Scary stuff at coyote

[baypirate]

Wingtip vortices for sure. They are a byproduct of wing (and fuselage) lift, NOTengine thrust / "displaced air" / downwash etc. (which all are ALSO hazards but nothing like wingtip vortices). They sink behind the airplane and/or drift with the wind (I think FAA says 700ft/min "normal" sink rate). They are a serious hazard even to a "heavy" airplane, for instance in taking-off behind another "heavy", a pilot has to explicitly waive the "wake turbulence" waiting period. Even light airplane can generate significant wake turbulence (one funny instance is that in certain aerobatic figures, if well executed, you end up flying through your own wake turbulence)

I think kites generate wingtip vortices too, anybody who experienced a tight racing start at Crissy can vouch to that.

I always assume that at 3rd/Coyote is too windy to hit a vortex intact. Probably you were just in the sweet spot for it (wind direction/strenght, height under approach, air stability etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy0hgG2pkUs

[knyfe]

next time I take a photo for you guys. Yes they can be really big, especially considering that I see them from far out there. G

[le noun]

I always assume that at 3rd/Coyote is too windy to hit a vortex intact. Probably you were just in the sweet spot for it (wind direction/strenght, height under approach, air stability etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy0hgG2pkUs

Seeing the impact on the smoke, makes me wonder if there is anything I could have done to save my ass.
Maybe crash your kite in the water on purpose and seat in the water waiting for the phenomenon to pass? (and that's in the best case scenario if you look upwind and see it coming)

[knyfe]

I would have released to my 5th line. Ass saver ...

[le noun]

I would have released to my 5th line. Ass saver ...

Didn't even have time for that.
Keep in mind that I didn't know about wingtip vortex until I got hit by one.
I was under powered and all of a sudden my kite threw me in the air and dropped me like a stone.
As I said, by the violence of the pull, I thought that the lines snapped when I dropped back in the water.

[Greg]

thats why small aircraft dont fly with the big dogs... the turbulance extends back MILES, yet another reason they stagger landings.. LOVE the video!

[BeniciaWind]

I've been nailed on my windsurfer there too. I saw it coming. First I got way overpowered - then backwind slammed into the water. I can't imagine what it would have been like if I was attached to a kite.

[le noun]

Pretty scary.
I definitely got lucky that I wasn't in the air boosting or something like that.
The kite just basically got bent backward and followed that vortex spiral up and then down.