WTF

[CaptainArgh]

...By the way, for the OP, I would have kited over to you if I were out. If I were on the beach and it was off-shore winds, no way would I kite out to you. Next thing you know, there may be 2 kiters facing a long swim in.

Ahh, that's a good point. If the winds were offshore than another kiter going out would just add to the risk.
Should have called for help, though, if this was a location where boats/skis could be found.

So that raises a question...what if you're out there, swimming in, but clearly far out. Your friends see you in trouble and hire a jet ski to go out and get you. Are you going to pay the $100 for the ski when they get you or will you be saying, "I'm not paying for that, I was swimming in just fine on my own!"
Ahhh, the questions to consider...

[Laughingman]

...By the way, for the OP, I would have kited over to you if I were out. If I were on the beach and it was off-shore winds, no way would I kite out to you. Next thing you know, there may be 2 kiters facing a long swim in.

Ahh, that's a good point. If the winds were offshore than another kiter going out would just add to the risk.
Should have called for help, though, if this was a location where boats/skis could be found.

So that raises a question...what if you're out there, swimming in, but clearly far out. Your friends see you in trouble and hire a jet ski to go out and get you. Are you going to pay the $100 for the ski when they get you or will you be saying, "I'm not paying for that, I was swimming in just fine on my own!"
Ahhh, the questions to consider...

That all depends if you had bothered to give the "I'm okay signal". If you had then no one would/should call for help. If you did not then its your fault for not letting those watching you know you are okay.

[Robsw6]

Very depressing....

You are your Brother's keeper

[Toby]

another WTF:

at a hotel at a kite spot in Cumbuco.
I am talking to some friends, and see in my eyes corner a kite looping at the beach, wrapping around a powerline...I immediately start to run to help...luckily all good and the guys recovered his kite himself.
So I walk back...and see all those guys right in front of the beach watching the scene...no one got up to help...I had to run from further back...

Honestly, you guys SUCK ! Take up another sport!

[uncle sammy]

Toby did you tell them off ?
You should have.

[Toby]

I was close to it...but would have yelled...so better not..

[20 m or bust]

We kite in lakes so no chance if being lost at sea, but you can spend a lot of time in the water and walking back to the launch when something goes wrong. I have towed in people at least a dozen times and been towed in a couple times myself. To me it's the least we can do. A big part of the fun and draw of kiteboarding is the community. IMHO anyway. Had I been there, I would have dragged out to you and towed you back in.