Woodies have wen't out of control on the northerlys lately this winter.
Every weekend it's at least a few beginners trying out beach 2, screwing up and ending up floating south. Normally I would not hesitate to kite after and help someone in trouble but to at the current situation that would mean spending the main part of the sessions towing people to the beach.
Is this a result of the kite teaching ban?
Today I towed in a guy that came floating, he had no idea how to use his kite as a sail or how to do a deep water packdown and would have spent 3-4 hours floating to the groin opposite beach 1.
Everyone got the right to be a beginner but I don't think that selfish and reckless people deserves free rescuing service when beach 3 offers perfect beginner conditions on northerlys...
Let em float, gives em time to problem solve.
They will learn to square themselves away with a good long swim, most times they expect others to drop everything and come get them when it all gets too hard.
Thumbs up doc
Mind, if you see a dude in serious trouble
Make sure he understands tre sacrifice
Looks like I finally agree with NoBs for once.
Let them float, but keep an eye on them. If after a while, you feel it could get dangerous, then you are duty bound to rescue.
Infact I'd say if this person died, was seriously injured i reckon a good lawyer could have your ass on a plate.
But nothing like a good long swim to wake some people up.
Just putting it out there for discussion; I vaguely recall a windsurfing comp where the wind was nuking and the organisers had a 'rescue rider only' policy.
If someone got themselves into trouble the rescue boat would pick them up, but not their gear.
So, nobody drowned, but also a few people reassessed their skills against the conditions and sat on the beach (rather than risk losing their gear if they got into trouble).
Disclaimer: mostly onshore where I kite so it's rarely an issue for me...
Eppo there are no Good Samaritan obligations, legal or otherwise that I am aware of. It's your own moral standing that makes the call to help or not.
And to further skids comment, emergency services don't really have any obligation to bring gear in either, that's what salvage and insurance are for. Whether it be a kiter and his gear in the poo, a million dollar boat sinking or a car hopelessly bogged on the beach with an incoming tide, rescue services are generally only bound to help people in trouble.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
Looks like I finally agree with NoBs for once.
Let them float, but keep an eye on them. If after a while, you feel it could get dangerous, then you are duty bound to rescue.
Infact I'd say if this person died, was seriously injured i reckon a good lawyer could have your ass on a plate.
But nothing like a good long swim to wake some people up.
Funny thing is I dont agree with you..
Your a goody two shoes and always come across as a bit of a nancy!! ... I wouldn't think twice about leaving them out there flapping around, duty bound rescue can blow me.. Just man up and say it Eppo. When I kite I go out to enjoy myself.. If you cant self manage basic issues or gear failure you need to move over to street sup or watch with a latte from the beach.
People need to be reponsible for their actions, kiting is turning gayer by the minute.. 
I hope one day you get in the **** and the only person on the beach to help you is a knob and maybe, just maybe you may learn a little bit of humility and not be such a dick, society will be better for it although you probably will take that as a complement. However I do agree that people need to be prepared if they put themselves into a position they need to be prepared to get themselves out of it. Though everyone may need the help of others at some stage when things go really bad, if someone was in the **** I would help them because I would like to believe if one day I was in the **** someone would help me, my personal rule is I don't kite out further than I think I can swim although that wouldn't matter if I had a broken leg I just hope I'm not out kiting with a knob.
Ah awesome I was worried we'd agree.
A bit of a nancy hey. I started riding on two line foils and went through the Early C kite no depower days, Jesus you born again kiters who learnt on good safe gear make me laugh.
Chris I don't know man. You are in the marine environment. Surely you have some duty of care? Indeed on dry land as well?
Maybe the lawyers among us might know the answer based on some case history.
Personally I give the person the benefit of the doubt and let them go a while but if this persists I will at least ride out there and ask them.
I remember way back in 2002 on a Airush lift 15.5m (Farqin monster of a kite) at pinnaroo, the wind suddenly went a little off shore and dropped and so did my kite. A guy came out and talked me through a few things. I always appreciated that.
And NoBs, fair dinkum mate you are a dead set cok sucker hey. Come and say hello one day will ya! 
Eppo, agreed would love to some of the new breed of kiters on the old C kites , no doubt would sort a few of them out .
On that i would still help anyone i thought was in trouble, have helped many over the last 10 years and have been helped by many as well.
Better to lose some time on the water than lose a felow kiter for good.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
I remember way back in 2002 on a Airush lift 15.5m (Farqin monster of a kite) at pinnaroo, the wind suddenly went a little off shore and dropped and so did my kite. A guy came out and talked me through a few things. I always appreciated that.
And NoBs, fair dinkum mate you are a dead set cok sucker hey. Come and say hello one day will ya!
Been riding for that long and still mowing the lawn.... bahahaha
Eppo. I think on a technicality kiters don't fit the definition of a vessel under Dept of Transports definition. Though that may have changed?
For me, I'll bring a board in when it helps, downed kites- i'll go and check on them after a bit, if they are sorted i will monitor from afar, I've only seen one stubborn old guy refusing to acknowledge he was properly in the poo in slightly cross off through the bay getting dragged through every break from Eddie island through to SP, you can't help someone who can't see he is in a right proper pickle.
I also have no dramas leaving someone out there for a bit to think about their mistakes 
If someone is in a real pickle flapping around in cross off or cross shore some distance out and can't get themselves back in, in my mind if they aren't prepared to cut their kite loose so you can tow just them in you have no moral or marine/legal responsibility to offer direct assistance. Rescuing them is a moral choice, bringing their gear in too is a luxury. Head back into the beach, make a quick call to emergency services and let them sort it.
knob by name and obviously a knob by nature! what happen to the good old aussie morals of mate ship and helping ssomeone out in trouble. I hopes yr never caught in the desert or out at sea cause u don't have good karma if you don't pay it forward.
Select to expand quoteNoBS said..eppo said..
I remember way back in 2002 on a Airush lift 15.5m (Farqin monster of a kite) at pinnaroo, the wind suddenly went a little off shore and dropped and so did my kite. A guy came out and talked me through a few things. I always appreciated that.
And NoBs, fair dinkum mate you are a dead set cok sucker hey. Come and say hello one day will ya!
Been riding for that long and still mowing the lawn.... bahahaha
You'll keep ...lol.
Without putting your own safety at risk:
- You must save someone who's life needs saving.
- You should help someone who's gear needs saving (ie retrieve a lost board).
- There's no need to save someone from an inconvenient float into the beach.
Select to expand quoteeppo said...NoBS said..eppo said..
I remember way back in 2002 on a Airush lift 15.5m (Farqin monster of a kite) at pinnaroo, the wind suddenly went a little off shore and dropped and so did my kite. A guy came out and talked me through a few things. I always appreciated that.
And NoBs, fair dinkum mate you are a dead set cok sucker hey. Come and say hello one day will ya!
Been riding for that long and still mowing the lawn.... bahahaha
You'll keep ...lol.
I'm getting some popcorn this is making me laugh
Select to expand quoteAirshane said..
knob by name and obviously a knob by nature! what happen to the good old aussie morals of mate ship and helping ssomeone out in trouble. I hopes yr never caught in the desert or out at sea cause u don't have good karma if you don't pay it forward.
Well, that is not was it's about here. Here it's people being stupid an irresponsible.
1. Kiting in offshore conditions as a beginner
2. Doing it without friends that can help out
3. Kiting without knowing basic safety features such as self rescue, deepwater pack down and how to use the kite as a sail
I've done my good deed for this season...
Based on what ive read . Give me a Nancy of a kite buddy any day , some one whose got my back , for sure man . We need to look out for each other , making the odd bad choice in kiteing is part of progression. In the past two days ive helped 3 separate kiters out , all looked grateful enough to make it worthwhile, one came and shook my hand before he left the beach , in my experience the nancy is the one who pretends he has no civic sense and would rather look after himself only , could be a confidence thing disguised as indifference,
Got to look after the kiting family mate....
We have all been there (to different extents) and made mistakes but it is only by learning from mistakes and the generosity of others helping out that we learn.
If you don't stop to help out someone who needs it, then I would bet you are also the type who never gives anything for charity.
It feels good to help out people and the satisfaction of getting someone in trouble and terrified, safely back to the beach.
It can be annoying when people don't understand the risks and go charging into a bad situation, and then you have to get them out, but I don't think the inconvenience is an excuse not to help.
And if they're a dick, then screw the gear and help the person, but most times I would try to get both out of trouble.
But everyone is different....
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
two line foils
sorry, i'm new here.
is this what we're talking about?
or have i missed something?
Classic!!
Trust me you needed to be on coke to consider those death machines. Remember 25 knots at scabs totally lit and out of control trying to learn!! It was no fun, but probably fun for those watching!
while on the note of rookie beginners.. an asian bloke rocked up to leighton on friday(20-30knot westerlys) with an 11.
He launched me on my 5m and I told him its pretty strong, then he shrugged.
kept an eye on him while he was setting up. looked over a few minutes later while he was standing on the sand and see his kite in the air, atached to his lines but not him, sailing over the dunes, over the busy road and then onto the railway.
Didnt see if anyone was injured but probably the worst rookie error I have seen.
Is it too rude to tell someone they shouldnt kite today because they look like they have all the gear but no idea?
I like this
Assess the situation. Select to expand quoteGorgo said..
Without putting your own safety at risk:
- You must save someone who's life needs saving.
- You should help someone who's gear needs saving (ie retrieve a lost board).
- There's no need to save someone from an inconvenient float into the beach.
Except.
If I save the dude. he has to ditch his gear.
Eppo had a whine about his new line of kites to the Seabreeze Mods..
Hence my post was deleted..
However, Eppo below is a link you may be interested.http://www.tampax.com.au/
Select to expand quote[b]Number
Today I towed in a guy that came floating, he had no idea how to use his kite as a sail or how to do a deep water packdown and would have spent 3-4 hours floating to the groin opposite beach 1.
Everyone got the right to be a beginner but I don't think that selfish and reckless people deserves free rescuing service when beach 3 offers perfect beginner conditions on northerlys...
You are all missing the point! !!!!!
He wasn't floating to Mauritius, just to another breakwall, get a grip people
Would of freed up a bit of room on the water and perhaps
the walk would of given him some time to think about it 
I believe you should help out whenever you can. The great part of kiting is our mate ship. Look how agro surfers have become as they fight for waves. Please don't let it happen to kiting. I generally give a person time to sort themselves out and if they are still struggling lend a hand. I've never yet rescued someone that hasn't been extremely grateful. We don't get into trouble on purpose but usually learn from the mistake. Not everyone has got the skills to assist so if you have then help out. Hopefully someone will be there for you someday.
i towed a euro's kite in the other the other week.
i had been drifting for 5km before it got to me. no rider attached and out past 3 ft waves.
dragged it in and he came running down the beach 10 mins later.
thanked me etc.
so who would've let it drift past?
i reckon help anyone who needs it.
why be a dick?
