Contact   Imprint   Advertising   Guidelines

kitesurfer saves boat/people

Forum for kitesurfers
kitester
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 691
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2003 1:00 am
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: Huguenot Park, FL.
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

kitesurfer saves boat/people

Postby kitester » Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:22 am

Last Saturday

While kiting at Huguenot Park one of our local kiters, Don Smith, saw two people in an 18 foot boat being pushed into large breaking waves off the northeast point of the park. The motor had quit and the boat was close to being overturned in the surf. Rescue service boats had been called but could not get to the vessel in distress because of the size of the waves. Don sailed to the boat and got on board. He placed his feet on the inside of the bow and flew his kite to turn the boat into the waves. Then he used the kite to pull the boat out of the surf. He said several waves broke over the bow boat and one hit them broadside. He was able use the power of the kite to pull the boat to safe water where the rescue boats could attach a tow rope. He then went back to kiting and had a great session. The wind was from the south at about 25 to 30 mph.

Last Sunday (the next day)

Sunday's wind was strong gusty and offshore in the 25 to 30 mph range. Local kiters were out having fun on the clean wave faces. Most were riding in the shallow water near the point. Several people on the beach noticed a disabled jet ski about 1/4 mile out. The rider was trying to swim in to the beach and was several hundred yards from the ski. He was wearing a PFD but the wind and outgoing tide kept him from making much progress. One kiter went to see if he needed help and then returned to the beach to ask bystanders to call 911. He then went back out to the swimmer to mark his position for rescue. The swimmer was weak and very cold and could almost not move his arms. He was wearing a tank top and board shorts. The water temp. was about 63 deg. Due to the direction of the gusty wind and strong current it was impossible to tow the swimmer back to the beach. Once again Don Smith came to the rescue. When he realized what was happening he retrieved an old long board from his truck, tied it to harness and towed out to the swimmer. The swimmer was so cold he had almost no control of his arms or legs and had trouble staying on the board. Don had to hold him and both boards together while keeping his kite overhead. The wind was becoming less and less steady. By this time both kiters and the swimmer were about 3/4 of a mile out. The first kiter tacked back to shore as the rescue boat arrived to explain what was needed and who was in the water. The boat was launched and retrieved the swimmer who was very hypothermic. They also brought the large board back in. Don who was on a 9 meter kite had trouble trying to come back in and so the rescue boat went back out and got him. By the time he was in the boat they were a mile or more out in the water. A rescue services jet ski retrieved the disabled ski. The swimmer had to be carried to the emergency services truck where he was warmed up. He had spent about an hour in the water and may have been taken to the hospital. Family members who had been on the other side of the park waiting for the man to return on the ski were located and brought to the ocean side.

Don Smith is a retired Jacksonville firefighter and has been a Huguenot Park patron for many years. Before kitesurfing he windsurfed the Park and remembers the days when the park area was only reachable by boat and 4X4s. These rescues are not his first. As a kitesurfer he has brought many people (including other kiters) back to the beach. Many people can also thank Don for retrieving gear that might have been lost at sea. Way to go Don!

pebbles
Frequent Poster
Posts: 295
Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2005 2:21 pm
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: Brunswick, GA
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: kitesurfer saves boat/people

Postby pebbles » Tue Mar 31, 2009 12:18 pm

Looks like the kiters save more people than the birders :thumb:

thebroz
Medium Poster
Posts: 151
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 12:20 am
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: NC
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: kitesurfer saves boat/people

Postby thebroz » Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:28 pm

THREE CHEERS FOR DON!!! :thumb:

User avatar
Scribbler
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 532
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 5:26 am
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: Abu Dhabi
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: kitesurfer saves boat/people

Postby Scribbler » Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:30 pm

Rock-on Don...

This planet needs more of your kind.

:thumb:

User avatar
Toby
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 50343
Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2001 1:00 am
Kiting since: 2000
Weight: 95 kg
Local Beach: Cumbuco, Brazil
Barra do Cauipe, Brazil
Favorite Beaches: same
Style: Airstyle
Gear: Rebel 2015 18
Brand Affiliation: None.
Location: World (KF Admin)
Has thanked: 831 times
Been thanked: 2364 times
Contact:

Re: kitesurfer saves boat/people

Postby Toby » Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:37 pm

Dan, you rock! :thumb:

Time for an official recognition by the town I would say!!!

adventure alaska
Medium Poster
Posts: 82
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2007 11:40 pm
Local Beach: homer alaska spit
Favorite Beaches: homer alaska ... south padre island tx ocean side im a wave rider
Style: wave rider
Gear: GK sonic 2007 14m bow awesome kite
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: homer alaska
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: kitesurfer saves boat/people

Postby adventure alaska » Mon May 25, 2009 9:12 am

awesome i feel some responsibility for the kiters at my local beach here in homer Alaska for all the new people getting in to the sport i don't wont any body to get in over there head ,,, thank you for helping others ...

User avatar
Toby
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 50343
Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2001 1:00 am
Kiting since: 2000
Weight: 95 kg
Local Beach: Cumbuco, Brazil
Barra do Cauipe, Brazil
Favorite Beaches: same
Style: Airstyle
Gear: Rebel 2015 18
Brand Affiliation: None.
Location: World (KF Admin)
Has thanked: 831 times
Been thanked: 2364 times
Contact:

Re: kitesurfer saves boat/people

Postby Toby » Mon May 25, 2009 9:55 am

we should always feel responsible for everyone around us. This makes the sport better than others...and only together we will be strong!

User avatar
soar
Rare Poster
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:22 pm
Local Beach: Maui
Favorite Beaches: Ka'a Point Maui, Santa Marianita Ecuador, Rincon in PR, Chucktown, ND, Peru
Style: Kitesurfer-skier-freerider
Gear: Ozone
Brand Affiliation: I ride the best equipment available on the market.
Location: Colorado, Maui, New Zealand
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0
Contact:

Re: kitesurfer saves boat/people

Postby soar » Mon May 25, 2009 9:17 pm

Kite companies.....Don is the kind of guy you want riding for you.....get him some free gear!

Nice work :thumb:

User avatar
Galeltic
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 1740
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 8:28 pm
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: i m lost cause kiting adrenaline steal my soul with heart
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 0

Re: kitesurfer saves boat/people

Postby Galeltic » Mon May 25, 2009 10:29 pm

did u kite without pfd ? i bet that ! :thumb:


Return to “Kitesurfing”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: andylc, Baidu [Spider], consumer, Dirk, htsc, IvanoKite, KVL, nixmatters, nothing2seehere, rnelias, Saski, Sers, Smeagle, Xtream, zegermans and 369 guests