Like Juddy - with the experience of organising 'official' events I have similar concerns & feel Juddy is completely justified in his cautions.
BUT
I dont think that Underoath is organising anything official here.
Anyone, at any time, can call up a group of buddies to do trips like this purely as a personal adventure.
The danger is that advertising as Underoath has done may encourage others to come along thinking that if its its 'organised' they will be looked after.
I dont think thats part of of Underoaths scheme.
The call out was simply an "Im doing it" do you want to join me.
No set precautions for large numbers, no extra-ordinary safety or rescue provisions.
Just an opportunity for those competent enough to self-manage the risks - esp the big one of having to pull out mid way thru lack of sufficient skill or gear failure - requiring a pick-up from a largely inaccessible coastline.
IMO - dont even consider it if you havent factored in every possible personal consequence and are prepared to wear it whatever the outcome.
IMO its not an invite to those not fully aware of every consequence.
There is no offer from Underoath to arrange the very necessary car shuffle to & from the start & finish points.
If you are considering joining in then you need to sort that for yourself & maybe in doing so you should organise for your shuffle crew to cover for your own emergency pick-ups etc.

And to Underoath - my advise - dont include assisted shuffle arrangements - if punters arent prepared to do that for themselves I dont think you want them coming along (just imo)
Hope I can make it??

I stand corrected on distance Lk 2 Brighton 14.5K
L2W 26.4K

Think i mentioned isolated coastline, having driven that stretch of beach a few times i am familiar with it.

underoath isnt the most competent kiter ive seen and i witnessed him doing the downwinder the other day!! it was a bit of a struggle for him but he made it coz hes an ozzie battler!!
every time we go out kiting we take a risk, but this time theres about 20 other blokes to help rescue if **** hits the fan!!
bring wat u want but its a pain in the ass carrying excess baggage!
agreed izymeister haha u sound like u done this before!!
and def need the waeco choccers with piss for wen u get there!!!!

Hahahaha!!!
For the record underoath (we call him pin dick) goes pretty hard (for an accountant anyway!!!!)

If I may suggest
1. Break down into groups of 4-5 kiters who know each other's skill, and stay together.
2. Don't even think about joining unless you can rescue another kiter without too much problem, including worse case scenarios.
3. Prepare that, if something goes really pear shape, you may have to spend the night out of nowhere.
4. Rely on each other not on the rescue. If you have to call the emergency rescue, it will be a disgrace to the kite surfing community, and provide precedence for bans and restrictions. (we live in a nannie society...)
5. Take food, water, and some spare parts for emergency situations.
6. Check your risk tolerance. (Really)
(7. If you can't swim, take floatation west)

As for "organizing" it.
No matter what one may say, the fact that it was brought up in a public forum, and it was an invitation, Underoath may find himself vulnerable in case someone's mum or nannie wants to blame someone for their boy's bad luck. So a simple statement from the participants, that they take on the DW entirely on their own risk, and indemnify Underoath from any liability may arise if they get injured, may be useful.

I've been contemplating this DW for some time, but Sunday is my only day. I believe 3-5 competent (I mean it) and prepared kiters can minimise the risk and maximize the fun. This Sunday is off, but any others I am keen. PM me, if anyone is missing crew....
.... and have an absolutely fantastic run....

1. Also last post (spend the night somewhere!!)
The distance is 25km (We have done this numerous times before!)
If all goes wrong you have a MAXIMUM of 12.5kms to walk(1 and half hour walk) THATS IF YOU BREAK DOWN EXACTLY HALF WAY, and all of the other kiters decide to NOT PICK YOU UP).
2.The average distance out to sea is 30m. 90% of the time we are hitting shorebreaks. I do have flairs but have left them at home the last 2 downwinders
3. PDFs I believe (IN MY OWN RISK ASSESSMENT) are not necessary, as once again you generally are not far out. Though I must admit there are some good reefs out there if you choose to do this. (also I ride a surfboard which does float nicely)
4. With regards to letting Lancelin and Wedge searescue know about the DW, I dont think its necessarily if there is 3 kiters there (let alone 20!) if somethings wrong there is no time difference in them coming out. (unless all 20 kites fail)(3 people have done this before and never been an issue)
5. EPIRB is a great idea (cheers Juddy) For immediate response I think this is the ONLY method in getting help quickly and efficiently.
6. Snapped fins/boards, reef cuts, fin cuts and sprained ankles (dont laugh this happened to me last year) are the issues in my eyes. (oh and great white sharks!)
7. This was originally organised in the kitesurfwa facebook page but has now been cancelled. If your there, your there.

Worse case scenario is bad, really bad. And I might add MOST of the beach (first 3/4) is accessible from Lancelin, but NONE of the beach is accessible from Wedge, the beach is really bad! And by time the kiters get back to lancelin from wedge (let alone kite to wedge, and go offroad from lancelin) is 1 hour minimum. So 2-3 hours total. So it will be a LONG WAIT if your immobile. With the sprained (I thought broken at the time) ankle a 'sit' down kite and a hell of a long drive home was the result.

Although I haven't done it I know the area reasonably well. Ending up unceremoniously dumped on the beach halfway between Lancelin and Wedge with a minor injury or gear failure is probably the most likely scenario if something does go wrong.

But what are your options?

Walk out? 12-13km along the beach carrying a kite, wetsuit, harness, bar lines, board, water etc etc is going to take the better part of 4-8 hours, not an hour and a half. Assuming you are where you think you are and don't choose the longer option.

If you think going inland and walking out is an option, don't even go there, don't ever consider it an option, ever. It's probably an average 10-15 km to Indian Ocean Drive along there. If you get truly stuck on the beach stay there, it's easier to search a beach 20 m wide for 30 km than it is to search 250 sq km of coastal scrub. Plus you might stumble into the Impact Area and get blown up (there is a good reason why the clearance divers are the only ones allowed in that area).

Flares, who is going to see them during the day? The defence training area set off rocket flares all the time and they largely get ignored.

EPIRB, hardly a life threatening emergency and not appropriate. I'd take an educated guess that an EPIRB activation up there will likely end up with a sea rescue vessel from Lancelin and/or Cervantes/Jurien being deployed, along with the RAC Rescue Helicopter and maybe even the Dornier from Perth Airport. Even then it's not an immediate response, you wouldn't see anyone for an hour or two and they will be pissed at getting deployed due to lack of planning on the part of the kiters. Don't confuse a rescue service with a recovery service. You will have either wasted volunteers time or pull rescue services away from a real emergency, or both.

Weta has indicated he has a 4WD and has driven the beach before, so you potentially have it covered. But then you have to consider how much beach is left after the recent storms, how soft is it? can he get through? How will he know where to pick you up from, are they using the bombing range this weekend? if they are will the sentries stop him from driving up the beach to get you?

The 'she'll be right' attitude will only get you so far. I've seen the boys set off from Lancelin many times, and also seen them passing by whilst kiting at South Rocks and think 'good on 'em, looks like fun' but I also wonder what they would have done if something went pear-shaped.

To help you out in your planning, you should get Telstra coverage all along there, at the very least on top of the nearest sand dune on the beach. If someone does end up on the beach and you are not sure how far north of Lancelin you are look for a vehicle track off/onto the beach and those little 4WD recovery signs with the phone number on it. Those phone numbers could come handy, secondly look for another number in the top corner of the sign, that number will indicate how far north in kilometres of Lancelin you are if you drove via the old Wedge track with the zero point being the gravel road into the off-road area at the top end of Lancelin.

Some of us may sound all doom and gloom, and you hardly have to plan a military style operation, but a little bit of forethought and planning now is going to help a lot if something goes wrong.

Hell your planning need only be to all swap phone numbers, everyone carry water and snacks, all have phones wrapped up and waterproof, and a couple of EPIRBS between you. Then have access to one person with a decent 4WD willing and able to pick you up somewhere on the beach if needed. If you do get stuck on the beach you stay there and wait on the understanding you could be waiting for several hours and it will cost at least a carton for Weta to come get you

I'll try and find out whether the bombing range is in use on the weekend and let you know, I'll also get the caretaker for the range's phone number as most of that coast (including the beach) is defence land it might be handy to have as well. Keep in mind they only permit access along the beach when the range is not in use, access inland off the beach isn't allowed.

WOW, 2 pages when all underoath was suggesting anyone want to come along. This is not an official Red-kite downwinder or anything to do with an event, sure you dont want anyone who cant pick up a board and an inverted kite and take it to the beach and dont go out so far that you would not want to swim in.. Ive done this downwinder many times alone, on the big days, I just did the beachies as it wasnt worth the swim in at the outer banks.

Kitesurfing Margs on a 5m swell and a SSE, or back of the big island mini margs, where you either get dragged on the shallow reef or pushed past the island is a lot more dangerous than a downwinder in mainly beachies with a cross onshore wind with guys that will help you out. I hope you all have a great time and smash some lips.

^^^ Lancelin Lodge.

Update @ 8

Go on rip into it.
If Relo's listening we were the first to do Eagle Bluff back to Denham in the days of C kites and no depower with a bunch of like minded maniacs. 3 hours on the water and an amazing experience with plenty of beers after.
Push your luck, believe in your skill and be prepared to walk to Wedge or Lano if you #uck up.
If you can't walk 10 k's up the beach to one of the settlements take up bowls

Margs to Lano now theres an idea. Might get a bit caught up with a few ramps on the way through.

lurch said...
Margs to Lano now theres an idea. Might get a bit caught up with a few ramps on the way through.

Lucky you moved 'upwind' then

If you can't rock and roll don't #ucken come.
Don't call emergency services and don't expect them to pick you up if you haven't checked your gear and you aren't up for it.
We don't want some simpleton from the burbs wanting the chopper or coppers or rangers to pick them up if you can't keep up.
Be prepared and enjoy the ride