Please don't go there Christian..

IMO that guy was a fool and his was a 500% bigger risk than what we took.

DJ

I can see a Discovery Channel story in the pipeline. Terrific story and photo's and a great outcome for all.

Maybe take it easy for awhile, if you can.

DavidJohn said...

Please don't go there Christian..

IMO that guy was a fool and his was a 500% bigger risk than what we took.

DJ

Agreed. 500%.... and the rest

Not suggesting there is any parallels with the situation past the composition of the photo. Just a striking image thats all.

Casso said...

Awesome journalism DJ.

If only there was an Australian paddle surfing magazine still around to publish it!

That's right Casso.. .. It would have been a great story even without the drama's.

BTW we have some great vid from Pete's GoPro.. I'll try and post his vid soon.

DJ

hilly said...

That was awesome DJ I love the drama of getting on the bouy
Well done to all involved wonder if the repeat run will be so entertaining?

OMG there should be NO REPEAT RUN.

If anybody reading this story can take something from it, it's that most people have no freakin' idea about basic seamanship. Anybody with at least a small amount of boating experience would know that the waves in the middle of the bay get really big. ESPECIALLY AT 20-30 KNOTS. The ships travelling in the shipping lanes cannot actually move around you if you happen to not able able to paddle out of their way or continually fall off your board infront of them.

I'm also astounded that you considered jumping off and "drifting" to shore. After the sun goes down, that warm water that seemed so inviting would mean you'd probably die of exposure before you hit terra firma. And that's if you didn't drown first.

"A true professional" was quoted in one post. WTF? There is nothing professional about this incident. Clearly the opposite. The fact that a GPS wasn't considered before this incident is mental.

What would have happened if all 3 didn't make it to the other side? Was there a time determined for the alarm to be raised by a loved one? Wow, it's apparent the amount of non-planning that went into such a large event crossing. But I guess you thought it would be *fun* right? And you prep was....ok? And what could *really* go wrong? You're in the bay afterall right? Quite unbelievable to say the least.....

If you continue to gamble with the ocean, the ocean will finally win in the end.

Baby steps boys...something more tangable and a lot less risk, and perhaps something that wont take up the precious time and money of Port Authorities.

DJ & co - I would really like to continue seeing you paddle, but you pull this bullsh#t again, and it'll be lights off .

My comments may seem harsh, but they are coming from a place of genuine concern. It makes me so upset to see foolish incidents like this occur in the first place, but then the "boys club" responses from the community. Please engage your brains next time or you'll end up on the 6 o'clock news as "man drowns in Port Phillip Bay". I'd really like not to see that happen.

Peace

Bloody hell... what a story. Amazing. I'm so glad you're ok. and everyone else of course. Top work port Security etc too.

AB

DavidJohn said...

but sharing this drama and talking about it is the best thing to do.. IMO

Hell yeah - fascinating story told by a masterful storyteller. Glad you are all ok.

You're legend is growing DJ.

Just like The Lone Ranger, whose horse Silver returns home when he falls off.

Well done surviving to tell a great tale.

Where exactly did the board wash up at Sandy?

Is it out of action for Sundays race?

Alan.

ps. They might have spotted you earlier if you were wearing my wetsuit.

ALsUP said...


ps. They might have spotted you earlier if you were wearing my wetsuit.

Yes now who's laughing hey Al?

AA said...

DavidJohn said...

skeeta said...



OMG there should be NO REPEAT RUN.

If anybody reading this story can take something from it, it's that most people have no freakin' idea about basic seamanship. Anybody with at least a small amount of boating experience would know that the waves in the middle of the bay get really big. ESPECIALLY AT 20-30 KNOTS. The ships travelling in the shipping lanes cannot actually move around you if you happen to not able able to paddle out of their way or continually fall off your board infront of them.

I'm also astounded that you considered jumping off and "drifting" to shore. After the sun goes down, that warm water that seemed so inviting would mean you'd probably die of exposure before you hit terra firma. And that's if you didn't drown first.

"A true professional" was quoted in one post. WTF? There is nothing professional about this incident. Clearly the opposite. The fact that a GPS wasn't considered before this incident is mental.

What would have happened if all 3 didn't make it to the other side? Was there a time determined for the alarm to be raised by a loved one? Wow, it's apparent the amount of non-planning that went into such a large event crossing. But I guess you thought it would be *fun* right? And you prep was....ok? And what could *really* go wrong? You're in the bay afterall right? Quite unbelievable to say the least.....

If you continue to gamble with the ocean, the ocean will finally win in the end.

Baby steps boys...something more tangable and a lot less risk, and perhaps something that wont take up the precious time and money of Port Authorities.

DJ & co - I would really like to continue seeing you paddle, but you pull this bullsh#t again, and it'll be lights off .

My comments may seem harsh, but they are coming from a place of genuine concern. It makes me so upset to see foolish incidents like this occur in the first place, but then the "boys club" responses from the community. Please engage your brains next time or you'll end up on the 6 o'clock news as "man drowns in Port Phillip Bay". I'd really like not to see that happen.

Peace

Thanks for your post Skeeta.

The guys at Port Security also said that I did the right thing heading for that buoy and staying there and not trying to swim for it.

I don't claim to be a hero or anything in fact I'm embarrassed about all this and could have kept it to myself.. I'm sure the other guys would agree.. but sharing this drama and talking about it is the best thing to do.. IMO

DJ

Each to there own SKEETA!
But boys will be boys and our differences may never be reconciled.
This was not a boating incident. They were on boards specifically designed for the purpose. You don't see boats mixing it up at the local surf break. These were boards designed for the purpose and such conditions in mind.

DJ's seamanship is not in question, he has years of it under his belt.
His judgment? Sure. But his leg rope broke through some silly modification. He has admitted his mistake and he paid for it. The real gutsy effort was coming on here and admitting it could have been done better.

The reference to DJ's professionalism, I beleive was in regards to his journalistic prowess - keeping the camera rolling to the last minute, not how he approached the venture.

No one is saying that mistakes were not made, but for many life is only truly lived when you occasionally go to the edge. You don't have to participate and there will always be critics but some people will always climb the highest mountain no matter what the risk.

We live in a world where everyone wants to wrap up everything on cotton wool and take little or no risk. We only reside here because our forefathers took huge risks.

It is not for everyone and they have admitted their mistakes but the sooner they go out and have another crack at it, (agreed with better planning) the better!

I will put money on it that if they don't someone will!

Couldn't of put it better myself AA hence why I sank to the lowest form of wit

Loving my red thumbs btw

OMG, how stupid was the first guy to surf Pipe on a board not designed for that sort of wave. Not to mention Laird and all those other stupid big wave surfers taking their lives in their hands everytime they take on those huge waves. You can forget about jet skis and all that when you get pinned to the bottom or in a cave and run out of air. mmmmmm maybe small scuba tanks should be mandatory.

Thing is, we all take calculated risks, some small, some big, a lot of times they're successful, sometimes they're not. Can we reduce those risks, course we can but sometimes even the best laid plans come unstuck.

Glad you're still here DJ

Pete

Thanks DJ, you have done many people a big favour in telling this so well. There is a lot of food for thought here and some very important lessons.

The overriding one for me is not to fall into the trap of becoming complacent about open water downwinders. In my case, I have stopped taking my PFD (and, one by one, the whistle/mirror/roll of electrical tape etc etc - all the stuff that just seems superfluous and a bit anal) because I have never needed it. I have to reassess this now in light of your story.

Your story just goes to prove that 99 times out of 100 it won't go wrong - but when it does, it goes disastrously wrong.

Thanks again and I'm glad you got home.

doggie said...

DavidJohn said...

Please don't go there Christian..

IMO that guy was a fool and his was a 500% bigger risk than what we took.

DJ

I cant beleive that YOU said that, the risk you took was big enough

Totally Agree, I would be calling NOBODY a fool if i was plucked from a bouy in the shipping channel in 50 knot winds. If all you big boys wana take the risks, live on the edge and follow your "forefathers" then when the SH1T hits the fan dont rely on others to pull you out of it. Yeah, it may be their job but others were put at risk in this rescue, not to mention resources used.

brady said...

Great story and good outcome.

But one question - why on earth didn't you all stay together? Doing an open water crossing in a group for safety only works if you are a group!

YOUR FRIENDS SHOULD HAVE SLOWED DOWN AND WAITED FOR YOU!

I'd be having a few words with your friends about that.

G'brady or is it Gonad Man
Yes its very hard to stay together when doing a Downwind run as soon as you start you're pretty much on your own (sad but true)
DW

laceys lane said...

ALsUP said...

You're legend is growing DJ.

Just like The Lone Ranger, whose horse Silver returns home when he falls off.

Well done surviving to tell a great tale.

Where exactly did the board wash up at Sandy?

Is it out of action for Sundays race?

Alan.

ps. They might have spotted you earlier if you were wearing my wetsuit.

sugar and spice and all things nice,nothing makes me sick- till now. this isn't a bloody tv show. a guy just made it and the other 2 dragged themselfs up the beach counting their lucky stars- a great tale of a growing legend, my a##. take it for the warning and awareness that dj has intended it to be

I'm not condoning the risks that were taken paddling across the bay in those conditions.
Enough has been said for and against it.

I was as concerned as anyone when I heard of the plans to make the crossing.
I rang DJ on Sunday morning to offer my services for ground support if they missed there landing mark and I made mention to make sure they stick together.

My post was merely celebrating the fact that DJ's still around and able to tell us his story.