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A kiter was riding a prototype Sling Shot Raptor kite yesterday when the wind suddenly shifted offshore. The rider tried to make back to shore but pronounced lulls made keeping the kite flying difficult. After drifting offshore a ways they decided to release the kite. The southwesterly winds continued until about 3 am after the windshift around 5:20 pm off Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

The kite likely dragged the bar and lines along northeast until captured by the Florida Current moving the lot north north east at around 3 kts. on top of wind drift. After around 3 am easterly winds returned likely shoving the lot in a north north west direction.

Ok, for extra points, where will the kite land, along what beach???

a. Pompano to Boca Raton
b. Delray to Lake Worth
c. Palm Beach to Jupiter
d. North of Tequesta
e. A warm core gyre will orbit the kite back to Ft. Lauderdale?

The prototype kite belongs to Hamish, who loaned it to a close friend. Hamish understandably would like to get it back. If you find it or hear word, please tell us about it here or email flkitesurfer at hotmail.com

p.s. - work to anticipate windshifts from weather planning, and be on the lookout for shift signs around the time you expect it to move. Stay closer to shore around that time. If in doubt, land, it beats swimming or losing gear. If you can't self rescue with the new wind direction, consider side stroking the lot in. You may need to lessen the profile of the kite to ease wind drag. Your impact vest and strong swimming skills should make the whole process easier and less problematical.

PS. Never go out further than you can swim ... even taking into account an offshore breeze.

PPS. If all of the above fails, release the kite. You can always buy another one ... if you're not dead.

PPPS. Our friend should have retained the bar and lines. At least to reduce the cost of the loss and to reduce the hazard of the dragging lines to boats and wild life.

Hi,

I don't understand why he released the kite.

Wouldnt a safety packdown have been much safer?

If i got into trouble being dragged offshore i would be looking to whatever could keep me most buyount until the coastguard arrived. i.e. my kite.

Or ar least this is what i understood from lessons 6 years ago.

Safety packdown is still taught in kiteschools isn't it?

Anyway hope your friend gets his kite back.

Regards, Dara

dr. wrote:Hi,

I don't understand why he released the kite.

Wouldnt a safety packdown have been much safer?

If i got into trouble being dragged offshore i would be looking to whatever could keep me most buyount until the coastguard arrived. i.e. my kite.

Or ar least this is what i understood from lessons 6 years ago.

Safety packdown is still taught in kiteschools isn't it?

Anyway hope your friend gets his kite back.

Regards, Dara

Believe it or not there are experienced kiters who don't know how to self rescue, panic probably set in....


Polo...

definitely a bad decision to ditch the kite. first, many people vastly over-estimate the distance they can swim. try a mile in a pool non-stop and then picture it being 10 times worse with waves, current, jelly fish, ... second, people vastly under-estimate distances, what can look like 1/2 mile turns out to be a couple miles. third, the kite was the only thing he had that floats - this is like ditching your life jacket. fourth, ... ok i'm running out of stuff, but it was definitely a bad decision...

As an example, Alcatraz to SF is 3/4 miles. Most people would look and think no big deal. I've done this race many times. I assure you, it is brutal. People have died doing it (I think heart failure, ...).

Safe_Cracker wrote:

dr. wrote:Hi,

I don't understand why he released the kite.

Wouldnt a safety packdown have been much safer?

If i got into trouble being dragged offshore i would be looking to whatever could keep me most buyount until the coastguard arrived. i.e. my kite.

Or ar least this is what i understood from lessons 6 years ago.

Safety packdown is still taught in kiteschools isn't it?

Anyway hope your friend gets his kite back.

Regards, Dara

Believe it or not there are experienced kiters who don't know how to self rescue, panic probably set in....


Polo...

That or the kiter decided he was within swimming distance of the shore and decided that swimming in was far safer than a boat/helo rescue. Weather & time of day can dictate that choice. Bad weather means poor visibility which means maybe no helo launch and it can make it difficult for a boat to see the survivor.

I would always ditch the kite and make a reasonable swim in to shore over staying afloat with gear because once the sun has set floating with gear means you have to probably get through the night. Different conditions will dictate that choice, IMO. A reasonable swim one day maybe completely insane from the very same spot on another. I think it’s a process each person needs to go through when faced with the decision.

There was a cold water fatality in CT a few years ago, I believe, that happened in such a manner when a person stayed with their gear.

BTW- Ricki I am going to say answer A.....


Right in the area of the picture... Keep us informed please (and I want a T shirt for being right please )




Polo..

The Coast Guard actually has lights.
Plus, not dark until about 8:30.

Kite and lines probably snagged a large turtle by now and went down with it's dead body.
WTG.

sarcasm wrote:The Coast Guard actually has lights.
Plus, not dark until about 8:30.

Not to mention the water is 80F

Flip the kite over nose into wind
unhook your spreader bar so you don't poke the kite
flip body onto the kite with legs down center strut
hang upper body over LE and overhand swim

use this for offshore winds or going back upwind to get your board

You're also far more visible to rescue craft like this (wingtips in the air)


My guess is 70-75% of kiters have never practiced self rescue one time, and at least 75% of instructors don't teach it.

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