Dangerous launching at 3rd

[baypirate]

Sounds like the OP's post was the same incident I saw.

Thankfully... but the one I saw was not, was ~4-4:30, no apparent damages, just scare.

OP, if you like Hyperflex wetsuits, I can help w/ a really good discount, PM me.

[mjwarne]

Thanks very much for the offer but I'm fine to take care of it - I'm sure it won't cost too much to repair. Believe me, after having his line wrapped tightly round my thumb for a second or so the cut wetsuit and leg came as a relief.

However if there is anyone you recommend that mends wetsuits please let me know.

[kenjidnb]

Launching should be rigorously taught in kite camps!
I totally back tgautier and adamrod about launcher responsibility. Unfortunately, most of us just look for the "thumb-up" sign and don't even pay attention to the bridles or the the kiter position against the wind window. We just want to get that kite quickly up in the air so that we can then get our own kite launched the same dirty way...
Not saying that the launcher is liable for accidents but so much trouble could be avoided if he/she would validate a very short check list before releasing the kite.

[lieutenantglorp]

Relief to hear your outcome fared better than a local last season who lost a finger tip out on the water at 3rd attempting escape from someone's powered up kite lines. It is every kiter's duty to monitor every launch he/she gives to verify success/ failure and provide feedback/ shout instruction in the event of GRIP of death. Don't just launch a kite, then look the other way. You may be able to react faster than a newbie's instincts and help disarm a potential kitemare before it occurs.

What's the extent of wetsuit damage? Most wetsuit repairs can be easily made with aquaseal. If damage is somewhat bigger, surf shops sell iron on neoprene patches and if all else fails, needle and thread works if it's a cut going all the way through. Let me know if you need any help with the repair as it is not too difficult.

[shred_da_gorge]

...starboard ROW and leeward kite low, windward kite high.

What's that you say? The left-hand-forward kiter passes downwind and lowers his/her kite while the upwind kiter keeps the kite high?

Sorry, just had to re-emphasize that protocol... thanks BP

[friggin old guy]

REf ROW:

Just to prevent confusion, the kiter with ROW should try to indicate where he's going and then maintain course and speed. Putting your kite high is a good way to signal that you intend to pass the other guy upwind.

If on the other hand the starboard kiter (right hand forward) wants to pass downwind, he can signal that too by dropping the kite low.

Normally the kiter with ROW will probably want to pass upwind of the oncoming kiters, but that's not always the case.

There's also the issue of not forcing ROW unnecessarily: if you're heading offwind on starboard and you bear up at the last minute to force the port kiter to radically change course, that's trouble. Not to mention really friggin obnoxious.

Just wanted to make the comment, as otherwise people may get the idea that the starboard guy MUST pass upwind with kite high. ROW puts the decision in the hands of the person on starboard tack, and it's good for them to communicate their intent as soon as possible.

[The111]

Normally the kiter with ROW will probably want to pass upwind of the oncoming kiters, but that's not always the case.

If I have ROW but the other guy doesn't look like he is budging, is oblivious, stupid, mean, whatever... I usually lower my kite down to tell him I'm giving it up to him, and then I just carve back up as hard as I can as soon as I pass him... just a free carve for myself and a challenge to make sure I'm well upwind of that guy on the next tack. With my kite low and his kite high, I can pass within 10 feet of him anyway which doesn't really give up THAT much ground (water).

The irony is that if I encounter the same stubborn port tacker and raise my kite to try to say "give me my ROW" I usually lose a little bit of my upwind angle since it's hard to go sharply upwind when your kite is high overhead. So to the other guy, it looks like I'm simultaneously raising my kite to claim ROW, but drifting downwind a little to lose my claim on my ROW... kind of a Catch 22.

[behindThePeak]

glad this came up as i've been wondering: what's the consensus on where windsurfers fall in with ROW? are they less or more maneuverable than kites? lately i've just been giving way regardless of tack because it looks like less but i've never done it so i'm not sure...

[friggin old guy]

that's sort of the point....if you're on starboard and you need to raise your kite up so high that you lose power to pass upwind, you're probably better off just keeping your kite low and passing downwind of the port kiter.

When I'm on port, I'll often go upwind of on oncoming starboard kiter if I think I can do so with my kite high (and powered) as long as I can do so without forcing them to alter their course.

People that force the issue either way are obnoxious. Unless it's super crowded, it's pretty easy to signal intent and avoid problems, keeping in mind that the logical course of everybody both port and starboard is as close to the wind as possible. But again, the person that's on starboard should demonstrate where they want to go and stick to it, and then it's up to the other person to react accordingly.

[baypirate]

REf ROW:

Putting your kite high is a good way to signal that you intend to pass the other guy upwind.

If on the other hand the starboard kiter (right hand forward) wants to pass downwind, he can signal that too by dropping the kite low.

EXACTLY. Signaling is key, and works on a second level too: [b]it tells the other guy that you know what you're doing[/b]. And that applies across the board, from when you launch, how you come in for landing, turning your head to check your surroundings b/f jumping or transitioning etc.