info@kitesystems.net Waterfoil self rescue on water
Self rescue on water... Reasons for packing the kite and self rescue on water Sudden offshore wind direction No more wind A technical problem with the kite (exploded cells or a snapped line) Wind picks up and became too strong The area you are kitesurfing becomes too crowded (by e.g. swimmers or windsurfers) ) to safely enter back to shore to manage the above situations self rescue skills are needed! info@kitesystems.net 19.12.2003 107
Self rescue skills 1/3 Plan Your Escape Route Other than kiting responsibly, the number one kiting safety plan is to have a safe landing beach downwind of your riding area. Many difficult situations can end up as a not too unpleasant float ashore if you have a safe place to come ashore. Always kite in cross-shore shore to onshore winds. Avoid offshore winds. They are gusty and unpleasant to ride and any problems will see you blown away from safety. Dragging In In strong crosswind to onshore conditions the easiest method of self-rescue is to simply "sail" the downed kite back to the beach. Even on the water a downed kite will be pushed along by the wind and the waves faster than you can swim. Pull in one brake line to keep the kite safely down on the water and use the board as a big fin. Either leave the board on your feet and lie on your back, or lean sideways across the board. Either way, dig in the edge of the board and angle it towards the beach then use the drag of the kite to drag crosswind to the beach. You will be surprised how fast you can get to the beach and how little distance you will lose downwind. Once at the beach it is easy to retrieve the kite, wind up the lines and go home. You need to assess the beach you are landing on. You get better crosswind dragging if you don't wind up the lines but if you are landing on a reef or rocky beach then your lines can snag easily. Remember a person tangled in kite lines in surf is likely to drown. Think about yourself and others. info@kitesystems.net 19.12.2003 108
Self rescue skills 2/3 Winding Up The Lines The most reliable way to de-power a Boom kite is to have all the tension on a single brake line. Tension on both brake lines can cause the kite to lift off in reverse or to sit stalled and powered up on the water. Neither situation is particularly dangerous but both can be very uncomfortable when trying to wind up lines. I prefer to wind one brake line several times on the bar then wind all the lines together. You need to wind a fair amount of the brake line because when you wind all the lines together the length difference becomes less and the other lines can become tensioned. You need to keep an eye on the lines and wind some more brake line if the other lines are becoming tensioned (this is true of all bridled foil kites and somewhat true for Arcs and LEI, except only one side of the kite needs to be completely loose). If the wind is strong a downed and de-powered kite can still exert a fair amount of drag. This is true of ALL kites, not just foils. If you are winding around the ends of the bar you can "play" the kite like a fish by pulling the bar then quickly turn it to wind on a length. This can be very tiring. If it is too difficult then simply twist the bar round-and-round and wrap the lines around the bar. It will take a long time but it is easy to do. You are in a survival situation here so it is important to not rush things. info@kitesystems.net 19.12.2003 109
Self rescue skills 3/3 Towing The Kite In most situations the kite will float quite well. I have towed an Arc with the end torn off and a Vector with a 60cm split in the cell. If the split is facing down the water will actually seal the split and keep the water in. Simply swim along and tow the kite behind you. If it is taking on water or you are a long way from land you may want to roll the kite around the bar. If the damage is near the tip then roll from that end. Once the split section is rolled around the bar the kite will be sealed and the tension from the rolling will pressurize the air inside the kite. Also, moisture on the seams and valves will further seal the kite. As long as you keep the rolled up end tight you will have a very buoyant float that you can swim along with. If you want to completely roll up the kite you will have to open the zipper and roll from the other end. You can then lay the kite on the board and start to swim in. Swimming In If the kite is floating then simply tow it along behind you or use it for a float (especially if it is partially rolled and pressurized). If you are towing the kite behind then you can think about swimming using your normal stroke. Be careful not to exhaust yourself by swimming too hard. If you are using the kite for a float or have it fully rolled and resting on your board then just kick gently with your legs and slowly make your way towards land. Paddling with your arms is faster but very much more tiring. The key is to make slow progress towards safety, not swim straight to the beach. Take note of the swell, wind and currents and use them. Do not fight the ocean. You cannot win. If the wind and current are pushing along the shore see if there is a pier or headland or breakwater to land on. Just angle your progress so that the current takes you to safety. info@kitesystems.net 19.12.2003 110