or a limpet mine which explodes on contact with a zodiac pirate! aaaarrrr.

It is generally standard procedure to retrieve a board if you can see that someone is having trouble finding it. I have rescued many boards (and the odd kite).

It's pretty obvious when you see somebody dragging around trying to get high out of the water and generally looking about.

Some guys ride around completely oblivious of other riders.

It is quite easy to lose sight of your board in chop. I have been unable to find my board 4 times and actually lost a board for good once. I cannot understand why board makers use images and colours that actually camouflage boards in the water. Fins and foot straps should be brightly coloured because they stick up out of the water and are the most visible part.

I have my name and number on my board using a Dymo sticky label. It is water proof and does not fade or peel off. Water proof markers wear off.

If you find a board it is best to take it to the local kite shop. That's usually the first place people ask if they have lost their boards.

Pinna's can be bad for losing boards because a lot of the riders there are beginners or Euro's who don't really know anyone and there are often a lot of people with kites down which are quickly dragged well downwind of the riding zone. Because it is so common, people dont automatically go racing 300m downwind to help someone as the bay eventually curves back around downwind. Often the spots where beginners end up is into an area of bad and turbulent wind if it is southerly so helping someone can sometimes lead to a double rescue.

If you are going to learn at Pinnaroo, make sure you can relaunch your kite and you can body drag upwind or you know how to self rescue coz it's a long swim in or an even longer body drag behind an unlaunched kite to Mullaloo whilst the big fishies sniff at your toes!

This has been a community service announcement.

Good winds,

hmmm i find it hard that people can actually lose boards as well
the only time i have been seperated from my board for a long period of time was when my Leading edge had a leak so after awhile it folded and crashed and i coulded get it back up.

i've seen a few noobs that seem to think its easier to go into the beach to look for their boards. trust me if you can still body drag its alot easier to find it while your in the general vicinty and slightly upwind. which also reminds me if you cant body drag upwind do go in with a board.

also i have heard a lot people complain they cant see because the sun is low and blinds you. this is another easy one just body drag into the sun you will eventually be between your board and the sun.

also i have a board thats red on the bottom and white on top i can spot that thing from a mile away. unlike the dark coloured ones.