Four people were rescued today by kiters as they attempted to cross Fingal Bay Spit mid run-out tide with 2-3 foot waves. Funny enough they ended caught in the current and swept into the bay. Four kiters picked up one each and brought them ashore with no injury bare some bent ego's. My thanks to Bill, Mick and particularily the guy with the blue 16m Waroo for being pivotal in the rescue.
Constant winds,
Baz.
These tides over east seem to be a major problem in most incidents. Over here i dont even briefly think about considering what the tide is doing.
Just more food for my theory that its something in the water that makes novacastrian kiters, rescuers!!
Hi Baz.....I'm the guy on the 16 Bularoo( low aspect Waroo) at fingal yesterday.
WOW...what a day. When those 4 fellas started swimming right in the middle of the beach where I had been kiting for 2 hours, I thought "here we go again.....swimmers win and kiters bugger off". When they attempted to swim out to the island across the rip, looking reasonably unfit, we started kiting near them but they would not look my way, bravado was still kicking in. 15 minutes later they knew they were stuffed and accepted our help. It must be human nature to wait till drowning is imminent before accepting help.....weird.
I told the clubby on duty at fingal about what had happened. He was really stoked and thanked us.
Its really important for any kiters that perform a rescue to let AKSA know about it so that a file can be kept. Imagine how crucial a log of rescues would be in defending kiter's freedoms should council or waterways attempt to have them abolished. Tell the clubbies and log with AKSA.
Besides all the dramas, it was great kiting with you guys, my first time at Fingal (I'm from Swansea). Nice right hander up hear the rocks on the north side...eh?
Seeya again
Terry
Tezza ... ONYA 
Can you descibe what happened ... what you did ... problems etc
Cheers Mate
I have a question. Do we make the local papers when kiteboarders rescue people or is it only when kiteboarders hurt people or kill the power to places????
Yeah user, i agree. Anyone would gladly help out a person in distress...no biggy. But as Yomofo says, kiters end up in the poo as well. As long as our collective voice (AKSA) can access the positive statistics if and when the time comes to defend our sport, we should be happy with that as our reward.
As far as problems go, the first guy was only 80kg so he slid along OK but the second bloke was easy 130kg and had bigger tits than Pamela Anderson. He was hard work. Told him to wrap both hands around my back foot above the ankle and straighten his arms and legs. Wouldn't have been the ankle if it was Pamela!
Thanks again Terry for the good work. We have been proactive in maintaining a positive relationship with the Clubbies at Fingal. Your pivotal role in the rescue only enhances that relationship.
Constant winds,
Baz.
P.S. Rode that break today, lots of fun!
Yer right .well out of the 8 swimmers in the last month rescued lately 4 would definitely be dead if the kiters weren't there .Definitely no biggie eh!!
I know for sure that 2 of them have been very appreciative of being here on planet earth rather than spending time with Allah.
Tezza ... well done 
I'm visualizing you standing on your board with a rooted fat guy clinging to your ankles in white knuckle style ...... lol
Hey Marty...could have been worse. He could have been holding my ankles like the fat guy in "BORAT" [:)]
G'day Terry,
I was on the Naish. Apparently there has been around 80 rescues in Fingal by the Clubbies since xmas, with 75% occuring at the Spit!
Constant winds,
Baz.
i've found the best way to rescue someone who is larger than you is to give them your board, tell them to lie on it and hold on to your harness with one hand. Then drag em in as fast as you can, loop the kite if necessary. The two of you will slide along the top of the water as easy as pie.
If they're pretty small, you can probably put them on the board with you, but most people are rather un-coordinated and will just fall off or drag you down into the water instead of helping.
I think people have taken my post the wrong way. I'm the 1st to agree that u don't need to be rewarded from saving some1's life. I'm a firefighter its my job to do this type of thing everyday. My point was the bad publicity in the media that kiteboarders get when something goes wrong. I think a little good publicty in the local rags goes a long way. Especially if your fighting the councils to keep your local spot.
