Please note that I always clip in to OS handles when launching and landing 4 liners. However, once on water I clip in to the "suicide" which is 1 line going to 2 front lines.

I don't know about other 4 liners exp. the Rev, but "killing" to 2 front lines does not totally kill the kite, esp. in high winds; I know this from previous experience on the 9m jJekyll at a shore break in 30 knots and it is scary! The kite was still flying way above my head and I was just lucky that it landed in the water and not on shore. From the water I was able to grab the OS handle and really kill it.

Yesterday my student released on 12m to "suicide) in 17 knots and she was just being dragged to South Perth. Lucky I was close enough and the wind hadn't picked up any more, otherwise this person or the kite was off to South Perth.

Anyhow, here goes on what I did. Caught up with student after she released to "suicide." Pulled myself on "suicide" line to where leash was clipped in to student. Under water I clipped my leash to this line and let her free. Then pulled my self under water to the bar, grabbed OS handle with one hand and unclipped "suicide," then clipped OS to leash...........now the kite finally was dead. Then I just wrapped the 1 line to the bar until I got to the kite.........all this required staying cool because all the other lines were wanting to wrap around my body. However, being calm and holding the bar I eventually got to the kite. Deflated 30% of the air from the leading edge and used the kite as sail to get back to beach.............just made it before passing the point where the next stop was South Perth.

The lesson here is that things happen out there, and you better know what you are doing or you are going to drown or lose you kite. From my experience a 4 line kite only dies when flagged to one line.

Stay safe out there and perhaps the above can help someone in a similar situation. Yes my student is progressing well, but teaching is a long process where many many things have to be experienced, even the unexpected. My student is also learning on 5 line Fuels which are much safer IMO. However, the Jekyll is a great kite and you just have to know what to do when the crap hits the fan.

Also, make sure that the velco which holds the OS handles from slipping are not too tight, because if they are you can still have lots of power in the kite before the velcro releases. This is esp. important when doing a self land. IMO the velco on the Jekyll is too tight and I just leave it undone.

Please peoples, no matter what kite you fly............try a sea rescue just for fun so you know how your gear behaves, because I tell you someone is going to get spanked one day because they have forgotten what to do when things go wrong..........have a plan and see if it works.

My contribution to safety for the day........have a good one.