Yesterday was a bad day. Leading edge went flat, the kite was uncontrollable, and I set off my safety. Someone very kindly came to help tow me to shore.
He got me to hold onto his harness with one hand, then hold my board up wind in a semi-planing position, and attempted to tow me in. His approach was to try to plane himself. I just couldn't hold on, and kept letting go of his harness. On the final time I caught my finger, and have dislocated it, and fractured the bone too. Am off to see the hand surgeon today, but I'm looking at a very sad, non-kiting Xmas.
I put the finger back in then swam to shore. Unfortunately the safety attachment to my harness came unclipped, and the kite blew away. Again, my attempted rescuer was really kind, chasing down my kite and towing it in to shore.
Always before when I've rescued anyone, I've basically just body dragged to shore, with the towee holding on. Not quick but very safe
This was unlikely to be an option yesterday, because the rescuer was wearing bindings - presumably body dragging is pretty hard in bindings?
Anyway, how do other people tow others to shore?
