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A good question came up on http://bayareakiteboarding.com/viewtopic.php?t=2990
Quote:
Important, talk with them from a distance, making sure they understand what you wish to do and are rational. Panicked victims can effectively drown rescuers if things go poorly. "Always approach the situation cautiously, choose the suportive role if in doubt, actively rescue only when safe to do so." Once you are more at ease with your gear, your options will become better known to you almost naturally. It is best to study a situation before engaging in it to try to plan around difficulties and not inadvertently make things worse for them or yourself. The wind speed, direction, wave and current conditions, how much kite power you have to use and where you need to take your passenger should factor into your analysis. You might be able to make good speed on your own body dragging but with the added weight and drag of a passenger you may not. You don't want to lose control of your kite and have it go down in the middle of things either. Nearby inlets, adverse currents, changing seas all should be considered if applicable. I usually carry about a 20 ft. section of 1/8 inch nylon line in my impact vest. It makes setting up to tow people fairly easily. Most of the time, you may not be able to get up on a plane like Gebi. Having a light girl and Olympic background can help along having done tandem runs before. Most of the time you will be stuck body dragging like Doug did. I hadn't thought of keeping my board on my feet and dragging in that fashion. That very likely saved him from losing his board. Still, keeping the board adds a lot of drag, costs speed and ability to ride closer to the wind if necessary. A lot of this comes down to choices. If you do manage to keep your board and if it is safe to leave your charge, e.g. they have a life jacket, you might even have the option of riding into shore for help at speed if necessary. Dave had an easier time because his guy already was on a surfboard AND he had a tow point. Normally you want a tow line at least ten feet long to keep them from hammering into you. I recall Dave telling me he was getting slammed by the guys board at one point. So, carrying a thin towline can pay dividends. Kiteboarders are sometimes adept watermen. Thinking the problem through, having some minor aids along and then acting for effect can make a difference for some poor soul and add to a kiters day. It also gives me something interesting to write about! Other ideas out there?
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FKA, Inc. transcribed by: Rick Iossi |
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Rick, Did you know ? ? ?
Hey Rick,
Did you know, That Steve Schafer took the two pictures of me, (Doug Smith), that you used in this story, earlier that year, at a place called Hermans Bay which is located Mid Hutchinson Island, Florida, just south of the FP&L Nuclear Power Plant on the Atlantic side in a 20~30 mph West Southwest straight off shore wind. It is a very narrow, one mile or so strip on the island that was almost striped clean of trees and their leaves by the 2004 Hurricane Season. No one had ever tried kiteboarding there because it breaks some kiteboarding safety rules, but we had been thinking about the Flat Water / Clean Wave Possibilities and it turned out to be a Great Idea and Fun Photo Shoot as we took turns on and off the water. The sad thing is I never got to see what we took of him there that day ! Great Memories ! ! ! He will be missed greatly by all who knew him ! |
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