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Windsurfer rescued at Dillon

Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 10:36 pm
by wjb

Re: Windsurfer rescued at Dillon

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 7:11 am
by kitenaked
Henry One..your the greatest

Re: Windsurfer rescued at Dillon

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 10:32 am
by yojimbo
I second that.

I was on the beach while this was going down. I noticed that there were several kiters in the water near the shark pit, seemingly powered up. Is there a reason no one helped this guy out. Was there a wind shadow where he was so you couldn't get to him? Was he not able to paddle out to where you could get him?

I had my 12m rigged, and I barely got it in the air. I was amazed people were actually out riding.

Re: Windsurfer rescued at Dillon

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 2:14 pm
by floater
The guy was a kiter. He spent some time on the Tomales side of the channel. Not the best place to be and pretty hard to rescue. He said to his friends that he was ok and started to self-rescue. The wind kept getting lighter so not much you can do to get to him. He was caught in the ebb and looked like he wasn't making much progress. His friend called the coast guard/ sheriff and they picked him. He looked ok probably a bit cold from the swim.

If you want to play in the Pit, you better fully understand the consequences. The current is super gnarly, the wind will paste your kite to the cliffs and then there's our good friend and neighbor swimming close by.

Glad he is ok.

Re: Windsurfer rescued at Dillon

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 2:25 pm
by Tony Soprano
Once Again the term "Windsurfer" and "Kite boarder" are mixed up.

I am sure we all have done something dumb kite boarding.

You go in the deep end, you pay.

Thanks allot for making the news.

Re: Windsurfer rescued at Dillon

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 2:40 pm
by yojimbo
I kite the shark pit.

From the beach it looked like the guys out there were riding waves and enjoying themselves-meanwhile this guy was need of a rescue. The wind was very light, question is had they attempted to help him out or were they just ignoring him.

Re: Windsurfer rescued at Dillon

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 2:49 pm
by dealbst
I was in search of wind yesterday and bypassed Dillin for this reason. I'm not experienced in the waves and don't want to practice with the land lord watching.

I also heard from a kiting buddy a little later that some U.C. students are chumming out there right now doing some great white research. ^^
:character-jaws:

I went past Bodega where the wind was howling but the tide was out and ended up kiting just north of Salmon Creek. I thought I was going to be throwing up a 6m but ended up borrowing my buddies 14m. Just shows goes to show you how fast conditions change.

Be safe out there my brothers! =*

-SPD XZSD

Re: Windsurfer rescued at Dillon

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 3:08 pm
by wjb
yojimbo wrote:From the beach it looked like the guys out there were riding waves and enjoying themselves-meanwhile this guy was need of a rescue. The wind was very light, question is had they attempted to help him out or were they just ignoring him.
But he got a fun helicopter ride out of it :mrgreen:

Re: Windsurfer rescued at Dillon

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 3:32 pm
by dealbst
Yojimbo, I love it! "I kite the shark pit". You should have T-Shirts made. I hope to wear one some day... SS$$

Re: Windsurfer rescued at Dillon

Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 7:33 am
by WindMuch
A breakdown at the Pit is one of my worst nightmares. It's one I hope never comes true, yet you gotta prepare for the worst. When it's ebbing there is SO much water moving around - add to that any significant swell and it's gonna get dicey fast. It's a spot for the buddy system for sure.

Dillon (particularly the Pit) is one of the main reasons I've started carrying my iPhone with me in a waterproof case when I kite. I've imagined what would happen in a gnarly situation out there and considered what it would be like to hike out from the Pt. Reyes/headland side to the South.

And booties. It's the main reason I wear booties. Hiking barefoot for several hours... no thanks.

Glad the guy is OK. Careful out there all!

Kirk out