Night Surf Landing on Sabtang

Photo by Moira

20 minutes earlier 100 meters right of from where we surf landed, YH was organizing a dangerous night surf landing. 

After a quick briefing on how to surf land, he asked YK to land first to provide some assistance to the remaining kayakers coming in. The important thing was to pick the right wave and be in front of the smaller ones, and back paddle on the larger ones. But in the dark, no one could look over the shoulders and see what type of waves were approaching.

And no one was particularly thrilled to be waiting outside the surf zone either, having to constantly battle waves after waves to keep oneself stable. 

YH shouted "OK go!", 2 kayakers followed him while the rest watched.

"Back paddle! Forward! Waves looked out!!, YH was attempting to lift his voice above the screams and roars. The group went forward and backwards in the chaotic melee. The first group slide inside the lagoon and was in.

The next group of 3 kayaks followed cautiously forward, guided by the lights of the kayakers on the beach. The surf was roaring with impunity, creating a blockade of sound and fear. A giant wave crashed behind the kayakers. It took Dave's kayak sideways and tossed him out like twig. His kayak struck the rocks vertically and overturned. The force of the waves ripped Carol out of her kayak, which instantly flew over Amos, dropping her kayak sponge into his cockpit, before she was washed over by the next wave. 

Amos tried in vain to ferry glide his kayak to the shore and capsized.

The ground kayakers ran towards this second group, pulling flooded kayaks and stunned kayakers to shore. They frantically pumped water out of the kayaks, which was too heavy to drag to shore. But waves after waves entered the cockpits and dragged the heavy kayaks back to the surf zone.

Chan, who was still outside the surf zone, was observing lights moving about in disco on the shores and in the water. One of the lights was shinning from under the water, creating a translucent, lighter shade of jade blue in the darkness. 

"Is the beach cleared for landing?", Chan raised YH on the radio. 

It was at this time that Group B had arrived outside the landing site, unaware of the dangers ahead.