Just saw it on the ABC News website too, its just been updated saying search called off, with emergency services believing the gear was ditched and rider swum ashore...
www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-21/search-called-off-for-kite-surfer-believed-missing-melbourne-bay/6636796

Definitely a bit of wind about today, hope all is good...
The photo on ABC shows a 9m Cloud kite (strutless)

Interesting Seabreeze thread on those below...

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Kiteboarder-review-of-the-Cloud-strutless-kites/

Or eaten by a shark while attempting a self rescue???!

Just read the ABC report.
Who swims in after a self rescue, leaves their gear and goes home telling no one?
Can anyone confirm the owner of the gear made it to shore?

For gods sake people....... If you ditch you gear make a call to police and notify them.... saves a lot of time , money and bad publicity

100% don't get a bill. It is picked up by state authority or AMSA

Kites have serial numbers, if you buy new you register that kite for warranty, phoning the company might give you the owners details,

the owner is a toss pot as far as im concerned should have made a call

dafish said..
Being a Cloud they would contact Greg from BRM, and for sure he would know who bought it. That guy is second to none when it comes to working with his clients. Hard to believe the dude has not come forward yet as it is not a cheap kite, and by the looks of it, he has a BRM bar too. Top shelf gear, top shelf price.

Unless it was stolen, not reported yet (owner overseas?), and the thief tried to use it, lost control, and dumped it?!

Just a theory. :)

If you are related to Bronwyn Bishop it's not a problem though!

cauncy said..
Kites have serial numbers, if you buy new you register that kite for warranty, phoning the company might give you the owners details,

you register a kite for warranty ?

Peterc150 is spot on, for VicPol matters anyway.

000 is for police attendance (urgent or non urgent) as 000 is the only place that can dispatch the unit.

If you call the local station, all they do is call 000 on your behalf.

Call the local station for a general enquiries.

dusta said...

cauncy said..
Kites have serial numbers, if you buy new you register that kite for warranty, phoning the company might give you the owners details,

you register a kite for warranty ?

Yep, 1st thing I do, pays dividends, I managed to wrap my bridle around my dump valve which ripped it off the bladder, phoned flexifoil and asked how much for a new bladder as it was my cock up, doesn't matter they said as your whole kites under warranty wether it was my fault or not, 2 days later free bladder arrived with a few freebies and a thank you for choosing flexifoil, also when scum rob your gear like at kitestock it makes the cops job easier, Robo and myself went to some effort to prove they'd stolen some gear , an id number would of speeded up the process

Peterc150 said..
I advised the Water Police that user SHQ had seen the kiter on the shore. Got some feedback from them.

They eventually managed to establish that the kitesurfer made it in and called off the search.

They do get a few of these jobs and activate all assets straight away whilst establishing the safety/whereabouts of the missing person.

They often get people telling them they saw the MP make it in but until they have confirmation or are confident of witness evidence then they continue to search.

Their job would be MUCH easier if the kitesurfer involved or someone else rang triple 0 to let them know he/she was OK.

And yes, they also may check Seabreeze - but don't rely on this.

If in doubt, call it in. You may save $thousands. Air time for choppers is very expensive and best avoided.

I should have mentioned that when I finished windsurfing I did manage to catch up with some Police in the carpark who confirmed they were looking for a kiter based on receiving some calls that someone was in trouble and the fact they'd found the kite.

I explained to them what I'd seen and they pretty much stopped the search straight after that.

Pity I couldn't get closer to the Police boat and save them a few hours - I just got the thumbs up from the police on the boat so I assumed everything was OK and they were doing some sort of training drill.

Pretty major waste of money but at least no one was hurt - actually someone came into the shop and said a kiter had died at Brighton - funny how rumours spread!

Anyway, let the authorities know if you ditch your gear... even better, make sure you know how to self rescue - practise at least once a year when your life doesn't depend on it so that you know exactly what to do when things get nasty.

Stay safe

Just an update, I am the kiter in question. I have contacted the water police, spoke and debriefed with Mark Bates who was extremely helpful. Thankyou to all involved in the search and to forum members who tried to clarify the situation via the forum.

i must appologise to all concerned and have to own the fact I was a monumental ass and totally unaware of the chain of events I set in place. First up though, my learning from this........

1) I should have contacted water police 1st to advise there could be a hazard.
2) my contact details written on the kite would have also prevented this.

For absolute clarification I was kiting off Brighton Beach, on new kite I was stoked to own and super keen to try out on the bay. I inadvertently jagged the safety detach in a strong northerly. My kite flew off and I was some 300-400m from shore. A long cold swim with my Paipo/Shinnster to shore and I could barely see the outline of the kite. I rushed to green point and gave it a shot to swim for it, a few poeple were watching but the kite took off again. Another long swim, and by the time I got to shore I could no longer see the kite. As it is a strutless BRM cloud I felt it may have twisted in its lines popped and sunk.......or was far out in the bay.

i went home, took off to work and was totally unaware of the search etc that took place until I read the post here this evening.

without doubt my dumbest moment. I own that. some things, like this make sorry a totally inadequate concept.

great sport, great crew wherever I have been and hope my actions haven't damaged our reputation in a lasting way. I will front the water police in person tomorrow because it's the least I can do.....huge respect for the job they do.

Regards to all
richard

HamptonLocals said..
Just an update, I am the kiter in question. I have contacted the water police, spoke and debriefed with Mark Bates who was extremely helpful. Thankyou to all involved in the search and to forum members who tried to clarify the situation via the forum.

i must appologise to all concerned and have to own the fact I was a monumental ass and totally unaware of the chain of events I set in place. First up though, my learning from this........

1) I should have contacted water police 1st to advise there could be a hazard.
2) my contact details written on the kite would have also prevented this.

For absolute clarification I was kiting off Brighton Beach, on new kite I was stoked to own and super keen to try out on the bay. I inadvertently jagged the safety detach in a strong northerly. My kite flew off and I was some 300-400m from shore. A long cold swim with my Paipo/Shinnster to shore and I could barely see the outline of the kite. I rushed to green point and gave it a shot to swim for it, a few poeple were watching but the kite took off again. Another long swim, and by the time I got to shore I could no longer see the kite. As it is a strutless BRM cloud I felt it may have twisted in its lines popped and sunk.......or was far out in the bay.

i went home, took off to work and was totally unaware of the search etc that took place until I read the post here this evening.

without doubt my dumbest moment. I own that. some things, like this make sorry a totally inadequate concept.

great sport, great crew wherever I have been and hope my actions haven't damaged our reputation in a lasting way. I will front the water police in person tomorrow because it's the least I can do.....huge respect for the job they do.

Regards to all
richard

take a carton with you, works a treat