I am waiting for additional local information before getting into that aspect further. If it was of the "fair weather" variety of waterspout vs. the more obvious, powerful and evil looking tornadic waterspout, they can sneak up on you at times. Then again, the one in Italy was dark, plain as day and a bunch of kiters were riding all around it, oblivious until some were lofted, perhaps even after. All kiters need to be aware of what is going on around them at all times, inbound boats, other riders, people in distress, changes in weather, thunderstorms, funnel clouds, whitewater lines, etc., it just goes with what we do.
Avoidance is key from weather forecasts, on the horizon, at cloud base as a small funnel cloud, whatever. Never let it come close to you. If you fail to punch out early, plenty have failed to do so, don't expect bar sheeting (changing the AOA) to do much good for you. Variable AOA works pretty well with lateral wind but not so much with vertical. This one lofting involving a very experienced kiter highlighted that limitation. This happened in a measly 30 mph or 25 kt. squall gust btw.
1200 ft. Lofting Overland In 30 mph Squall
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"Trix's (the cereal) are for kids, squalls are for chumps"
(who said that?)