Hi Guys and Girls,
I'm in the process of trying to set up regular Kite racing at one of the Sailing Clubs in Perth. One of the tasks is to educate the support/rescue personal for kite racing.

What are the Kite specific instructions we need to teach them? Are there some guidelines or procedures already made? If not, we should come up with some so all kite racing support becomes consistent. Don't want some rescue people destroying our expensive gear! Or making a simple rescue complicated.

cheers
Torvar

Good Point Torvar,

We need to do the same with the Brisbane Race officials this weekend.

Maybe the guys who trained the Sail Melbourne officials have some insight on this?

Thanks, Jalen

hi guys

i have a 10 point rescue plan that i taught all the rescue volunteers at sail melbourne

i will have a look through my emails and try to find it

Sail Melbourne Kite rescue plan

1. Approach sailor from windward side, assess situation
2. - If unconscious, diver jumps in quick release chicken loop, then leash, releasing kite and all lines, Retrieve patient and provide first aid.
3. - if conscious, Instruct sailor to release chicken loop with visual hand signal. Drive to kite, approaching the kite from an arc avoiding driving between sailor and kite at all times.
4. Approach kite from a 45 degree angle from the downwind side, picking kite up from the inflatable edge ONLY in the centre of the kite.
5. Drive at continued 45degree angle upwind whilst rotating kiting upside down and holding over the stern or leeward side of the boat.
6. Instruct sailor to release safety leash with visual hand signal.
7. Release dump valve, deflating kite, will be located in the centre of the kite, if not in centre on wing tip.
8. Roll kite from each wing tip to centre, deflating into a sausage shape. Place kite inside the boat
9. Gather lines into a bucket
10. Retrieve sailor, then board

Cautionary notes
- wear gloves at all times
- at no stage wrap lines around hand or body
- never grab trailing edge of kite
- beware of unintentional launching, keep clear of lines at all times
- cutting lines, absolute last resort


Joel Aulich

Nice list Joel. Might I add that rolling a kite from each wingtip is near impossible in a boat, while it's windy.

When we do kite rescues we just hit the deflate and stuff it in the boat any old how. The kites are always wet so they just crumple and deflate real quick.

- Then pull the lines into the boat into one big pile.
- Leave the bar hanging over the seat of the boat of something.
- It's the kiters responsibility to then wind their lines back up quickly as soon as their in the boat. 9/10 the lines go straight back onto the bar with no tangles and the bar can then be placed inside the deflated kite. Ready for the next rescue.

Torvar i would suggest getting in contact with the BKSA they have a tried and tested boat rescue procedure and will probably be willing to email you a copy to pass onto the yacht clubs. It is well worded and wont need any tweaking.
Maybe just shoot them off a quick email.
Andy Gratwick is the man you want to contact (he is thier head of training) training@kitesurfing.org

Funny

I made a .PPT presentation for instructing how to rescue Kitesurfers...


Nobody at any Perth yacht club was keen.... (I was not asking for any money)

I approached every Perth Yacht Club to run a racing series.... No interest....

Torvar mate I have lots of information on this, with information compiled from the BKSA and the RYA.

I also just did a course with Andy Gratwick

Torvar are you able to say what clubs are thinking about it? was interesting that people involved with running sail melbourne ie the start/finish boat operators, the commodore, the people at the bar watching all thought kite racing was great to watch and a breathe of fresh air.

maybe some trial races with no commitment might be the way to go. Once they see we are serious about racing and its all legit then we might get some support.

cheers

steve

Hi Guys,

I was wondering if i could get the same information,
i am Currently a Rear Commodore up here @ Geraldton Yacht Club.
I started kite boarding this year with the intention of eventually Racing one, and hopefully with all the kiters up here i might be able to get a few together to form a class,
The New 2013-2016 Yachting Australia Racing rules covers all the rules and starting sequence, but doesn't give much ideas for requirement in the safety department, so the information will be invaluable.

Thanks in advance.

Kit