Hi, Just started kiting (only a couple of lessons so far) and I've got a few weeks stuck at work before I can get out so I thought I might as well try and clear a few doubts.

I'm heading over to Vanuatu and will be doing lessons for most of the week I'm there however after that I'll be on my own and whilst I don't want to go recklessly endangering my life, I don't want to waste a good day in the tropics if there's good wind just because there's nobody around to help me launch/recover.

1: How much experience (say, in hours) is reasonable to be able to kite solo if there is no other kiters around or if they are already out on the water?

and 2: What do people do with their pumps once they've inflated their kites to ensure they don't go walkabout? I'm not sure I've got much to worry about in Vanuatu but I will be over in Phuket later in the year and I've had things stolen there in the past. Is it just a case of leave it on the sand and keep your fingers crossed? Is it practical (or dangerous) to carry some sort of small stash bag that could attach to your harness or alternatively a small backpack?

Cheers!

I do realise the dangers of being in the water completely solo and will avoid this wherever possible however the areas where I am heading might not always have people in the water kiting. They are however almost always guaranteed to have at least a few people pottering around the vicinity in small boats and/or other watercraft who I'm sure would be able to render assistance in a worst-case scenario (I do have a PFD).

After spending a couple of grand on flights, accommodation, lessons and safety equipment I can't see myself sitting on the beach at a known 'safe' kiting spot on a good wind day if there are other water users out there but no kiters (obviously I'd be sticking to the kiting spots and not heading straight for the Jet-Ski demolition derby)

My main concerns are launching/recovering my kite - Is it reasonable to expect to be able to do this safely on my own after say 12 hours of lessons? and what are the best ways to safeguard my gear whilst I am out on the water?

In your last few lessons you should practise relaunching, pinging the primary safety (to flag the kite not release it) and recovering from that and self rescuing. If you go through all of this with supervision you'll get an idea of what you can do. As for what you can't do...

... When you start riding it will be common for you to crash your kite whilst still riding towards it. If this happens it will likely roll through its lines. You will need the patience and comprehension of how the kite moves when crashed to get your kite to the point where you can again relaunch it and ride back to the beach to either thread your bar back through your lines (more advanced) or detach, re-run and re-attach your lines (more foolproof).

As you get better you'll be more able to keep your lines tight when the kite crashes by carving away from it (upwind) with whatever momentum you have. Still, even experts crash in such a way that roll throughs are inevitable. Just another common thing you'll need to have sorted before solo kiting.

Dont think i would be worried about the pump sounds like way more chance of loosing the board.

Cheers for the tips! I can already see myself getting in all manner of tangles but c'est la vie.

Hopefully I can get plenty of time on the water this leave. I've already contacted the kite-school in Vanuatu and have arranged heaps of lessons. Here's hoping the wind plays ball!

If your going out by your self make sure you wear a life jacket, helmet and probably a waterproof bag with phone in it. Solo can be done, especially if you've had lesson, but just presume when you go out it will go wrong, and don't go anywhere too dangerous (ie reef break, strong rips, off shore wind etc). If you can at least tell people where you're going and time expected back and mobile phone only works if there is reception and you have 000(112) on speed dial.
Remember be extra careful hope this helps
George

Well, it turns out I didn't have any issues at all. Namely because in 8 days I got into the water once. for 2 hours.

Wind was non-existent around Port Vila and whilst I reckon it may have been better on the East of the island I was unable to get lessons out that way. Back in Melbourne things haven't been much better.

So that's been 9 weeks now (apart from a 2 week break at work) since starting the sport and buying my kit where I've been available everyday for lessons and the weather has either not been playing ball or tuition has not been available. This sport really is trying my patience. I'm just thankful now that my rotator cuff is healed up again so I can at least get back out in the water for some proper surfing (Oh. Couldn't do that in Vanuatu either as there was no swell there for the entire week!)

As for Vanuatu itself, it's a nice place but a tad pricey and not much fun for solo travellers.