Re-enter and roll

In this rescue, you enter the kayak upside down, and then roll back up. In a sense, the name says it all. If you already have a roll, this is a quick and easy way to enter a boat after a capsize. The downside is you will scoop up quite a bit of water as you roll up.

[edit] Standard Re-entry and Roll

Lets go through the rescue step by step.

1. After the wet exit, surface next to your kayak being careful to hang onto all your equipment.
2. Face the bow of the upside down kayak. Visualize which leg should go where in the upside down boat. This is very important since it can get very confusing figuring this out once you are upside down.
3. Put the paddle along side the boat and up against the coaming. This way you can hold onto the paddle but still have both hands available to help with the re-entry.
4. Take a deep breath and rotate sideways to submerse yourself.
5. As you go under, push your legs into the boat and pull your butt into the seat.
6. Position your hands on the paddle for a roll sweeping out to the side from which you entered the boat, brace your legs for a roll (preferibly on the foot pegs) then roll.

[edit] Somersault Re-entry and Roll

It is also feasible to get into the boat by somersaulting into the seat. Some paddlers consider this easier and quicker than trying to get in on the side.

1. Surface inside the overturned boat, head facing the stern of the boat. You can catch your breath with the air in the cockpit.
2. Float your legs up to the hull
3. Grab the coaming with both hands (holding the paddle also in one...) and rotate (somersault) the legs between your arms and insert them into the boat.
4. Pull the boat on, like a pair of pants and get yourself seated.
5. (Optional) Attach your skirt
6. Roll up.

[edit] Paddle Float Re-Enter And Roll

If you don't have a roll, you can still do this maneuver, but now you'll need to use the paddle float to make the roll work. See Paddle float re-enter and roll.

[edit] Hints

• If you have good lungs and a not-too-tight spray skirt, it helps to reattach the spray skirt before you roll up. This may reduce the amount of water that gets into the cockpit.
• You may be able to get halfway into your kayak while it's still on its side, so you can breath and take your time.
• As an alternative, try practicing with the paddle first put under the deck bungies. That allows you to ignore the paddle until you're in the seat. This is only viable if your kayak is rigged to hold a paddle securely.