Just wanted to say a big thanks to Matt from Airborne Kites in Osborne Park. He managed to bring in three boards and one kite (mine) at Mullaloo yesterday within about 30mins. I actually bought my kite from them so thats what I call service.
I believe it all started with someone getting into a bit of trouble trying to relaunch at Pinnaroo, the guy that went to his aid ended up losing his board. I had just done a downwinder in about 25knots from Pinnaroo to Mullaloo when I came across his board, I picked it up and was heading for the shore when my foot started stinging, I looked down to see a blue bottle stuck between my foot and footstrap. When I stopped to deal with the blue bottle and two boards I stupidly dropped my kite, by the time I had relaunched one of the rear lines was wrapped around the wingtip so that when I let go of the bar to depower it was still powered up, looping and dragging me down wind. I was fairly close to the shore so I thought as I was wearing a leash I would activate the QR, self rescue and just wait for the boards to come in (in hindsight I think I should have stayed with it and either grabbed the line that was caught and pulled it in a few metres to try to free it or the front lines above the bar to depower the kite, but I didnt). Anyway the leash gave way and I watched my kite take off without me and had to swim in.
Matt had already grabbed the other board by the time I got in
but when I told him mine was still out there he shot out retrieved that
then set off after my kite which he towed in.
When I met him on the shore I told him someone else had lost their board so he headed out again and sure enough found that one too.
So cheers Matt there will be some good karma and some beers coming your way
maybe the Red Bull chicks
