Cannonvale kite surfer's knowledge of the tides may have saved his life on Sunday. The 19-year-old was kite surfing off Daydream Island late yesterday afternoon when the wind died near North Molle Island. Currents started to pull the teenager out to sea so he cut his kite loose

He knew the tide would take him in, so he used that to get to west North Molle.

Volunteer Marine Rescue and the RACQ CQ Rescue Helicopter set out to find him at 8pm last night. They found him on North Molle Island.

No life jacket, no EPIRB and no radio so he's a lucky lad.

www.dailymercury.com.au/news/missing-kite-boarder-found-beach-whitsundays/2742444/

Peterc150 said..

No life jacket, no EPIRB and no radio so he's a lucky lad.

Who the hell regularly kites with an epirb, life jacket and radio?

^^^^ I hear all in kiters in WA carry all 3 all the time - or so the rumour goes !! - Im sure this kid got further than 400m from the beach ;-)

Peterc150 said..
Currents started to pull the teenager out to sea so he cut his kite loose

He knew the tide would take him in, so he used that to get to west North Molle.

I'm so confused..... Currents out, tide in... What the

Freddofrog said..
Why would you cut off your kite? I would have though it's much more visible from the air, helps you float, provides shade...

I totally agree, I'd never ditch my kite for those reasons.

kites with an epirb, life jacket and helmet

Island hopping in the whits no joke if the winds up the whit channell is bloody sketchy been a few years now since I did my stints but I allways let coast guard know where amd when my movements would be and checked with scamper when they had customers and where they were going from which island so if I got stuck without wind id know which island I could wait for a retrieve from. Id like to meet the young lad hes probably just ****ed my chances opening a kite school around the whit. If you are crossing the channell I suggest you bloody know what your doing and have a means of carrying several liters of water etc with you. Light winds are by far easiest option as less dramatic wind shadows and the waves arent higher then your head if you cant work the venturis to your advantage better bloody least have a sat phone to organise a retrieve when **** goes pear shaped. Not cheap.