The points in the headline are good ,and yes its important to be prepared for something unexpected to happen .
I would like to bring some things up

Southerly busters are not unexpected .They are forecast and the one that hit sydney was easily followed and hit bang on time .Yes it was a clear air buster but it was still coming . My advice learn to rely on more sources than the seabreeze arrows (tho on sunday the timing was spot on ) start reading the bom website and weatherzone ,read the maps and how to read guides ,watch the sattelite pic,radar and so on .I remember an old hang gliding saying that the wind will always blow again and sometimes (or often) its better to wait a few hours or even till next week .We rely on Huey which can be a pain (I know for sure if there is a family get together or weddding or the like after weeks of crap wind the wind will blow 4 sure) ,if thats not OK then find another sport .From what I read advice was ignored by some on the water and and i have also heard that because the 'demo " day was organised by experienced people the 'lemmings 'thought that everything was just gonna be fine and dandy all day ..

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IS IMPORTANT in this sport ."Hey there gos lenten and hadlow in a 40 kt storm and they're kitelooping .they're experienced kiters so it must be fine to go out ,c'mon fellow lemmings lets go" uh oh things have gone tits up and the lemmings slammed into the breakwall so the lemmings look for someone else to blame beside their own stupidity and lack of personal responsibility

On another note thunderstorms .How many times have I seen people continue to kite in a beautiful NE right under a thunderstorm with visible strikes and loud thunder .

These things are not unexpected and I am tired of reading 'oh the gust came from no where ' like that guy who went out in a hurricane .the gust in the hurricane ,the buster and the lightning strike do not come out of the blue.

i think a good ol dose of RESPECT FOR HUEY from kiters is needed worldwide .Yes our gear has gotten much better and can handle alot more crap than a few years ago but c'mon

Mr float said...


Southerly busters are not unexpected .They are forecast and the one that hit sydney was easily followed and hit bang on time .Yes it was a clear air buster but it was still coming . My advice learn to rely on more sources than the seabreeze arrows ..

I'd have to agree, I knew a southerly was coming but didn't see any cloud. I was at Gerringong fishing when it went through at about midday .. The wind changed from NW to W about 15 mins before the big change came .. If I was out kiting when that happened I'd be heading in ... cheers