Have you ever been caught in a rip current?

[BlueWeasel]

Sad story here

I've been to the ocean many times in my lifetime, but have never been in a rip current or seen anyone get caught in one. I've read that it's nearly impossible for even the best Olympic swimmers to swim back towards shore against the current.

Apparently, it's easy to get out of one -- just swim parallel to the shore for a few feet until you get past the width of the current. Unfortunately, most people panic and neglect to follow this simple rule.

 

[DAGTA]

Yes, two years ago off the coast of Gulf Shores, Alabama. Fortunately, it only pulled me out a short way and then was pulling me along the coast. I didn't fight it; instead I gradually leaned towards the shore and swam when I could. I got out about 1/8 of a mile down from where I went in and made it that far much faster than I walked back.

 

[Literati]

I did once when I was little.

It scared the shens out of me.

Probably one of the worst feelings ever.

 

[arcenite]

I almost did twice before even knowing what one was... Canoing (sp) in the bay with my sister and found it very hard to paddle in the direction i was going... if it wasn't for me being inches from a jetty (sp) to push off I probably would have been canoing in the ocean

 

[scorpmatt]

yes, been in a few, it suxors

in cali, the rip currents there send you down the beach, thats f-ing scary

 

[Conky]

Me and my boogie boarding buds used to swim into them intentionally. They will take you way out, lol. But if you don't panic and ride them out they are quite fun.

Not recommended for swimmers who aren't sure if they can handle it though.

 

[Conky]

Originally posted by: scorpmatt
yes, been in a few, it suxors

in cali, the rip currents there send you down the beach, thats f-ing scary

Yep, long walk back, hehe

 

[chowmein]

my friend's friend die just last yr at jones beach.

 

[imported_LoKe]

No.

 

[Brutuskend]

Yes. At "The Wedge" at Balboa peninsula.

 

[BlueWeasel]

I could how easy it would be to panic if you've never been in one or didn't know what they are. I am extra fearful for some reason around the water as I've gotten older (but wasn't like that as a child), and would probably freak out if caught in one.

 

[biostud]

I'm currently posting from one

 

[notfred]

Plenty of times, they're a handy tool for recuding the amount of paddling you have to do while on a surfboard.

They're a pain in the ass when you're swimming, though.

People seem to think that a rip current will take you miles out so sea, but they wont. Here's how they work.

Sand bars build up along the beach. There start near shore and go no more than a few hundred feet into the water. Now, the water is shallower over the sandbar, and the when waves get to this shallow water, they break and and the water from the wave washes over the sandbar to the beach. There is now a bunch of extra water near the beach, and since water will find it's own level, this extra water needs to flow back out to the ocean, outside the sandbar where it came from. Since waves keep pushing new water over the sandbar, t his extra water will flow parallel to the beach until it gets to the channel between sandbars. this channel is deeper than the area above the sandbars, and so waves dont break here until they get right next to the beach. When the water reaches this area, it can flow back out to sea with out waves pushing it back up towards the beach.

This is how a rip current is created - all the water pushed over the sandbars by waves flows back out in a narrow channel between sandbars. However, once the water gets past the sandbars, which usuall doesn't take more than 100 yards, it flows to the rightor left and dissipates.

If you were to get caught in a rip current and jsut tread water, you'd get pulled out to see about 50-100 yards, and then you'd move parrallel to the beach for a little while until you were in front of a sandbar. At that point you can jsut swim straight in with the waves. Theother option is to swim sideways whe nthe rip current first starts pulling you, until you get out of the channel between sandbars.

The big mistake people make is trying tho swim against the rip current. They end up swimming as hard as they can, but not really moving, and eventually they tire out and can drown.

Rip currents are very manageable if you understand them and can swim 100 yards and tread water.

 

[notfred]

here's a diagram showing how rip currents work.

 

[MrChad]

Yes, when I was little. We were on a private beach without lifeguards. I remember swimming and swimming towards the shore but not making any progress. Luckily a college-age kid was on the beach and swam out to get me.

 

[ggnl]

Originally posted by: notfred
here's a diagram showing how rip currents work.

:thumbsup: for diagrams!

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: biostud
I'm currently posting from one

Dedication!!

"OMGWTFBBQHELP!!! I'm stuck in a rip current ATOT!!! What do I do!!! OMG the salt stings!!"

 

[gigapet]

I did when I was about 12 in hammonasett rhode island


I went from 5 feet from the shore to about 120 feet in a matter of 60 seconds.

I just treaded water until the lifeguard who was connected to a building on the shore by a rope was able to reach me.

Pretty scary experience.

 

[jadinolf]

Yes and it's scary.

 

[eplebnista]

No.