jumptheshark wrote: ↑Mon Mar 05, 2018 1:55 pm
I hope the rescue boat is funded by and for kiters as apposed to simply a public safety service funded by taxes. Otherwise the only message I can take from this is that you guys are seriously irresponsible. If its a club boat.... no worries, head out there in dying off shore breeze all you like, but if not, your choice of kite is not the issue. Opting to go at all is.
There are 3 beaches here on Fuerterventura that have rescue boats that you can pay a fee to before you go out, the one at Flag beach charges 35euro for a week's cover, unlimited pickups, with 3 rib boats, 2 large ones kept offshore mostly with thier schools, these are big powerful beasts capable of carrying around 12 with kit, the 3rd rib is kept on shore ready to go manned by 2 staff at the launch spot, smaller but on the spot all the time, if you do not pay your weekly fee they will pick you up for 100euro each time,
At Matas bay where the winds are off shore most of the time they have 4 jet ski rescue craft with 2 on the water most of the time, and 2 large rescue boats kept at the waters edge, here you pay 50 euros upfront fee, this gives you up to 3 rescues, if you don't pay this then they charge 150euro.
At Sotavento beach they have a similar charging fee to pay upfront with a much larger fee to pay if you decide not to bother (very silly) here the beach is massive with jetski rescue dotted along the beach with look out towers manned with kite center staff,
Relying on the public rescue services is not an option for me on a foil, one guy here on Flag beach will not pay the fee and he had a massive swim in with his gear against the wind, he was built like Arnold Swartzanager, and took around an hour to swim back, we were all in disbelief, the rescue guys said he has done it before and waves the rescue boat away if they offer a ride.