do? Where is Lloyd?
I prayed. I prayed for God to knock the waves down, and I prayed for Him to just end this thing safely.
Every year you hear about one or two kayakers getting rescued from a channel marker. Is Mr. Responsible now going to join the same club of those whom we ridicule?
There is a monster wave coming at me. I try very hard to cuss. But, I just yell out Oh S#$%! This is the one. The bow buries in the top of the wave and a wall of water rolls right over me. But I am still up right and floating.
Scupper plugs! Instinctively when I launched, I inserted my supper plugs in the tank well. I reach back and sure enough my tank well is slammed full of water. So, I pull the scupper plug out.
What do I do, what do I do, what do I do? I know, I cannot continue status quo. I need to make a decision.
A Coast Guard inflatable heads south with lights and siren on.
On my left I see a swimmer with a kayak escort passing me. This is the same kayak Lloyd and I made fun of earlier in the morning. It was a green, 9 foot Ocean Kayak Frenzy. Little did I know I would soon be introduced to the paddler- Brian.
On my right a powerboat, #5 pulls up. The Captain says, “Dude, you okay”? “No, as a matter of fact, I am not. I lost my swimmer, I think my support boat is gone and I have no idea where my buddy is.”
You need help? Yes, I do.
All right pull along side, and get in. So I pull along side, hand him my gear and flop into his boat. We lift the kayak in and I am out of harms way.
The Captain’s name is Guy. He does follow P-F.com and HCKFC.
So he asks me what boat I am with and I tell him #3. #3? Oh, they sank.
The radio is crackling. “Where is swimmer #3? Where is Tom? Where is Lloyd? In addition, there are other calls from other boats. We are taking on water!, Another boat is sinking!, We need to pull our kayaker from the water. It is radio mayhem.
I tell Guy our swimmer, 3, is now being escorted by boat 20 and the escort, me, is safely onboard boat #5. Now we need to find Lloyd and start asking. Another boat says he has Lloyd. Okay, all present and accounted for. I have now become an adopted member of team #5.
So here is the text to my wife and my sister:
Two vessels sank, one taking on water, Three Coast Guard vessels assisting, I had to be rescued by a boater. Four foot seas. Fun.
Now I start receiving texts back from my wife, my sister, and Lloyd.
I tell Lloyd, I am on a boat, I hear he got picked up and let’s meet at Gandy Beach. He was already in touch with our support boat and tells me it sank. But he also tells me he did not get picked up by a boat. He could not make the transfer to the boat, so he headed west. We were about a mile and a half off of the shore and it took him 2 hours to reach a home on Coquina Key. He saw a house with a couple kayaks in the yard, paddled up to the dock and stepped ashore. The lady who lived there came out and he explained our situation and asked her to call a cab for him so he could get his truck from Ben T. Davis since I was still on the water and it looked like neither of use would make the entire trip. She was awesome. She called a cab, brought him a towel and something to drink. Lloyd said he would be sending her flowers this week. Yes- he is quite the Gentleman.
I cannot say enough nice things about the crew on boat #5. They offered me food, drink, and support during the ordeal. And I will confess right here in front of the P-F.com family, I had one episode where I blew chunks over the side of the boat. Don’t know if it were nerves or what. But once I evacuated, I was good as gold. Guy said, dang, I never saw anyone blow chunks inside the bay before.
Hours later, I met up with Lloyd at Gandy beach. We dumped about 2 plus gallons of water out of my kayak and he took me to my truck. We discussed the trip and he told me tomorrow he was calling human resources to have me tested because he knew I must have been on drugs to agree to this trip. He said he was also going to call the president of the company and have me transferred to Duluth, Minnesota as punishment.
By the way, our swimmer won the race with a time of 10 hours, 3 minutes.
So, how was your weekend?
