Big Thanks to the 2 surfers who rescued my kite this afternoon north of Leighton.
The story briefly: kiting in light wind....13.5m kite largish board......wind suddenly drops so does the kite, then light offshore wind starts straight away......wind up the lines, try self rescue, but there is not enough wind to flip the kite to her back......offshore wind picks up just enough to start drifting out to sea......still close to shore abandon the kite and swim in to get some help...wind drops slightly so that 2 guys surfing the outer reef can catch the kite and drag her to shore....wow, they broke a pretty good surfing session to rescue my kite...thanks again...
Questions:
1. How to flip a largish kite to her back with wet and heavy leading edge in very light wind?
2. When self rescuing...what's the best way to get through a quite unfriendly shore break without letting go of the kite?
Thanks for any comment
Had this exact problem once, I was stupid and decided to go out JUST before a storm came in... hence the shifting unpredictable winds going offshore JUST after they died from 15/20 to 5knots and the kite falls.
My escape plan was prettymuch just to swim til I reached the shore, pushing the board infront of me as I swam, usually once I'm inside of the break I release the kite and let it get tumbled in by the waves, perhaps stay attached by your flagging line, but generally it gets impossible to hold onto the kite without getting hammered, the kite will stand up to the beating provided you don't catch waves with it (ie not releasing it).
Unless you are able to self rescue upwind then don't bother, just swim and tow it in, if you are a long way out then it's harder.
For flipping the kite over, I find it is easier to start at the wingtips (more leverage) and you can tip a lot of the excess water off the canopy, but yeh it's a pain in the ass 
.
I don't know if anyone else does this, but in heavy waves I try to inflate the kite a LITTLE less, so that it's not 100% inflated, it then has some give when it gets pounded by the waves.
best and safest way is;
Wind up lines until you reach kite,
tie lines off so will not unwind when you let go of bar, do not release safty from harness,
deflate leading edge of kite,
with stopper still out get wingtip to wingtip and roll kite up untill you reach middle,
put bung back in, place bar inside kite
use leash to tie kite, now a large sausage shaped float, to board,
now you have a big float that you can push,pull or whatever to shore saftly without loosing any kit, and if you get worn out just hold on to kit untill rested.
this should be taght by all instuctors when doing level 1,
I had to do this 2km off shore in heavy chop, just didnt have to swim in, got picked up by boat.
everyone should try this in shallow or just out of depth so you know how to do it in deep water in emergency.
Glad you got in safely without drama and your kite was saved Andrash.
However you should note that the forecast yesterday was a declining trend with an eventual swing offshore.
Given the forecast and the overall unpredictable wind yesterday (post front) you shouldn't have gone out.
Anyway alls well that ends well and at the end of the day glad your safe and your kit is intact. Lesson learned maybe?
Edit: Hope the surfers were adequately rewarded 
Remember to check the forecast
great way to do this for offshore winds
Thanks for the comments. Rolling up the kite sounds a good idea....I wonder though, how to prevent water entering the leading edge bladder....?
Anyone has an idea what is the greatest angle one can go cross wind when self-rescuing on an inflatable. Theoretically I see the possibility to get to the shore on a cross-off shore wind depending how far the kite can sail across the wind..
Any idea?
Hi Andrash,
You can travel almost 90 degrees to the wind if you use the board as a keel by lding it down in the water as if you were edging but more vertical. You need to also rember that with the direction of the wind is also usually a current in the same direction which will also take you slightly down wind.
By practicing self rescue and water pack downyou will pepare yourself for the most unfortunate of incidences.
A tip: once you have deflated the leading edge on the water and rolled it up, place the plug in the deflate valve or you'll end up with a kite full of water.
Tip: Only deflate your Leading edge if the wind is taking you away from land. Reason being if you are 1km out and you deflate your LE, you become almost impossible to see from the shore.
Tip: never deflate your struts as well as Leading edge as you will end up with nothing to support you if you get tired.
Lots more tips and Tricks on my website.
Good winds,
Good Idea Nickloop.
PintofAle:
Some kites come with a neoprene sock that covers the hose clip and the tubing, could be worthwhile to invest in a set or get them sown up. If you loose a strut you loose the whole kite.
Cheers
Rich
Not my Idea, just something that I had to do to pass my level 1 kiting in 2002, Never had to use it since, but just good to know HOW to do it. Of the 60-70 kiters that I go out with regularly only 2-3 know how to do this pack down as the local kite school does not teach it. They dont seem to care about if something goes wrong just getting you flying the kite trying to get on the board and most important taking your money.
I know its an effort but do try it in shallow water, it may oneday save your kit or even your life. Same as your safty release try it once in a while just to make sure it works.
Safe kiting
I wonder anyone has seen a kite taking off after hammered to shore by a shore break? Or she is just beaten enough to rest peacefully....
My major concern was with letting go of the kite is what she may do to a good hearted beach goer who wants to help but don't know about a kite.
Yeh fair enough. Umm yeh it is possible to relaunch afterwards... 1% of the time!
well bugger me, all this talk of self rescue had to talk kiter at my local spot on thursday last how to do the formentioned wrap down. A learner, went out overpowered on a 15m waroo,dropped kite 1/2 km off shore, wind little bit offshore, lost his board, couldnt get kite up, finally launched kite but chrashed it again splitting canopy, then was being dragged out offshore, rode over and talked him through wrap down then pulled him in when kite was wrapped up and powerless. Now he knows what to do next time. never found board though.
Tip no;2 get dogtag made with your name and phone number on it fix on your board with fin bolt. And offer a reward.
