Kiter death in Cape Town

[Bille]

...
Any mistake in those conditions would be potentially disasterous.

So Not reasonably safe conditions ; as given to believe earlier ?

Bille

[Toby]

...
Any mistake in those conditions would be potentially disasterous.

So Not reasonably safe conditions ; as given to believe earlier ?

Bille

sounds like it. Those conditions just are dangerous. Call your luck.

[adorezlesoleil]

Reply to Havre: nI believe gusts were the same in Cape Town that day, about 15+ stronger than wind knots but you are right that with the waves and general conditions in Cape Town that impact may even be stronger....was in Cape Town a few days before, Blouberg, and image being on top of above a 3m+ waves and getting a gust...but I don't know the spot Muizenberg which is where the Dutch kiter was...I can only imagine that if a strong gust takes you by surprise you may not be prepared for it...but I really don't know what happened, just trying to remind myself to be prepared when gusts are strong

[Peter_Frank]

Im am no expert, but have been in CT and the area around many many years.

If low winds, you go south to Platboom and similar (Scarborough and Witsands), where the wind usually is a lot stronger, if not much further north where it on occassion but not often, can be stronger.

Muizenberg is not really a kite or windsurf wavespot, as wind is usually onshore, and less wind, usually more stable than most other spots, and we always go there to surf instead of using a kite or sail, as good waves even when no wind.

Capetown (which is quite far away from Muizenberg) has all its known beaches starting from Sunset and then all the way up around Big Bay and Haakgat and to Melkbos - almost same wind, not always very stable as sideshore sometimes a tad off just corrected by the coast.

Further north, at YzerFontein, sometimes mega swell periods, and can be wind there too.

Finally Langebaan which is mostly a flat water spot - can be windy and good very often yes, but not super windy that often.

My point is, one can NOT compare if the wind was gusty or not, at one place, regarding how it was at another spot - they are totally different windwise so you have to kite at the exaxt same spot and time of day, to know how the wind was.

Sorry, not much contribution here, just that one can not compare wind strengths or gust between spots in South Africa in and around CapeTown.

Condolenses to the family, sad, and we apparently dont know much it seems?

Peter

[Hugh2]

Agreed Peter.

An important point is that, as you note, at Muizenberg the SEaster is onshore, hence any mistake carries a higher risk than along Table Bay where it is side-off to side-on. I fear that is what cost him his life. That was a very windy afternoon, no matter if it was less gusty at Muizenberg, so any mistake could be costly, whereas the same mistake at Table Bay would likely just be a teabagging or possibly getting dragged down the beach without hitting anything.

[Bille]

...
so any mistake could be costly, whereas the same mistake at Table Bay would likely just be a teabagging or possibly getting dragged down the beach without hitting anything.

I get what your saying !

In your opinion :
How many kiters actually weigh the odds for surviving
unscathed , a kiting session ; based on what you just said ?
I do ; and it is the reason that I've never bin injured
while kiting , (land , snow, or water).

Now flying , that is a different story ; I've lost a Bunch of
body-parts , due to gravity .

Bille

[Hugh2]

Bille, I certainly consider these issues when deciding to kite. I consider it an essential part of situational awareness, which includes things like this, tides, wildlife, other kiters and other water users, etc.

[Bille]

Bille, I certainly consider these issues when deciding to kite.
...

You deserve that Thanks , i just gave ya !!

Seriously -- this topic should be basic Kiting 101 ; for everyone
that does this sport (.)

Bille

[Van Hunk]

Hi

This is terribly sad and such a loss. But there are learnings for us who are left behind. I spoke at length to someone who was on the scene and witnessed the accident.

Long and short. The person put much too big a kite up for the conditions. And everything went wrong from there.

If you are a visitor here in South Africa, do not underestimate how heavy the winds can be. Also, do not assume that you will be able to pull a release once you hit the ground. Incapacitating damage might already have been done by then.

Release early and quickly. Its only gear. It can be replaced.

[Toby]

So it happened at launch?