Ripped kite rescue at sandbar

splaterwin · Since 17 Nov 2005 165 Posts Vancouver Stoked

Had a kitemare yesterday with 7m Rev. My son had been flying the 7m and wanted to take my 9m Rev for a spin. So I grabbed the surf board and headed out on the 7m. Have been working on riding strapless and still struggling with my jibs. After one pass I blew the jib and kite hit the water. Set to relaunch I tried to get kite back in air and noticed left panel rip. Not able to launch kite I started self rescue thing but discovered quickly self rescue with ripped kite is difficult at best. Soon I found myself down river drifting fast. About that time several people started checking on my progress. Big shout out to local kiter Jonathan for dragging my sorry ass with kite and board until his buddy stopped to bring my board to shore. Progress was a bit better without board but holding on to kite and getting dragged to shore is exhausting. Luckily the wind surf folks were out with boat searching for a downed surfer. They graciously offered a ride and I’m so glad they did. I want to thank all the people who checked on my progress, kiter Jonathan, unknown kiter who rescued board and wind surf boat folks Sam & Andy. Very Happy

Rico · Since 13 Mar 2005 1219 Posts Vancouver Photographer

I think the unknown kiter was Colby. He was riding a skim and brought in a surf board.

sirmichaelo · Since 26 Mar 2010 353 Posts Maui Obsessed

More proof that although kiting can be anti-social sometimes on the water, it is truly a team sport.

pollywog · Since 07 Aug 2009 291 Posts Obsessed

Had a little "kitemare" on Saturday. Trying to come back in and the sand bar was packed with newbies learning and experts jumping and popping. Tried to get in near the center of the sandbar, not happening. Decided to go to the end near the "blackhole". Had a Mutant board that is new to me. Crashed, started body dragging to board upwind, newbie near, when I looked up after body dragging upwind, saw that the newbie's lines were over my board and he was heading towards the bouy. Shit! Not gonna lose that board. Waited. Drifting. Finally tried to get board after newbie moved away. Got board, kite crashed, (I was likely in the blackhole at that point). Kite inverts. Lines twist. I am f-ed! Two fine gentlemen were passing by. I asked if they could take my board (lesson learned: LET BOARD GO, more important to get safely to shore). They didn't hesitate. One of them took my board, I began winding my lines, and then Chris Berwin came back and body dragged me, my kite, and his board back to the sand. It was difficult for me to hold his harness handle so I imagine it was difficult for him to tow me and that lug of a kite. I am so very thankful to him! Others kind souls were shouting encouragement as we got near the sand.
Thank you, Chris Berwin! Very Happy

Amy

jblum · Since 13 Jul 2008 306 Posts The Gorge Obsessed

Yes, unknown kiter was Colby. Happy to help you out Patrick, it can be a lonely place out there, but you're not alone on the water! Glad I was able to help.

Question about this rescue to the forum: When I came up to Patrick, he was about half-way between the sandbar and the bridge. By the time we got the kite rolled up and lines wrapped up, we had drifted all the way to the bridge. I considered dragging Patrick and his kite to the Hook, but the wind shadow was bad and I was already slightly underpowered on a 9 when most were flying 10-12. I started to pull him back to the sandbar along the edge of the wind shadow (not in the channel, but not in the shadow either), but was making slow progress. What is the best way to do this?

His kite was ripped in half through the center of the canopy, so he couldn't self-rescue. We deflated the LE, kept the struts inflated, rolled it into a burrito and used it for flotation as we drug along. Fortunately, Colby came to help with the board as it was cumbersome, although it seemed like Patrick could have stayed on top of it for the extra floatation. It was really hard to stay on top of the board, hold the kite and hold onto the back of my harness and drag.

Any advice on how to best perform this kind of rescue would be great. Although its probably in another thread here somewhere....

Blaze · Since 30 Jun 2009 16 Posts

Spatterwin and Pollywog - glad people were there to assist!!! Good to know we are all still looking out for eachother. Keep sharing the stoke!

dustin awesome · Since 23 Jul 2009 115 Posts Stoked

Thats really good to hear people are helping eachother out on the water. Very Happy