MARCH 18, 2025 SEA-ZURE

 

SEA-ZURE

We are blessed to live in a seaside town and many of us enjoy assorted ocean activities.  Indeed, many of us are obsessed with the ocean.  Surfing, Wind surfing, Kite surfing, paddling, fishing, boating and sailing play a huge part in many of our lives.    Our obsession with the  ocean requires serious consideration when deciding whether it is safe to enter the ocean.  Experience and physical stamina are critical considerations when making these decisions.

When I surfed, I had a work schedule that allowed  me to surf every day of the week.  This added to my experience and fitness.  Fitness is critical in surfing. Years later I was only able to surf  2-3 times a week.  I went to Moss Landing one day and there was an awesome 8 foot swell with waves breaking with the force of freight trains.   When I was in shape, I thought nothing of surfing much larger waves than 8 feet.  I knew I was not in shape to surf the “freight train” waves and was walking toward the jetty where waves were a milder 6 foot. As I walked the beach, the 8 foot freight trains were beckoning and, against my better judgement, I  jumped in and started paddling.  Ten minutes later I was only 20 feet off the beach, but continued to paddle and duck-dive the waves.  Finally I made it to green water and while huffing and puffing, thought I was in the clear until I  saw an 8 footer grinding  toward me being square in the impact zone. When in shape, you paddle harder,  duck-dive early and  deep and pop out the back of the wave.  When out of shape like I was, you paddle up the face of the wave, try to duck-dive at the top and get sucked over the falls backward. Not a fun experience.  Once  I made it to the surface, I grabbed my board and was swept to the beach in 3 seconds. I went to the mellow waves by the jetty and had a great time.

 

Laticla Mexico 1983 was this a SEA-ZURE? NO IT WAS FUN

  I would like to coin a new word to describe what many of us experience when dealing with the ocean.  A seizure is a medical condition that involves “abnormal electrical activity in the brain”.  I propose the term SEA-zure: When you get to the water and  feel the beckoning of the sea and cannot resist the need to partake regardless how risky the conditions are.  This “attraction for  the sea” is not just something seasoned sportsmen experience.  How many people, visiting from inland, are lost every year being swept off the beach just to drown. Did they have a SEA-zure that  drew them closer to the danger of the ocean?

SOLO SAILING IN THESE CONDITIONS SEA-ZURE OR FUN? HE SAFELY MADE THE HARBOR!

i really wanted to sail on the last two Tuesdays, but the conditions predicted were way off on both days with waves breaking across the entrance.    My primary consideration is the safety of all sailors and boats, I cannot succumb to a Sea-zure and entice boats to exit the harbor in these conditions.  It was best to cancel the race on both Tuesdays.

NEXT TUESDAY IS THE LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH WHICH IS BARBECUE NIGHT AT THE CLUB.  WE WILL HAVE THE BARBECUE WHETHER CONDITIONS PERMIT SAILING OR NOT.  BRING YOUR BEST FOOD AND MEAT TO GRILL AND SHARE FOR THIS AWESOME EVENT!

I HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY, ON THE WATER ABD/OR AT THE GRILL.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice