I had an experience today and am wondering what everyone else thinks. It was blowing pretty hard and gusty - round 30kt and there were only three of us out and a few wind surfers. One of the guys dropped his kite about 120m offshore and i think he'd popped his LE. I saw him winding his lines as I was going out and he was about 20m down wind but the time I'd come back in. First time of been out in such strong conditions and i was on a 9m so I was concentrating pretty hard on what I was up to and I've had to do a couple of self rescues myself in a similar spot so I figured hed be ok. When I was on the beach this bloke was walking back up with his kit and I was gunna ask how he went but all I got was 'Thanks for helpin'.

So whats the go in this situation? I've been in situations when I was maybe 250m offshore in swell where I've stuck around to make sure a bloke was ok.

What would you guys have done? I know theres been talk of a code of ethics in the WAKSA site..

Cheers
riegs

if you weren't comfortable in those conditions then fair enough. he shouldn't have been further out than he was prepared to swim in. as long as you kept an eye on him i reckon its fair play.
but maybe next time kite up and check they're not injured and let the rider know you've spotted him and will make sure he makes it to the beach.

I wouldn't worry too much about a comment made in a situation like that

To me a kiter shouldn't expect anyone to to come and help - it's nice if they do, and probably an obligation if the person is in danger and you are able and capable of helping. But from what you said you had an eye on the situation this guy was in and from your experience he was OK to self rescue. Probably also depends on what you could actually do to help - it can get messy with two kites and lines.

Just my opinion. I reckon if you go out you've got to be willing to take what you get

If you felt comfortable, then sure it would have been good to go check he was ok.
when you are in the water i same situation, its always nice to know someone is keeping an eye out....

he was probably frustrated after his long swim in, so dont be hard on yourself for the comment.

But i do think kiters should always go out of their way to help each other.

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bigmark100 said...

If you felt comfortable, then sure it would have been good to go check he was ok.
when you are in the water i same situation, its always nice to know someone is keeping an eye out....

he was probably frustrated after his long swim in, so dont be hard on yourself for the comment.

But i do think kiters should always go out of their way to help each other.

agreed .maybe next time it might be nice to go past and ask the kiter if they are OK