Dr Rip’s Science of the Surf: The Perils of Inflatables

I am still in awe of the incredible story of Austin Appelbee, the 13-year-old boy who in early February swam four kilometres back to shore on a West Australian beach to save his family, after they had been blown offshore while playing on inflatable paddle boards and a kayak.

Aside from future movie potential, the story has a valuable, but often overlooked, beach-safety message: using inflatables in the ocean can be dangerous! 

Austin and his family started their day close to shore under calm conditions, but a strong offshore wind quickly developed and their kayak and inflatable SUPs, which sit above the water (as well as their own bodies), literally acted as sails and they quickly found themselves heading rapidly out to sea. Paddling back to shore against a strong wind, choppy waves and surface drift that the wind creates is no easy task. It also didn’t help that they’d lost some of their paddles.

This sort of situation is not a common occurrence along our beaches, because the surf we get does not lend itself well to using inflatables. Most kayakers and stand-up paddle boarders are experienced and use boards made of more robust material that are streamlined to handle the ocean.

Inflatable devices invariably come with strong warnings that they should be used with care and not in an open ocean environment. Nevertheless, lifeguards and lifesavers are always on the lookout for people entering the water with inflatable rafts or rings (or even giant flamingos!), because if the wind shifts offshore, it’s a recipe for a rescue.

I have an inflatable kayak that’s perfect for lakes and estuaries, but for the first time ever I used it in the ocean this past Christmas Eve because conditions were so flat, benign and beautiful. I thought it would be fun to paddle out to the shark listening station at Stanwell Park, but halfway there I felt a gust of wind blowing offshore and quickly abandoned the plan.  

It’s important to remember that wind and wave conditions along the coast can change quickly and you should always check your weather app or the local marine forecast before heading to the beach as they provide hourly predictions that are pretty accurate. I also did think about the consequences of something sharp and pointy coming in contact with the thin layer of my inflatable kayak… 

Ironically, Austin did all the wrong things according to safety protocol, but thankfully his heroism saved his family. If you do find yourself stuck offshore on something that floats, don’t abandon it. It gives you something to hold onto. 

Chances are someone will eventually raise the alarm and a search party will eventually see and rescue you. And don’t worry about the sharks.