PUBLIC POLICY the Progressive Vector Pull (A.K.A. “Swigging”)
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This Issue: Welcome to the Lead Article pg 1 Journal of SEI Dept. Update pg 3 Paddlesport Tech Tips pg 8 Education. Featured ACA eStore side bars Upcoming Events pg 9 PUBLIC POLICY The Progressive Vector Pull (a.k.a. “Swigging”) SUP SURVEY By Walter Felton As part of the ACA's role in the paddle and boardsport How many times have you been in a situa- communities, we are rou- tion with a pinned boat and no one could tinely asked specific ques- remember how to set up a Z-Drag mechan- tions about Stand Up Paddle- ical advantage system or you did not have boarding (SUP). These ques- all the right equipment? Here is a possible, tions range from venue se- easy solution to that problem. lection for instruction, to curriculum development, to “Swigging” is a nautical term referring to a best practices, to the intrica- process used to take the slack out of a hal- cies of public policy yard, anchor or dock line. As it applies to from regulatory agencies and dock lines the process simply involves attaching two lines to the boat, then wrap- there will be a demonstration of a vector U.S. Senators as it relates to pull on the center of a haul line if just a lifejacket and leash wear. ping those lines around a stationary point. Force is applied to the center of line (1) little more force is needed. For the first SUP Survey making a V (Vector) in the line, thus short- few inches, up to about 150 degrees (180 ening the line and drawing the boat closer degrees represents the straight, tight line), We thank you in advance for to the dock. This action causes line (2) to the force applied to the center of the line your time and opinions . become slack. Before the vector force is is at least doubled at the anchor points or released on line (1), the slack was removed the ends of the line. from line (2), thus capturing the progress The progressive vector is the swiftwater achieved from pulling on line (1). rescue version of swigging that allows the Let’s apply these techniques to swiftwater rescuer to capture the progress achieved rescue and our understanding of vector by a vector pull on one line simply by tak- forces as they apply to the rope systems ing up the slack in a second line. This ACA SUP Instructor at the used in rescue situations. In most discus- method can be used to unpin a boat or Mickey Munoz Mongoose sions about mechanical advantage systems right a flipped raft using just two throw Cup in Dana Point, CA ropes. Here is how it works: Attach two Become a Subaru VIP 1 to the ropes that you are using so you should use the same safety precautions SEI RESOURCES that are used when employing any me- chanical advantage system like dampers on the lines, staying out of the line of pull, PADDLE AMERICA wearing all of your protective gear (helmet and PFD) and turning your back to the line CLUBS of pull. The ACA would like to This is a simple low-tech method for un- remind all Paddle America pinning a boat. It requires a limited Clubs and their members of the ACA waiver policy amount of equipment and is fast to set up. stated on your PAC con- lines to the craft in need of help. Set both The system can be modified by using a tract. All adult and minor lines around a tree with a tensionless wrap. Munter hitch or Prusik hitch and anchor members will need to sign The number of wraps necessary will be de- system for progress capture if a tree is not and return a 2013 waiver termined by the diameter of the tree and the available for the tensionless wrap. If you in order to be in compli- type of bark on the tree. Pull both lines as use one of these alternate systems it will ance with the insurance. tight as possible and hold tension around the be necessary to use separate anchor web- The 2013 waivers have tree (tip: this works best with low stretch or bing for each of the two lines. If you been issued to each PAC. static ropes). Apply force to the center of attempt to use one piece of webbing for Going forward, only cur- both lines when you apply the vector force rent versions of the waiv- one of the lines and take up the slack that is to the first line it will pull the webbing in ers will be accepted by created in the other line. You have just cap- the ACA. If a club or tured the progress generated by the vector the direction of the force thus taking up member submits an old pull by tightening the second line. Release some of the slack that would have been version of the waiver, the the vector force on the first line and it will generated in the second line. waiver will be returned to become slack because the second line is the club and asked to sub- holding the load. Repeat the process. Each The most important tool for swift water mit a current waiver. time, a little progress is made toward unpin- rescue is your knowledge and creativity. This is just another tool in your arsenal for ning the boat. boat recovery. For more information or Some of the advantages of this system in- questions please contact: clude: low tech, fast, low manpower neces- Walter Felton is an ACA L5 Safety and Res- Amy Ellis— sary, limited gear, removal of the weak point cue ITE, L4 River Canoe IT and L5 River Ca- aellis@americancanoe. in many mechanical advantage systems noe Instructor. org (prusik connection), no loss of force to fric- Candy Patten— tion, limited knots necessary (boat connec- cpatten@americancanoe. tion point only) which are weak points. org This technique does apply tremendous force Become a Subaru VIP 2 SEI RESOURCES SEI Department Update REI Outdoor School—New ACA Pro School KAYAKING BOOK Are you looking to gain a new perspective of the outdoors from the deck of a kayak? Or, are you interested in learning about the great total body workout you get on In an effort to provide a resource to all outdoor a Stand Up Paddleboard? Then check out the REI Outdoor School, now an ACA Pro enthusiasts, Kayaking has School. REI's professional instructors are ACA trained and will teach you how to pad- been developed by the dle, self-rescue, and navigate a variety of water bodies. ACA for all current and REI Outdoor School paddling courses are available in 13 cities across the United States, future paddlers, including including: recreational paddlers who want to be safe on local Atlanta, GA ponds or streams, and Boston, MA adventure seekers looking Chicago, IL to move on to whitewater Denver, CO or coastal waters. The Los Angeles, CA book also serves as a text Washington D.C./Virginia/Maryland for introductory kayaking courses taught at the uni- Minneapolis/St Paul, MN versity level. It is now New York - Tri State available for the iPad here Portland, OR and the print version on San Diego, CA in the ACA eStore. San Francisco Bay, CA - North & South Seattle, WA- Puget Sound Sacramento, CA - Reno (Sierra), NV REI Outdoor School Stand Up Paddleboard Class REI Outdoor School strives to provide the best outdoor education programs possible and have a 100% satisfaction guarantee that their classes and outings will meet your standards. Their commitment to outdoor education is why the REI Outdoor School is 1 of only 12 ACA Pro School across the nation. For more information about the REI Outdoor school, click here. Become a Subaru VIP 3 ESTORE Kokatat Instructor of the Month—Beth Wiegandt The September Kokatat Instructor of the Month, Beth Wiegandt, is an ACA Level 4: Whitewater Canoeing Instructor Trainer, a Level 2: Essentials of River Kayaking Instruc- RIVER SUP DVD tor and servers as the secretary on both the Introduction to Paddling Committee and River Canoe Committee. ACA staffer Kelsey Bracewell caught up with Beth in between River SUP Volume One is courses and had the following conversation: an equal parts instruction video and action/ How long have you been in paddlesports? adventure film. Concise I have been paddling, teaching, and leading clips and articulate expla- trips on the water for 24 years. I was in- nations usher the aspiring trigued by the sport when I was a camp coun- SUP river paddler through selor, hearing about all the fun and excite- the ins-and-outs of all ment the week-long adventure paddlers had sorts of river paddling, on the river. That program pulled me in and I from coasting down mel- haven’t looked back! low streams to the ad- vanced techniques in- What is your favorite paddlesports? River Canoeing is definitely my passion. Traveling volved in paddling Class II down river and navigating rapids is my favorite way to spend a day (or 2 or 3). I am ex- & III rapids. Hosted by panding my horizons by recently adding river kayak instructing and looking forward to whitewater Yoda and ACA exploring the SUP discipline to paddle when I spend time on the coast. SUP Instructor Trainer, Charlie MacArthur. What is your favorite boat? What about the boat made it your favorite? Currently, my boat is the Esquif Zephyr. The flat hull design has made me able to work more on play- ing waves and holes to keep up with my family of paddlers.