When the winds die down to nothing ... look out

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/storm_watch_stories3&stormfile=Kite_surfers_rescued_near_Golden_Gate_Bridge_06_05_2012?ref=ccbox_weather_topstories

It's an awful feeling when there's suddenly no pressure on the bar and the kite starts to titter and then dive on ya.... and you're a half mile out there and 4kt current sucking you out even further

I feel for these folks... luckily there was a big rescue boat handy.

The article is incorrect. There were four windsurfers and three kiteboarders rescued out side the golden gate bridge ebb out into open ocean, the wind was fluky with NW component and shut off pretty fast up at the bridge. The windsurfers were very experienced with sailing Crissy.The kite boarders did not have enough experience for the conditions.In the scheme of things 7 out of 100 windurfers and kiteboarders on the water today.The Coast Guard frequently confuses windsurfers and kite boarders.

I have information the Coast Guard is not happy and takes safety very seriously.
The rescues involved a CHP Helicopter, two recreational boaters, the fire department, and Coast Guard. Some people were in the water for up to an hour.

Todays SNAFU is bigger because it drew adverse media attention.

Over the course of the last several weeks, there have been too many rescues of kiter boarders that could have been prevented.

Allot of people are showing up that do not know how to self rescue, knowledge of the currents, and sketchy kiting skills, and poor situational awarness etc.

Twin tips at Crissy increase the swim factor.

I was there kiting and saw all this go down, the guy in the orange kite self rescuing did not need to be rescued and new the drill and happened well latter in the day from the big rescue.

The fall out from todays SNAFU has just begun.

I

I remember reading a story in a West Coast Windsurfing magazine around 20 or so years ago. A guy was windsurfing the North tower & started back to Crissy (crossing the mouth of the Golden Gate). His boom broke in half and/or there was something that happened which rendered his sail, mast & boom inoperable. He ditched the rig & stayed on the board.

If I remember correctly, it was a strong outgoing tide & he had on a very warm wetsuit. He spent the night on his board listening to sounds in the fog. Somewhere around 3 in the morning he heard surf crashing & paddled for it. He ended up on a beach a several miles south of the mouth of the Golden Gate. Someone charted where they thought he drifted during the night; he got sucked offshore several miles, then the tide turned & he was pushed back toward shore. No way you can paddle against that current.

Please correct me if I'm wrong on the details of the story above, it's been a long time but the lessons are still there for today.

JD

it's a risky spot.
Windsurfed there years ago, knew of many who were rescued.
Need to know the weather, fog, wind lines, currents, etc.
Always need to be ready to self rescue, even in "good" conditions -anything can happen.
For example, I knew a windsurfer who lost a fin running over a sea lion, hard slog back in for him, another buddy had a new-ish mast break while he was just zooming along in 20 knots on smooth water, current took him and coasties scooped him up, etc...

Rescues happen all the time in SF, of keel boat sailors and power boaters, as well as kiters, windsurfers, surfers kayakers, etc.
It's the nature of the location, make sure that point gets across, as well as the importance of preparation and common sense...

Glad they're ok!

I got caught in lulls twice last week and had to swim for an hour or so each time ... naturally, I was on the tack that's far away from the beach as could be
We've had a lot of rescues here lately too - flukey weird weather month ...

Seems to me to be bad judgement of the local conditions, and bad judgement of personal capacities.
Adverse reactions from the authorities are to be expected.
nico

... or it could just be bad luck. Shit happens sometimes.

Or maybe local kite/windsurf scene should organise and provide rescue service? Shouldn't be too expensive....

Luck ?
Labour Under Correct Knowledge
Yes shit hapens, and thats where we come in.
Experience, foresight, common sense, ......... .
Nico