If it was that gusty I don't think sheeting out would help.
Normally when your bodydragging it doesn't matter if it's gusty as your like a anchor, you should ride the gusts out.... Probably only take 2 tacks to get upwind with high gusty winds.

Did you lose your board?

I've lost a board before when the wind went for 20knots to 5knots within the space of a minute, I was about 1k from the shore with a outgoing tide, kite wouldn't fly or relaunch so I self rescued and watched the board drift out to sea, it took me an hour to swim in with my kite as a raft.

Wave down ya mate to pick the board up for ya. If your on your own that's the risk you take.

skywalker3d said..
Wave down ya mate to pick the board up for ya. If your on your own that's the risk you take.

Haha easier said then done, i've tried to do this more than once in my 4 years flying and i fail every time

If the wind changes direction, then would it not make it easier to get the board, or at least the same difficulty?

Upwind gusty body dragging is an art form... and ugly ugly salty art form. No short cuts but actually sheeting in (not out) can pull the kite further round the wind window and pull you more up wind that sheeting out...

A few weeks ago I came off my board - conditions were fairly choppy and gusty – did what I’ve done many times before and started body dragging upwind to retrieve it, missed it first time so went for another go but as I looked back the glare of the sun completely blocked out any vision of my board so after a few blind runs I decided to body drag to the beach and land the kite. After spotting the board I just patiently waited (1 hour) for it to get close enough to swim out to (sometimes s**t happens).

On a slightly different note; my board is red which made it easier to see against the blue water, even though blue is my favourite colour I think sticking to bright colours might be an advantage sometimes.

Loftywinds said..
You need one of these...

epikoo.com/kiteboarding/accessories/ocean-rodeo-go-joe-20-2011

You must have a fetish for inflatable things Lofty

If you're in a rivermouth and it's a wind against tide situation with a spring tide you're probably **** out of luck and better off landing your kite and running up/down river for it. Some tricks are to know where the main channels of the river are, you will actually get some back eddy on the sides of these which you can use to drag upwind faster. If you stay in the main channel against any decent tide, you're going to struggle.

If it's on the ocean within the break it will just go with the sweep which is always downwind, or maybe out in a rip for maybe 50-100m, either way it's never really too hard to drag out to it or worst case land your kite if the wind goes offshore, swim for it and ride it back in.

As a beginner you should strongly consider a Go Joe. I progressed WAY faster than everyone who took lessons with me (group class) in part because of that Go Joe. I bought it for like $70 here in the USA and sold it for $50 after a season's use (no longer needed it). Best $20 I ever spent.

Reduces time you need to spend going upwind as it sails the board downwind (this marketing claim actually panned out) and it makes it extremely visible. It never got in my way and I didnt even know it was there most of the time.

I would prob have lost my board without it as I am a fan of stormy conditions (like the strong winds).

I saw one day someone had an orange kids inflatable arm band thing strapped between their board handle and footstrap. I'm thinking now thats a great idea because I cant see my black footstraps in big chop/low light and it acts like a goe joe, but am I going to use it? Prob not.