Phizz Posted October 5, 2009 Report Posted October 5, 2009 (edited) Hey guys, As the title states, I lost a kite out to sea last week and am pretty gutted. I thought I'd share the story in case anyone can learn from it, or offer advice on what to do in such situations. Basically I went down to my local spot last Monday at about 3.00pm. The winds were exactly cross-shore, about 15-20 mph, with the forecast predicting they would die to 10-15 mph and redirect to slightly cross-on shore shore in the evening. I took out my 14m Nemesis (2008). I was having a great time, getting loads of kiting in, with the usual handful of crashes and re-launches as expected. The waves were nearly non-existent - almost flat - great conditions. I was down for nearly 2 hours when it happened. The cross shore winds started to pick up a little, which I assumed would be a short phase, as can happen, so I continued. At one point, I was about 1 - 2 minutes ride off shore, about to turn around. Suddenly the winds picked up a lot - a wild gust hit which pulled me quite a bit downwind. I tried to edge the board and counteract it, but it was too much - I wiped out hard and was actually propelled very fast further downwind than the kite. It was weird, I looked up to see the massive kite behind me in the air, falling straight down. I thought it may land on me! It ended up landing about 10 metres in front of me, and then rolled and tossed and twisted downwind, winding up some of the lines around the kite in an awful state. By the time I had tension in the lines again, there was not much I could do. No chance of re-launch with the lines like they were. And the deformed kite seemed to be locked with one half upright in the wind like a sail, pulling me downwind away from my board at quite a pace. I tried flagging out to kill the kite power. But it did nothing due to the lines being wrapped up around the kite - tension remained in all the lines - very frustrating. I tried the other side - no luck. The kite was still powered, and all the while I was being dragged downwind away from my board. I briefly tried swimming against the pull of the kite, but it was pointless. I thought maybe I could pull a line toward me and eventually reach the kite, but I was very conscious of losing my board. It seemed I had a choice: (1) Keep trying to get my kite under control and go for a deep water pack down, but quite probably lose my board and perhaps endanger my self further or (2) let go of the kite, retrieve my board and head back to shore, then try and recover my kite after, as I thought it would just head to a rocky point way further downwind. Given that my board (brand new) was more expensive than the kite (second hand), and that I could see the kite in the water from a distance but not the board, (and also for my own safety!), I opted for option (2). I despairingly let the kite go, swam back to my board and went to shore. I could see the kite just fine as I headed back to shore, slowly travelling cross shore along in the wind. I arrived back at the shore. It took way longer than I thought and I could see the kite was now floating much further downwind, and heading further out from the shore than I thought it would. The wind was still strong, and had gone cross-off shore - I was not expecting that at all. My only real option now was to run back to the beach entrance, pack up my things, jump in the car, and drive down and see if there was any chance of retrieving the kite somewhere else or find some one with a boat. Again, this took a while, but I was eventually in the car with my wife driving down the coastal road - I pulled into a caravan park. I could see my kite way beyond the rocky shore - it was heading slowly out to sea. On my way out of the caravan park, the owner flagged me down to ask what I was doing. I explained to him the incident and pointed out my kite in the water, which could still be seen (although it was getting harder to see all the time). I asked him if he had a boat, and of course offered to reward him for any help he could offer! He was very nice and agreed. It took a while to get the boat set up and started (temperamental 2-stroke engine!). At this point I could no longer see my kite. When we rode out to sea I really thought it would quite obviously appear, as it was so clear before, but no. We rode all the way out and back - we were out for ages covering a wide area. But we couldn't find the kite. The waves were much bigger out in the sea, so I assume the kite must have been flattened out in the water and got covered in water, making it impossible to see from any sort of distance. Very unfortunate. I of course thanked the guy and paid him for his favour. Finally I drove way down the coast to a lighthouse on the furthest point, keeping my eye on the water for a final search. Again, no luck. So yeah, if anybody happens to find a Yellow/Black 14m Best Nemesis HP 08 with bar and lines attached somewhere in the Irish Sea (or maybe Isle of Man or West England) let me know!! As for learning from experience, I reckon perhaps I shouldn't have gone kiting by myself in cross-shore winds. Also I should have kept an eye on the exact wind direction, making sure it wasn't going slightly offshore. I've since been advised by the local kitesurfers that that particular spot, in that wind direction, is very unpredictable and they wouldn't have advised going out at all! I guess you learn the hard way... As for the actual moment of the incident, I keep playing it back in my head wondering what I could have done. As explained, nothing I was doing with the lines or releases was killing the kite power due to the tangles. It just kept pulling me away. It was very frustrating and felt a bit futile to be honest. I did not want to lose my board and later I really thought the boat was going to be successful! As I had a life jacket (thank god), I never felt I was in danger or anything while it happened (unlike my wife, who was freaking out until I emerged from the sea), but now I feel like a right idiot. Any tips as to what I could have done would be appreciated! EDIT: By the way, now that I've lost my Best bar and lines, I've decided to sell my 10m, as with my birthday and christmas coming up, I've got my eye on a new kite. It's in the For Sale section: http://forum.kitecrowd.com/showthread.php?t=171595 Edited October 5, 2009 by Phizz Quote
Cyprino Posted October 5, 2009 Report Posted October 5, 2009 Gutted for you dude Having read it, I can't think of much you could have done, given you tried all the flagging out options. Quote
Bigbud Posted October 5, 2009 Report Posted October 5, 2009 No real tips mate but glad your ok, you can replace a kite I can't help think that if you had been on a 5th line system and released to 5th you would have been able to pack down and get you board back. You now know that you should kite with others who would have been able to get your board but I'm glad your otherhalf was keeping an eye on you. Did you inform the coast gaurd that you've lost your kite just in case its found and they start searching for a missing kitesurfer ? Quote
-Greg Posted October 5, 2009 Report Posted October 5, 2009 sounds bad but at least u got ur board and not much u could of done Quote
Phizz Posted October 5, 2009 Author Report Posted October 5, 2009 Did you inform the coast gaurd that you've lost your kite just in case its found and they start searching for a missing kitesurfer ? Yep! My wife's parents house overlooks the whole beach. When the kite had been in the water for a while and clearly drifting, my father-in-law phoned the coast guard to raise the alert. And when I was back they phoned up again to let them know I was safe on shore. Quote
Ashfire Posted October 5, 2009 Report Posted October 5, 2009 im a newb but given what youve said about the wind and the kite sailing a good distance id say you chose the right option that being said im gutted for you Quote
gazxtreme Posted October 5, 2009 Report Posted October 5, 2009 Having had similar things happen over the years I appreciate how quickly you have to think. Personally I have always been able to wind my lines in to the kite and totally dissregard my board as I can't remember being out alone in anything but onshore winds, if not alone someone will get your board for you or in onshores it would end up on the beach eventually. I trust my kite to give me more bouyancy and visibility to potential rescuers than my board. That said no two situations will ever be the same and we all have different priorities so posting your experience will certainly help others think about what they would have done. One last thing that is a big priority if you lose your board or kite at sea is to notify the coastgaurd as there have been a few instances of big search and rescue operations being put in motion when someone at sea has come accross adrift equipment of any sort as they must presume that the person who was once with the vessel is still at sea until they hear different. Quote
tommrics Posted October 5, 2009 Report Posted October 5, 2009 Could you have cut three of the lines if you'd been carrying a safety knife? Glad that you made it back in any case. Even the shortest swim in can be a challenge after fighting with your equipment! Quote
AphexTwin Posted October 5, 2009 Report Posted October 5, 2009 Unlucky chap. Sounds like you did the right thing, everyone has a kitemare once in a while. Do you carry a line knife? Maybe cutting some of the lines could have helped? It's hard to stay calm and think when things go tits up. I would hate to see my kite go into a death spin have seen more of these happening lately too. Quote
Phizz Posted October 5, 2009 Author Report Posted October 5, 2009 Could you have cut three of the lines if you'd been carrying a safety knife? Do you carry a line knife? Maybe cutting some of the lines could have helped? No I didn't have a knife but will be ordering one very soon before I get back out! Cheers. Quote
Andy-j Posted October 5, 2009 Report Posted October 5, 2009 I would have tried everything to hang onto my kite.. it's the one thing that'll haul your a$$ back to shore. The board can be easily recovered once you get your kite sorted out on the beach, if you can see it of course (i.e. get the wife to keep an eye on it) Having said that, you said it was in a tangled in a mess.. so you probably chose a pretty safe option. I'd probably have tried to get to my kite and use it as a sail to get to shore, then quickly but patiently tried to sort my lines out and go in search for my deck. p.s. i feel for you, i ripped a kite the other day. almost as bad! Quote
paulie_amoose Posted October 5, 2009 Report Posted October 5, 2009 Without being there at the time it's hard to put a right or wrong on it, all that really matters is your safe and everyone was aware that your safe. Gutted about the kite loss but always try and take a posistive from every negative. It was only a Best so now you have an excuse to buy a proper kite!! Quote
_Geordie_ Posted October 5, 2009 Report Posted October 5, 2009 I would have tried everything to hang onto my kite.. it's the one thing that'll haul your a$$ back to shore. Not when its off shore, I would do the same as he's done here. Ditch the kite and swim in with the board. If its on shore then I'd agree. The kite will eventually get you to the beach, sometimes this can actually be more dangerous if you can't let the thing go and its still powered for whatever reason and its super windy. Knife is a must. Its a pisser sure, but kit can be replaced, I would have no hesitation in ditching any of my gear if it came to it, and I've been close, many times! Quote
Marcus1599968658 Posted October 6, 2009 Report Posted October 6, 2009 Sorry to hear you lost your kite. There is one thing you could have done to prevent this happening... Always, always, always make sure that you only go out on the water with a buddy to back you up. Even if there are others on the water, don't assume that they will be looking out for you. Always make sure you've got a buddy arrangement with someone before you go out. This means - they are looking out for you and you are looking out for them in return. If you'd had a friend out with you you could have packed down and they could then have dragged you in. I have lost count of the number of people I have dragged back to shore in situations like this. Quote
Cahliss Posted October 6, 2009 Report Posted October 6, 2009 Bummer mate, I lost my board three weeks ago when I missed a double wave, faceplanted, lost the board off my feet, but normally not a problem, just drag back to it. No chance, didn't realize the current was actually heading out to sea at an angle when the wind was 180 deg opposite. Tried for at least 15 mins and was getting nowhere, and I was a fair way out (+/- 400 m). So I dragged back to shore and got my spare board with the intent to nip out and retrieve the other. Once out there, cruised back and forth for about ten minutes when the blinkin safety on my chicken loop for some reason came undone. Now I fly Flysurfers as I am the only bod kitesurfing, so I can launch and land by myself dead easy. This time I let the kite go all the way on the FDS, and by the time I had fixed the safety, the current had brought the kite towards me, and with there being nearly zero wind at wave height just couldn't get a relaunch, plus kite was folde over itself. So, deep water pack down, and loooooong swim in against the current. Kept the kite slightly inflated to act as a sail when the wind did come across wave height. Took me an hour to beach myself, and to add insult to injury got stung on both ankles by nasty jellyfish just about 50m off the shore. Almost panicked and left the kite, but kept at it and beached meself, absolutely knackered. Board was history, nice little Rip 28. This was the first time I have seen the current going out to sea in the last two and half years of flying in Miri. Weird! Cheers Chris Quote
jablonski1599968753 Posted October 6, 2009 Report Posted October 6, 2009 Happened to me when i was a kid on holiday except it was a lilo.....Was heartbroken... Quote
mick Posted October 6, 2009 Report Posted October 6, 2009 I've not had much experience as a novice kitesurfer but as a seasoned pole dancer windsurfer, the one thing I know is we are never fully aware of whats going to happen with wind, waves and everything else Nature throws at us. All we can do is take every precaution we can to protect ourselves. Shirley we've all seen mahoosive wind shifts or huge gusts suddenly come thro. Anything can happen and it likely will sooner or later. Glad you're ok fella. Its only a kite and some bloke in sunny Oirland is now lookin at his new Best koite that has just drifted in to be sure oh yes. Quote
5N1TCH Posted October 6, 2009 Report Posted October 6, 2009 Bummer losing stuff or breaking stuff but I'd rather lose something that costs a few hundred quid than die! Quote
festa Posted October 6, 2009 Report Posted October 6, 2009 Bummer losing stuff or breaking stuff but I'd rather lose something that costs a few hundred quid than die! the question is how the he77 do you know ??? yes we've all lost stuff and it feels like shit ?? but hands up! who on here is dead ?? Quote
JCalver Posted October 7, 2009 Report Posted October 7, 2009 Lol, festa, good point, but I'd rather not find out tbh. Feel for yer mate, it's pretty tough to let go of a kite, but there will always come a point when you think '**** this, this is getting hairy, I'm gunna swim for it'. The difference was, I let my kite go in Sotavento, Fuerte Ventura, where you pay for safety boat cover, so I was pretty sure I'd get my kite back. I wouldn't like to be in the situation of being forced to ditch a kite without that relative assurance. I hope you wrote your phone number on your kite ;-) Although after a rinsing through the sea, I'm not sure it would be much use, even if you did get it back! Quote
RubberSideUp Posted October 7, 2009 Report Posted October 7, 2009 Unlucky that you lost your kite, but it could have been a lot worse. Could have ditched the board to retrieve the kite and been unable to, and subsequently lost both. I was wondering whether a knife could have saved the situation, if you could cut the lines on one side, the kite would surely be unable to fly? I dont (yet) carry a line knife, but if i were to kitesurf, i'd be carrying one without a doubt. Quote
noggin Posted October 7, 2009 Report Posted October 7, 2009 Hmm, Shows how out of touch you can get:confused: I thought most makers harness's come with a line knife?? No? has this changed? There are two threads on this forum which says "must get a knife!!" My son's stuff which is getting on, Dakine harness with knife, Impact vest with knife Its not good if manufactures are not providing one now?!! Because when all else fails, cut away and swim!!) You seem to have been very calm and wits about you in all this, not allways the case, so give yourself a pat on the back and be thankful for your life:) Wishing you Smooth winds and Safe Flying!! Quote
paulie_amoose Posted October 7, 2009 Report Posted October 7, 2009 After my human Tuna experenice yesterday I would have no issues in letting my rig go, I was attached to brand new 2010 kit. Still wouldnt have thought twice about it... Quote
KGB Posted October 7, 2009 Report Posted October 7, 2009 just one or two points to add here. 1, Never ride aloan ( have a kite bud with you one that Know the score) 2, keep your eye on what is going on befind you, when the wind changes or the appearance of the see changes and it looks or feels wrong, head back or dich and recover. Quote
MuddyMrTimm Posted October 8, 2009 Report Posted October 8, 2009 That sucks dude, better to lose a kite than a life though. Still.. a tough call to make at the time. Quote
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