Is someone trolling???
Posted by: t.george on Jan-11-13 8:42 AM (EST)
Surf zone rescues are no big deal if you're comfy in the surf zone to begin with. Deploying a rope in the surf is what should be avoided.
IMO, the best option was exercised. Getting to deep water would have taken much more effort. Exhausted rescuers are a bad thing. The outflow could have been utilized to help get both swimmer and boat to deeper water, but would have required getting past the "man/boat eater" bobbing in the surf between the rescue and the strong outflow current. Tethering to a swamped boat that will most likely go turtle makes a great sea anchor, but is hard to get anywhere and can get hard to be free of. Letting the wind & surf do the work looked to be the most expedient & safeest option; the surf was not that big so not much of a "danger" and was a sure thing as well as getting all together on shore.
FWIW, t.george