Winging and Self Rescue

[Toby]

Does any instructor teach self rescue for winging?

I am asking because we just had a rescue mission in Cumbuco, Brazil.

It got dark, and winds are side onshore...a helicopter had to assist with light...

I just can't understand, why that lady wasn't able to get back to shore herself...

So I wonder how much safety is considered in winging lessons.





A 44-year-old sailor was rescued by lifeguards from the Fire Department after being adrift with the equipment in the sea at Praia do Cumbuco, in Caucaia, in the Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza. The incident took place in the late afternoon of Saturday (21).

An aircraft from the Integrated Coordination of Air Operations (Ciopaer) was activated and helped the rescue by lighting the sea, while the agents swam towards the sailor. The woman, who was wearing a vest, came out of the water conscious and oriented.

According to Captain Rodrigo Carneiro, from the 2nd Marine Rescue Company of the Search and Rescue Battalion (BBS) of the Fire Department, the agents were called at around 5:40 pm, via the Integrated Security Operations Coordination (Ciops), to remove the a kitsurfer who was about 300 meters away from the sand strip and couldn't get out of the sea "due to lack of wind".

"Actually, there was no interference from the sea for her to be where she was, there was interference from the wind. As there was no wind to return she was adrift, the wind taking her. Because in fact the tide was not pulling, as she was already inside the sea, then it would be adrift until it leaves in Pecém", says captain Rodrigo Carneiro.

The firefighters emphasize the importance of sailors always leaving a person monitoring them on the sand strip, to trigger help in an emergency. According to the firefighters, the person who accompanied the sailor was the one who called the rescue.

[Toby]

if you ask me, she should have deflated the wing, lay it on the board, and paddle on it being on top of all, since the winging boards do have volume.

[airsail]

I have never met a winger who has had a lesson in our location, most if not all are self taught.

[bragnouff]

if you ask me, she should have deflated the wing, lay it on the board, and paddle on it being on top of all, since the winging boards do have volume.

Even dragging the wing behind you as you paddle on the board, allows you to make good progress 300m is not much at all. Plenty of volume, it's quite efficient. That'd be harder if you had to paddle into a 25kts headwind, but then you'd get to easily ride upwind in that case.

If wind is light, just sitting on the board and holding the wing leading edge down in front of you and holding on rear handle allows for some decent progress downwind, with minimal effort and still a bit of directional steering. Below 4kts is probably when you might as well paddle...
Kind of common sense things that you do when confronted to such a situation, but maybe some people don't think too much about that.

[gmb13]

Hi Toby,

I teach how to self rescue to anyone I teach. In that situation with the wind still being cross onshore using the wing to bodydrag when sitting on the board (see video below from 2:15) would have been the easiest option. But also "Paddling with the wing behind etc." is something I assume any decent instructor is teaching their students.



--
Gunnar

[juandesooka]

For moderately athletic people with typical gear, winging is the safest of the wind sports. If the wind dies, paddle in. Which seems super obvious, but maybe not as obvious to newbies? For example, our local surfing break requires 1 or 2 rescues a year where beginners get caught in the current, panic and get exhausted. That's a combination of lack of knowledge of what to do and not great fitness.

I suspect the conditions here may have some complicating factors, like an opposing current or surf, etc, beyond a simple onshore 300m paddle.

There could also be the bystander effect: as 99% of coast guard incidents around here are called in by beach-goers where the rider is competently self-rescuing. Often the rider is already back to the beach by the time the "rescuers" arrive. Or are well on their way to safety independently, with a short boat ride to save half the paddle. With so many learners for a while there, we went so far locally at one point to write up a 1-pager and distribute it to the beach front houses: "when to call the Coast Guard and when not to", as a non-kiter can't tell the difference between a self rescue and danger situation.

[Toby]

Happy to hear Gunnar.
I hope all instructors do the same.

Hope this topic helps some people to be aware of situations where self rescue is needed and learn from tips and videos like yours.

[edt]

if you ask me, she should have deflated the wing, lay it on the board, and paddle on it being on top of all, since the winging boards do have volume.

never deflate! the wing has no resistance when flat and gets you back if the wind ever comes up again and is much much easier to spot from the air.

[bigtone667]

Could have attached the wing to the ankle and just laid on the board and paddled in. Not a big deal and most us end up doing occasionally. And if you keep the wing inflated and the wind comes back in, you can suddenly use it.

I practice the Gunnar self rescue method all the time. Works a treat.

[BOEMIX]

Damned, winging has the easest selfrescue of all watersports.

You just sit there using the wing to pull you downwind.