Just a reminder on how things can quickly go wrong on the flatside of Woodies.
I was just finishing a photo session with Matt Wesson when someone noticed a kiter in trouble. His leading edge had deflated and he was drifting off down wind rapidly.
Someone picked up his board and someone else dragged him in.
Matt went to try and rescue his kite but it was impossible to pull in due to lack of air in the LE. Matt ended up about 1km downwind as a result.
In the end we launched the rescue boat from the yacht club and they managed to find the kite and bring it in.
Many thanks to the yacht club for helping out, and thanks to all the kiters who helped pull the kiter and his gear to safety.
So everyone was safe?!? Then what's the big deal?
If you go out there you have to realise that you may lose your gear if something happens, best case. Worst case, your life. I've had kites blow away from me twice down there, first time it was taken back to shore by a kind fellow kiter, the other time I had to drive down to the next beach to pick it up. I've lost a board down there too. I've cruised for boards for hours out there, with no luck (luckily this board was found the following morning by a kiter on another beach)
Maybe re-name the topic "Kitesurfing gear retrival by rescue boat supposedly for saving lives, brought out at Woodmans Point"
**** happens.. To send out a "rescue boat" to retrive a kite seems a bit overkill but hey, great he got his kite back...
Dave, one thing you need to understand is that the rescue boats at yacht clubs are used on race days in case dinghy's need towing in because stuff breaks... Yacht clubs usually have a grounds manager or an admin on ground most of the day to keep everything in order... When the dinghies aren't being used they just sit on the land and haven't got much purpose.... It's not like the dinghy decided not to rescue a boat to go and rescue the kite instead....
Don't be so negative...
Props to matt, he's a bloody good kite rescuer and I have heard the full story on the phone....
But yes, Dave you are right, kiting at woodies is risky...
But without risk, there is no reward.. woodies is kite haven...
This doesn't just happen at woodies, I've been up at lanno for the past 2 days and between me and my mates we had to rescue 3 people... and 2 of us had to self rescue ourselfs....
This post was meant as a reminder to all kiters at Woodies - not some heroic story.
If the title of the post means that people actually read it - then great.
It was the guys first day kiting at Woodies - he is an overseas visitor and was pursuaded by his mates to have a go on the flatside.
He was quickly being taken offshore after his LE deflated.
He would have struggled to swim all the way in on his own so kudos to whoever dragged him in all that distance.
It all happened very quickly and could have ended up with a much worse outcome.
It doesn't matter how good a kiter you are - if your equipment fails you can end up in the s**t.
It was a good example of kiters looking after their own kind - as well as a thank you to the yacht club for helping out.
I dont think Sprucey is being negative here 
(necessarily)
Its just that this sort of thing happens all the time at beach 3. Maybe not a lost kite everyday but rescues would average several per day. Luckily they are usually just assisted relaunches or board recoveries but its always on.
Its great that kiters are prepared to help out so often but this doesnt mean everyone should flock to the flatside expecting a rescue service. If you cant self rescue and rescue others competently then its not the place to kite. Theres plenty of cross-on beaches nearby.
And yes its great that the rescue boat came to the party this time to bring in the kite but I dont think it is reasonable to expect that level of service as often as it may be needed.
You have to be prepared to accept gear losses and/or the big swim if you go to beach 3.
(necessarily)
You guys are not very smart are you?
My post had nothing with to do with negativity. I'm (well, actually not so) sure you will understand that if you read it without prejudice. I'm only saying that to have a rescue boat retrive gear is a bit silly really. If you go there, be prepared you can lose gear.. not to have it retrived by a boat meant to rescue people. If you're in deep **** you can hopefully get the rescue boat to save your life, if it's not out getting someone's kite back, that is. A RESCUE BOAT is there to SAVE LIVES, IMHO, not to taxi around and bring gear back.
You don't call the avalanche search team to search for your lost skis in pow just because they don't have anything else to do at that time and they're around.. Or call for a heli-rescue on the mountain when you've lost your skis in pow. Unless you're in grave danger and might die you leave it as someone else may need it more than you..
Maybe one day when the rescue boat is ACTUALLY needed, it's not available...
So dirtyharry, sandgroper, Rob C and all you other haters. Seriously, think before you act..
Select to expand quoteDaveSpruce said...
You guys are not very smart are you?
You don't call the avalanche search team to search for your lost skis in pow just because they don't have anything else to do at that time and they're around.. Or call for a heli-rescue on the mountain when you've lost your skis in pow.
We call it snow here mate
How smart are you?
Yeaahhhhhhhh... There's a difference between snow and pow (powder for you that didn't understand that). One, is you probably don't get much of it here, you've probably never seen it. And two is that you don't lose your skis in "snow". You lose it in powder...
Don't comment on stuff you know nothing about mate, just makes you look like an idiot..
1.I am an idiot 2 I was bored I did realise you meant powder,we do get it here 
that was the the joke FFS don't take yourself to seriously and chill. snow or pow whatever you like
You know that if the dinghy was just sitting there, getting it in the water in the first place to get the kite would probably reduced the time it would have taken to rescue someone in a 'real' emergency if one had occurred.
How can you compare a helicopter to a boat? Boat is plonk in the water steer and throttle, chopper takes far longer to mobilize and navigate etc.
Its not like people drown every 30 seconds or so...
