Capsize, Swim, Roll!
Is there a real life situation of capsizing and losing your paddle and then swimming to it without leaving your boat and then rolling back up?
Well, maybe not,
but for purposes of being Master of Your Boat - the Capsize, Swim, Roll - is worth practicing.
Besides, it's fun!
From Yoda:
YOU are the pilot of boat, the more skills you have, the more confident you become, the more pilot you are ~
Yoda.
Actually, I don't think Yoda said that, but he might have if he had been training Jedi Paddlers.
To Execute:
Toss your paddle, capsize, keep your butt in the seat and your feet on the foot pegs but, rotate your torso,
get your head out of the water,
pan around until you visually acquire your paddle,
dog paddle or breast stroke over to it,
keep breathing in a relaxed manner,
grasp your paddle correctly,
keep your eyes open,
orient the blades,
maintain situational awareness (i.e. remain relaxed and thinking),
re-situate yourself in your cockpit, set up for a solid roll,
AND roll. That's all there is to it.
To Practice:
Practice the high brace; over and over and over and over...every single time you go paddling.
Practice the roll; over and over and over and over...at least once, every single time you go paddling.
