Long crossings in a sea kayak are sometimes unavoidable. So are times when you have to parallel a rocky coast with no place to land. If the weather and swell is fine, neither situation poses a problem. When the weather and seas turn sour, however, it's another matter entirely. Battling waves, wind, fatigue, hypothermia and the inability to make headway can gang up on even the most experienced paddler—and it requires survival skills that go well beyond what you might have learned in a dock-side class.

Before attempting a crossing, you can limit the risk of such a situation by establishing your launching spot, waiting for a weather window and limiting your exposure by traveling as quickly and efficiently as possible. A few other techniques can also help.

Preparation
Survival begins with preparation, before you even leave the beach. A well-organized cockpit will allow easy access to essential items. I carry flares, signal mirror, a knife and energy bars in the pocket of my PFD. A small Class B EPIRB (rescue beacon) fits inside my paddle suit. Should I have to swim for shore, I will have these things when I reach land. In addition, I keep a small waterproof comfort kit in the cockpit. This contains extra food, dry clothing, a hand-held radio and fire starter. A lanyard allows me to clip the bag to my PFD, leaving my hands free for swimming. Obviously, boat and paddle are the primary survival tools. Should I become separated from my boat, however, these other items could save my life.

Recognition
Admitting things are out of control may be difficult: denial is a common response to a life-threatening situation. The earlier you recognize you are in danger the sooner you'll be able to make decisions to improve your situation—and the more energy you'll save to deal with it. Being caught in gale force winds a long way from shelter is a serious problem. Each choice you make—to push on, to land in the surf—may have serious consequences. Focus on three things: stay upright, head for shelter and conserve heat and energy. All three depend on your skills; hone them before you find yourself putting them to the test.

Shelter
Always have an escape route planned. This is the quickest and most energy-efficient route to a safe landing or shelter from wind and waves. Getting off the water is the best option. The route should avoid hazards like reefs and large tide rips. River mouths that may offer an easy landing at high tide in calm weather can turn treacherous in heavy weather with the tide ebbing. The key is to choose a route that saves energy, not mileage, even if that means going back the way you came. Ten miles downwind can be easier and faster than five miles into a headwind.

Retreating
The decision to backtrack is difficult. Mentally, it is demoralizing to give up hard-earned miles, especially if the objective is close. But it is a wise skill to master. Evaluate the conditions first and the distance second: 500 feet from the top of Mt. Everest is still a long way from the summit. Be prepared to let go of your original goal. Pushing on into headwinds takes energy. The more your reserves deplete the less your chance of survival. Remember: the wind and ocean do not get tired. Get off the water as soon as possible to remove yourself from threatening conditions before exhaustion sets in. In extreme conditions I have found it prudent to stop fighting the elements and run with them.
Several advantages result from paddling with the wind and swell at your back. You will travel faster with less energy, and even if you stop paddling you'll still make progress. Each stroke becomes easier because the boat is moving at its hull speed as opposed to pushing into headwinds where the boat is being decelerated. The windchill factor is also reduced by paddling with the wind, saving precious calories from heat loss.

Surf Landing
In the event a sheltered landing is out of the question you have two options: landing through the surf or waiting it out on water. Landing a fully loaded ocean boat in heavy surf is a challenge; and on an unknown beach it can be risky. The surf zone may be impossible to read due to poor visibility, large swell, and spray and sea foam blanketing the surface. All this increases the risk of hitting rocks. A steep beach will produce violent surf. What are the consequences if you lose your gear? If there is a road nearby, being shipwrecked may be an acceptable option. Being marooned gearless on a desolate beach in Alaska is another story.

Once you're on shore your job is not over. Practice survival skills you might need—lighting a fire, setting up shelter—beforehand. And remember that if you swim, being cold, wet and exposed on shore is still a grim scene. I once bobbed in my kayak 30 yards from shore and watched large waves explode on a steep gravel beach. Safety seemed so close but making it ashore through the surf appeared unlikely. Reluctantly, I paddled another four miles in marginal conditions to a safer landing. When things start unraveling options not only become fewer but also less inviting.

Waiting it out on the water
In the 1800s the Aleuts often paddled hundreds of miles in the Gulf of Alaska without a landfall. They endured storms at sea by rafting up in groups and waiting for weather to improve. Rafting up is a good way for a group to rest, add layers, eat and hydrate. Tying off to kelp, buoys or other objects anchored to the ocean floor can eliminate drift. In the absence of anchors a drogue (sea anchor) can be used off the bow to slow drift and hold the nose into the wind and waves. In northern latitudes hypothermia is another problem. Paddling produces heat; resting allows the chill to creep in. Taking the brunt of a storm from the low vantage of a kayak is punishing. The elements wear you down bit by bit. You may be better off paddling on. For either option you'll need insulation and endurance. A small bay or alcove may allow you to get out of the wind and breaking seas but steep terrain may make it impossible to land. Still, floating it out may be the best alternative as you will have removed yourself from the threatening conditions.

Staying warm
Fatigue and cooling of the body core are insidious, each feeding off the other. Wind and cold water will zap your strength quickly. Energy expenditure requires calories...fuel the furnace by eating often. Unwrapping energy bars beforehand allows them to get from your pocket to your mouth with the least amount of fuss. Water is also critical; a hydrating system that does not require lid removal is the most convenient. Any time you take your hands off the paddle you will be more vulnerable to capsizing. Always keep an eye on approaching waves and be ready to engage the paddle for a brace at any moment.

Adding layers should be done at the first sign of cooling. Extreme conditions make doing any task difficult and hazardous; especially trying to slither into sleeves. Without someone to raft up with for stability solo paddlers are vulnerable when changing clothes. Palm Equipment of England makes a paddler's anorak with full sleeves, hood and a skirt that seal around the cockpit coaming. It can go on over the PFD and paddle jacket and helps with heat retention. A loose-fitting spraydeck allows cold water to sit in your lap...another place to leak heat. I often carry a piece of closed-cell foam to insulate my legs from pooling water on the skirt.

Keeping it together
The journey to safety may require you to paddle in frightening conditions for some time. The most important factor for survival is the will to live. It is your mind and body that will get you out of the mess you got yourself into. They must work together. The body responds to a fearful mind by contracting; muscles tense and breaths become short and shallow. This wastes energy. Long, slow deep breathing relaxes the mind and helps release fear. It is a paradox that you must relax in a demanding situation, but it's key to survival. Pay attention to your body. Loosen the grip on the paddle, stop pressing so hard on the foot braces and relax the lower back. Remember torso rotation for efficient, energy saving strokes.

Slow down. That distant point will come up soon enough. Pushing the boat faster than its hull speed is not efficient. The exception to this rule is a headwind. Here you have to paddle hard to make headway, but be realistic about the distance you'll be able to cover. Keep your spine loose. A tight spine in rough water will make the boat feel tippy. Keep your hips loose so the kayak can respond to the motion of the water. Counting strokes can also help you remain calm.

Look ahead as you paddle and alter your course well in advance of any hazards. Changes in sea condition might make a return route different than when you paddled it a few hours earlier. Also remember that in heavy weather things pile up near shore. Avoid the temptation to paddle close to shore; unless there is a good landing or obvious route it often offers false security.

When rounding a point, be prepared for the sea and wind to be compounded. Taking a short cut inside might not be a good idea. If there is any doubt, head for the deeper water outside. When approaching a point that offers leeward shelter be careful not to get swept by a possible bail-out spot. Remember that you are in a current of air (and possibly water) that is propelling you along like the flow of a river. When skirting a point and coming into a bay, pay attention to your ferry angle and whether or not the course to shore puts you across or nose-up to the wind. Once you're downwind of a suitable landing, it may be impossible to fight your way back up.

When you do make it ashore you'll likely do as many have before you; you'll get down on your hands and knees and kiss the ground. But don't forget to glance back at the water and thank the sea for not claiming you—it could have been different.

—-Dennis Eagan is a 12-year sea kayak guide and ACA-certified instructor from Alaska who has taught open ocean workshops and marine and winter survival courses. On his own, he has explored more than 500 miles of Alaska's exposed Gulf Coast between Sitka and Kodiak.