Over-the-Side Speed Rescue

Once the swimmer is back in his kayak, the rescuer must hold the two kayaks together (see Image 6). The swimmer will most probably need help attaching his spray deck. If the kayak has a built-in hand, foot or electric pump, then the spray deck can be fitted and the water pumped out. If there is no integral pump, and the swimmer is wearing a conventional spray deck, the rescuer can use a hand pump. This may be easy to do in calm conditions before the spray deck is reattached, but if there are waves breaking over the kayaks, it will be necessary to partially cover the cockpit with the spray deck, leaving a small gap at the side to insert the hand pump.
Pumping out a heavily swamped kayak is quite energy sapping. In the over-the-side speed rescue, both rescuer and swimmer can take turns at using the hand pump and holding the raft together. It’s worth trying to get out as much water as possible. A second capsize will be far more likely if there’s water sloshing around in the cockpit.
If the kayaks are facing in opposite directions, have the swimmer move to your bow and lean across it for support. Use a short tether to hold the bow of the swimmer’s kayak near your cockpit. If the kayaks are facing the same direction, have the swimmer move to your stern and hang on there while you short-tether his bow near your cockpit. With the swimmer leaning on and holding the bow or stern, he’ll be in a stable position, and you’ll be able to paddle by reaching over his bow.

Training Tips
Practice this rescue in calm conditions at first, then move out into rougher conditions. Consider wearing helmets to prevent accidental injury. Wear clothing that will allow you to jump into water with impunity. Time how long it takes from the rescuer arriving at the capsized kayak to getting the swimmer seated in his boat (without spray deck fitted). Twenty seconds in calm water is good. Fifteen seconds, and you’re getting it together as a team. Ten seconds is really slick.

Phil Eccles is a British Canoe Union Level-5 Sea Coach living in Wales. He is deputy head teacher of an outdoors-education school and has pulled many people into kayaks over the years.