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Tarifa Rescue - Don't make the same mistake

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a99
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Re: Tarifa Rescue - Don't make the same mistake

Postby a99 » Sat Jul 11, 2020 1:21 am

Swimmed in Baltic sea more than 60 minutes, was about 1-2 km from shore. Temperature of water +16 c, air about +17 c, Waves were about 1.5-2m high. Wetsuite 5/4 and lifewest. No issues. In our sea no any boats rescue at all. Wind dropped after Middle rain, of course kite also dropped.
Last edited by a99 on Mon Jul 13, 2020 1:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

br44
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Re: Tarifa Rescue - Don't make the same mistake

Postby br44 » Sat Jul 11, 2020 2:06 am

Toby wrote:
Fri Jul 10, 2020 10:20 pm

I almost drowned after swimming 5 min in 18C water about 50m from shore with offshore winds..
This made me curious — how did you do that?? Warm water, only 5 minutes, no waves (offshore).... Not even close to what it’d take.... I always wear a PFD, sounds like you weren’t...?

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Toby
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Re: Tarifa Rescue - Don't make the same mistake

Postby Toby » Sat Jul 11, 2020 7:16 am

It was in Portugal at the first race World Cup ever.
The day before competition and I was making an Airstyle show for the spectators.
I only had a shorty, but water was about 18C, so I was loosing energy.
After 1.5 hrs riding my harness opened, and I can close to shore to drop the kite and close the harness again.

I had leaking valves...so my tubes were not stiff enough to be able to relaunch my kite.
So I decided to activate the QR, and swim to shore with my kite on the 5th line.
I was close to the beach...but offshore wind pushed my kite and I swam few minutes (guess even less than 5) and couldn’t get closer to shore.

I felt a force that wanted to suck me down...since I barely had energy left from kiting and the cold water.

Last chance I saw was get to my kite on my 5th lone and hang onto my tubes.

Luckily the boat that out out the buoys for the races next day got to me and dragged me to shore.

That’s why I avoid offshore winds and foil kites.

Lesson learned.

And I never had a good session in Tarifa with Levante.
With Poniente yes.

Would only go back there for nightlife, not for kiting.

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Frankieboy
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Re: Tarifa Rescue - Don't make the same mistake

Postby Frankieboy » Mon Jul 13, 2020 10:13 am

if levante is not blowing strong there is a thermic bringing it side /side-on at Valdevaqueros like Richy says.
Los lances it stays side-off from what I experienced.
Gusty anyway.
I am around (more east around Estepona but wind is not as reliable there) and went a few times to Tarifa last week, friday at Los Lances was extremely gusty or unconsistent I would say, from 8 knots to 25 knots... Luckily on the foil...

Leaving right know for a day in Tarifa again :-)

The thing is that you can almost ride everyday in Tarifa

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Re: Tarifa Rescue - Don't make the same mistake

Postby Robsw6 » Mon Jul 13, 2020 4:57 pm

Toby wrote:
Sat Jul 11, 2020 7:16 am


And I never had a good session in Tarifa with Levante.
With Poniente yes.

Would only go back there for nightlife, not for kiting.
Dear-oh-dear..... Levante can be v good.... from Valdevaqueros (upwind is better), or launch at Chiringuito Agua and go upwind to Balneario & no-one can jump there :wink:

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Re: Tarifa Rescue - Don't make the same mistake

Postby andylc » Mon Jul 13, 2020 5:36 pm

I have had a not dissimilar situation where I had to ask for help - wind was still just about onshore but I was kiting in an area where there was a fast current from a river inlet with a dropping tide. One of my front lines came off the bridal and of course I had to release onto safety due to death looping. I was then not that far from shore maybe 200m or so but the kite was in the current pulling me backwards and I couldn’t swim in. Luckily managed to get a tow from a fellow kiter far enough to get out of the current and then I could get across to a spit of land and sort myself out. Horrible feeling though when it feels like your kite is pulling you out to sea.
I’ve since added plastic balls to my front bridles as the F-one knots are too small and unless you really crank the larks head down really tight they can occasionally come off.


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