Crissy field incident - June 12

[dwaynej]

Having self rescued in the past, lying on the inside front edge of the kite while you use your lines to fly the other edge as a sail, you are able to make considerable headway to the wind.

I did not review the whole video but the first few seconds show the technique that has worked well for me...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iEbcl9-Iks

[nick_80044]

Aloha said: "Was on RRD Addiction high aspect kite ...Tried blowing safety but it just sort of stayed downwind (offshore) ... "

I've posted about this before--some kites (including RRD) don't really "flag" or even depower much and are designed that way. The RRD has the high-y and two attachments points which means it retains most of its power even if you blow the safety. I found this out the hard way and ended up not only not self-rescuing, but having the kite tumble and wrap around the lines which eventually popped the leading edge. That was the end of that kite.

I highly recommend that if you have a kite with this design, you spend some time in a practice session figuring out how you're going to self-rescue, 'cause it's most likely not going to go how you think it will.

[cleepa]

I highly recommend that if you have a kite with this design, you spend some time in a practice session figuring out how you're going to self-rescue, 'cause it's most likely not going to go how you think it will.

Everyone should do this anyway! Everyone should know how their safety systems work and how to self rescue in the conditions in which they ride. Sooner or later, you're going to need it.

[irvinside]

Just on this one:
"if you are close to shore and don't expect a boat rescue, there is no need to wrap the lines around the bar,""
still mind because you can get you feets or your thighs caught in the lines while swimming, and that can be pretty dangerous if by accident you release the line...due to the line pressure on your fingers becoming too heavy when/if a burst kicks in...It almost happened to me in the past.

My 2 cents...
Greg