I was sailing at Maroochydore in the river mouth, when we saw a fellow having trouble in the bar . His kite was down for a long time . Finally he managed to relaunch his kite but had lost his board . The tide here is unbeleiveale so I want looking for his board .After about 20 minutes of continual trips in and out through the surf ,I found it well out to sea, and sailed the board back to the beach . All good I thought so I continued to sail and once again saw a seat off a jet ski floating in the surf . The fellows were further out looking for it so I sailed out to tell them where it was . I was well out passed the break when they took off to windward / I waved in the beach patrol rubber ducky and explained to them what I was doing WHEN a fellow from no where sailed into my kite tangling them up . Could not beleive it . We where both being launched in different directions but locked together . I told him I would let my kite go ( Speed 2/12 ) safty and all so that they would untangle . It worked / but then he cleared out .So much for helping each other . Another fellow saw the trouble we were having and came over to help me . We decided I would hold on to his harness so he could drag me to my kite . Approx 100 mtres away by now . Finally we made it / I hooked up the safty and the chicken loop , feed out the safty slowly and it relaunched , remembering it was drifting across the ocean about three quaters of a kilometer out to sea ,for about 20 minutes . Could not beleive it relaunched .

I would like to thank the fellow who came out to help me . I do not know your name but hopefully you will read this . We should all stay around and help each other , I thought this was the spirite of kite surfing .

Once again Thankyou .

S Carver said...


As for relaunching, I can't imagine why it wouldn't be full of water.

With no load on the lines they float so well that they don't take on water. They are sealed very well.

If there is load on the lines then they fill up a bit more. eg, in shallow water you stand up while the kite is trying to drift away from you. Under presssure some parts of the kite go under and it takes on a bit more water.

The rule is: drift with the kite. This prevents them from filling up.

mike

wow ...that is unbelievable

Foost / I agree , when I made it back top the beach I waited for him to came in . I wasn't happy . If you saw how far out I was you would understand why .

The kite did have some water in it because as it relaunched I could see it draining out the ends . What was in my favour was the 20 knots of wind to keep her up their while she drained out . How ever Flysurfers do not take in much water . It amased me that after I had let the bar and all go ,that she still relaunched after drifting for so long .

The fellow said he had been sailing for 7 years !!!!!!!!! Shame he hasn't learn't abit about supporting each other . Fingers crossed it will happen to him . SOON .