Self Rescue Question

Addict · Since 26 Jun 2012 101 Posts Stoked

I managed to make it ten years without a self rescue until last weekend. I was on a 2011 SS RPM 12m and had to release the safety before getting dragged from too much wind from a storm coming in.

Using the center line, I pulled my way up to bar and tied it off before rolling the rest of my lines up getting back to the kite. It never flagged out so I imagine that's the wrong technique.

Should I have unclipped my leash from the center safety line and attached it to a flying (rear) line to get the kite to flag out then use that line to get back to the bar?

Thanks for any assistance.

bwd · Since 04 Aug 2007 385 Posts Obsessed

Addict · Since 26 Jun 2012 101 Posts Stoked

By flagged out I mean it didn't remain on the water with leading edge pointed into the wind. It never powered up, but it mostly flew inverted while I wound up the lines getting to the kite making it very difficult.

jeremy · Since 18 Aug 2006 276 Posts Manzo & HR Obsessed

Wind one line only on the bar (about 20' worth), then start winding ALL the lines. This will make one line shorter, effectively flagging out the kite as you are winding up the lines.

bwd · Since 04 Aug 2007 385 Posts Obsessed

yeah!

Addict · Since 26 Jun 2012 101 Posts Stoked

Thanks!

BeerKite · Since 29 Mar 2011 471 Posts Obsessed

One Front line on a 4 line system is the safest. Which is what the SS bar does I think. It sounds like your kite did what it was supposed to. An inverted kite that is just flying with little to now power is okay, that's what a 5 line does essentially. Sometimes it will just crash leading edge down too. I would not recommend clipping your leash to an outside/rear line. That's how we used to do it in the old days and it was pretty scary. The kite will flag out but it will also spin like crazy.
My 2c

forrest · Thu May 22, 14 7:30 am **Re: Self Rescue Question**

snowbunny · Since 05 Nov 2013 55 Posts

Thanks for starting the the thread, Addict. As a relatively new kiteboarder it's really helpful when folks take the time to describe these scenarios and get some good feedback from the community.

I did my first "real" self-rescue last year, from the middle of the columbia at HR... winds pushing 30 and I was slightly overpowered on a 7m when a bridle pulley snapped. Kite came down without looping and I made it to the kite by keeping all the tension on the remaining leading edge line as I worked my way to the kite. Felt safer to "wind-up-the-bar-as-I-went" rather than "get-to-kite-first-wind-later" since I had tried the "wind later" once before, and the lines kept wanting to wrap around my legs.

Anyway, my discovery was that about 1/4 mile into the rescue, the hand holding the upper corner line (I had to hold this, as kite too stiff to fold to allow me to grab the actual kite) was painful since I didnt have gloves on and it was still blowing 30, so the lines were digging into my hands. This hadn't happened when I tried this in lighter winds for a shorter time- makes the case for also practicing a self rescue in high winds.

I solved this by wrapping the upper steering line around the control bar (which was just flopping around anyway), so that it acted kind of like a handle on the tip, and so I could maintain good grip on that upper corner. My other lines all disconnected. Got back to sandbar phew and replaced *both* pulleys the next week.

Any problems with this? Seemed like a good idea at the time, and better than trying to partially deflate the kite mid-river to fold the leading edge more.

BeerKite · Since 29 Mar 2011 471 Posts Obsessed

That method sounds about perfect. I would always wind the lines first. That way if you need to (or accidentally) completely let go of the kite, you can be free of your lines. Sometimes in the current though you do end up getting to your kite first, in which case I would grab the kite and wind the lines as fast as possible. Sounds like your idea with the bar was perfect. It's also a good idea to stay attached to your kite with your leash until you make to shore.

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1780 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

Using the bar is a great idea. My first big self rescue occurred the day after a guy in a bar in Baja told me this technique. Best way if u have a long way to go.

Get your lines wrapped as neatly as poss, disconnect the aft lines, and secure the two lines forward to the bar with a half hitch with a few feet left to the kite. Think of your kite now like a sailboat, its upside down with leading edge into the wind same as you carry it on the beach. Climb into the kite so you're laying on the kite next to the leading edge tube on the back (aft) half of the kite. Get your board right in there with you ( I kinda lay my twintip on my legs upside down to prevent damage to the kite, surfboards are trickier but still manageable)

You are ready so sail! Best to look up at your sail, kinda half on your back, so you can trim the sail. Sometimes necessary to adjust line length, so start kinda long to get set up.

I sailed in from open ocean five or more miles and got back to the same beach, beats hell outta the wingtip squeezing trolling for sharks method!

zig zag 158 · Since 16 Jul 2012 19 Posts Vic BC Canada

This is an eject / self landing scenario no??

not a self-resuce where you drag yourself back to the beach when the winds die off....you said the winds were too much!

jerp · Since 22 Feb 2013 453 Posts Obsessed

great topic....

the crew I got lessons with did a self resue in each class but that was in 2011. Its amazing how much you forget.

I do remeber how easy it was for lines get tangled in your legs as you wrap them around the bar. I also remember (coz i almost drowned) that if you don't wrap a front line around the bar with a significant lenght difference to the other three that the kite can still be powered and out of control.

i like your idea Forrest !! refrring to the test run post a session

scottman · Since 08 Jun 2007 150 Posts hillsboro Stoked

I often wrap the center line a couple times and then swim toward the kite to get it to fall on its back. This way it has no tension on the lines. Continue to wrap center line for about 10ft and then all lines. You can wrap much faster with no tension on the lines.