Today, like any other day on the water, I was having fun playing with the wind and the waves. However it was getting late and just as I was turning back towards Middle Brighton Beach, my safety release went off (it looks like I didn't do all the way in), I paniked and let the bar go.That was the end of the fun. As I am pretty safety focussed (always having my PFD and helmet, and looking for new self rescue techniques), I winded the lines, turn the kite on the water, rode the leading edge and lifted the downwind wing tip to use half of the kite as a sail. I was pretty far from the beach, however I was making good advance, and to my apreciation, if the wind was keeping up, by 08:00 I could reach the shore somewhere between Royal Brighton Yacht Club and the end of North Road boating ramp. However, like always, the other kiters were keeping an eye on what's happening out there, so two guys came to try to assist me. I asked them to try to see if anyone will still be at the Life Saving Club, and despite the fact that was Wednesday, pretty late, they jumped in the "Mercury" and came to rescue me.
It was a very comforting site, to see the little boat speeding towards me. As they were closing up, I jump of my kite, deflated the leading edge and took the bar (with the lines already winded) in my hand. The boat aproached me with caution, and very professional, the first think they asked me was :"where are my lines".
It is good to see that what we were discussing last year, is already implemented, and the Life Saving Club is doing a great job.
The ride in the boat was really fun and comforting, under the watcfull eye of the Marine Safetty Hely (they were in attendace too, but could not beat in speed the BLSC!!!)
Good on you guys! Thank you very much for your good work today.
Keep doing it, that gives us more confidence.
I think that we, as kitesurfers, as users of the water, we have to support the Life Saving Clubs in the areas we are usually kitesurfingjavascript:insertsmilie('
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Smile
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