Hi everyone,
I've just been alerted to this thread by a mate, so thought I should put in my 2 bobs worth (one for you cwamit
).
I was the culprit responsible for the "rescue." At the time I was ~ 500m from White's Beach and was 100% on top of the situation. While I think it is sensational that the community gives enough of a damn to even bother rescuing kooks like me when we get into "trouble" and am sincerely grateful to people who make the effort to look out for their fellow watermen, the rescue wasn't necessary. I agreed to be "rescued" because it would have seemed a bit rude to have knocked it back.
I'm reasonably experienced, having been at it pretty solidly for ~7 years. Partly to help prevent unnecessary rescues, I joined the Torquay Marine Rescue Service (TMRS) 2 years ago.
Just to give the TMRS a bit of a plug while I'm here... The TMRS is a voluntary organisation made up of local Surfcoast community members. It is responsible for a number of genuine rescues every year (eg fishermen, sailors, kids on blowup toys, surfers) and is an integral part of community-based events like the "Danger 1000" and the "Anaconda Paddle day." The crew involved with it are good value and come from a wide cross-section of the community.
As some of the local punters will attest, I frequently go out in extreme or marginal conditions. This is partly mandated by the 70h work weeks, ie I've only got a few hours spare every couple of weeks and push the wind limits a bit to try to make the most of my spare time.
In pushing the limits, I try to make sure I'm 100% prepared. The LAST thing I want to do is inconvenience others. I'm fairly obsessive about diet and exercise and consequently can take a bit of punishment. On the day in question, I had 6mm of neoprene on and was toasty. I was riding a 6'7" surfboard, so had plenty of buoyancy. Things went pear-shaped with a wipeout on a 3m closeout over Supertubes that busted the kitebar. I "self-rescued" most of the 3km from Pt Danger to White's Beach and was 100% confident I'd make the beach by nightfall. The kite is an old Rhino 2 20m so, if everything really does go to the crapper, it can just be ditched (total value probably <$50). With a 6'7" surfboard, it's pretty easy to paddle for the beach.
Part of the reason for joining the TMRS was to try to educate the crew about kitesurfing and what to look for in judging if a rescue is necessary. Nobody gets too stressed if a surfer is seen 500m off shore at twilight but, given exactly the same scenario with a kite, every member of the local bingo club feels obliged to call 000. To be fair, things probably are improving as kitesurfing becomes more commonplace: 7 years ago the Navy used to be called every time a kite hit the water.
Having said all of that, I don't want to seem ungrateful. I honestly think it is great that our community does care enough to look-out for each other. Nevertheless, it is embarrassing for me and an unnecessary imposition on the guys who "rescued" me. I'll try to make it up to them with beer, but I'm sure they had better things to do.
There probably are times when a rescue is necessary, but in my 7 years of kitesurfing, I've probably seen or been involved with about 20 "rescues," none of which involved a genuine threat to life or limb. It probably does come down to education or familiarity: If the kite is in the "self-rescue" position and making ground, if the rider is <1km from shore, if the rider is known to be experienced and prepared, or if the rider is on a surboard, then it is probably fair to assume that everything is ok.
Bit of a long-winded reply - sorry. Just had to get it off my chest. I do put in fairly long hours, so not sure if I'll be back to this forum. And to the Torquay and Geelong crew - looking good for 13th or Possos: 30-35 knots and 3m swell - see you there
Regards,
Gil
, the jetskiers were his mates from the local sea rescue outfit, he was waving not drowning 
Shortly after the feeling in something else 
