Hi,
Seeking advice from experienced sailors. I'm fairly new to the sport and have had a fairly smooth run so far. I just wanted to hear others' thoughts on how to deal with some of the situations below.
- Equipment failure: What are some of the common things that can go wrong while out at sea and how would you deal with it?
- If you get hurt, say you've busted a knee and can't stand up on the board anymore or similar. Can people share some of their experiences?
- If you find that wind conditions change and you find yourself unable to sail back to your original spot, eg strong off shore winds, etc
Thanks.
Who's GusTee, another phantom,? maybe?
Gus there is a "profile" section when you log in, maybe a quick squiz at it, you may get the drift. 
For the sake of safety, troll or not.
This used to be on the boards magazine site but now only in the web archive. Good reading for all. Had to self rescue just last week.
web.archive.org/web/20051122185839/www.boards.co.uk/articles/index.asp?article_type=11
Mineral - not trolling, and i do see your point, cheers...
Lao - thanks dude, but could not get the links to work properly. I could only get as far as the main page.
Some self rescue tips/articles from people in the know would be great...
Strange
That is not the url that I had posted!
Just tried to edit it and it keeps changing it!
web.archive.org/web/20051122185839/www.boards.co.uk/articles/index.asp?article_type=11
Can only suggest you copy and paste the whole thing in to the location bar. Don't click on it.
Then it seems to work. Maybe Laurie can tell me what I have done wrong
The main tip I can give is be aware of the weather forecast. A few times I've read about people getting into trouble when southerly fronts came through. I experienced one last year at Palm Beach & one earlier this year at Tascott. One minute it was about over 30 degrees, a lightish NW wind. The next minutes the wind changed direction, blowing from the south at 30 knots or more.
Both wind changes were forecast by Seabreeze and you could actually see the front moving up the coast via the graphs. However on both occasions there were tales of woe from sailors and kiters caught out.
You can be the most prepared sailor with the best gear...But **** still happens.
Check the forecast before you go, If your new don't sail in off shore winds.
If it's windy and no ones out, there's probably a good reason.
Talk to the people down at the beach, Most sailors know what the day's going to bring.
If you think your in trouble, Call it early and get help before you get to far from shore.
If you think you can get back, Ditch your rig and paddle.
If you can't get back, Keep the rig attached and stay with it.
Tell someone where your going and what time you'll be back.
Lastly Know what can happen, But don't let it burden your sailing...Just go and have fun, If something goes wrong then react fast.
Hi GT
I always carry a spare length of rope, it's not going to get you out of all situations, but it can help a lot in some.
Even to the point of getting towed in.
Pity is my latest harness doesn't have a pocket in the back, why did they stop making them like this????
One of the obvious but sometimes ignored bits is the rubber joint between mast and board, I change mine every year, also flex it in all four direction now and then to deteck any cracking around the middle.
While getting use to the sport and your own capabilities just go as far as is comfortable and knowing you will 'blow in' somewhere convenient if it all goes wrong. The mobile phone in an aqua pack is a good idea if starting to venture offshore. As said DO NOT go out in offshore winds unless you know what your doing.
Above all enjoy the day out!
As far as equipment failure goes, everything breaks at one point or another and you have to realize that every piece of equipment is crucial. Broken UJ, can't sail.. Broken boom, can't sail, etc, etc. Best bet is to alway try to stay up wind of where you launched and try to sail with or around others, and or life boats.
Wear the right clothes too so that if you are stuck on the water for longer than planned due to failed equipment you aren't coming home sunburnt or with hyperthermia...
How to prevent things going wrong would be more useful.
Don't sail when you are tired.
That "one more run" is the one that gets you in trouble.
and if you're having a bad day and things just aren't going right, quit while you're ahead.
Don't sail further out than you can self rescue.
Only sail in onshore/cross-onshore winds especially if the wind is likely to drop.
Very much agreed with the previous comment: if it doesn't feel right, pull out and regroup on the beach.
Make sure there are people around in case you need rescue, don't sail past the current group on the water. Don't sail alone out there.
Check the equipment before setting out, esp. the U-joint.
In winter, don't go as far - hypothermia sets in quickly if you're in trouble.
Technically, you don't need to go out that far to have fun, i.e. stay closer and practice gybes, that's the only way to learn'em and perfect them. Or pick up a few freestyle tricks closer to shore.
etc. etc.
What can break? Lets see:
1) UJ (common)
2) Mast (not uncommon)
3) Booms (not uncommon)
4) Fin (not uncommon)
5) Down haul line (not common and not critically disabling)
6) Sail top fixing can fail (uncommon)
7) Sail tack fixing can fail (uncommon)
8) Sail panel can fail (common but not critical)
9) If you sail a Bic your mast track can fall out. (uncommon but critical)
10) Board can snap but this is uncommon
These have all happened to me except the board snap.
What to do?
1) Regularly check your UJ for flaws. Ensure your safety line is up to the job. Some are too thin and snap. Rubber Boge UJs can fail without any warning due to internal corrosion in such a manner that the safety straps don't work. To be safe don't use them or, if you do, then replace them every year. Tendon UJs crack at the bolt holes. You have to bend them hard to inspect them.
2) Make sure when you rig that your mast ferrule is fully inserted. Taping it up is good practice. That keeps the sand out too and stops it getting stuck together. Apart from that you should be aware that light weight race masts are particularly fragile. 70% to 80% carbon masts are more durable than 100% carbon and skinnies are more durable than standard diameter masts. In the event of a breakage you MAY be able to remove the top part from the mast sleeve and put it back in upside down then fold the top of the sail over and tie it or just let it catch on the jaggered end of the mast.
3) Aluminium booms die after a few years and fail usually at the head without a lot of stress. Carbon booms have an indefinite life but when they fail they fail catastrophically. Usually only one side fails so you can get back even if you have to take the booms off and turn them over.
4) If you lose your fin you can still sail if you practice sailing fin first. This is a useful skill for other reasons. It is reasonably strenuous and getting upwind is a chore. If there are waves it's almost impossible.
5) You can replace a broken downhaul line on the water but achieving proper downhaul tension is difficult. The North XT extension makes this easy. Or you can carry a tug cleat. I usually do in case I want to adjust my dh while I'm out. You can still sail with inadequate dh though so you will get back.
6) If the sail top fixing fails the sail falls down the mast and handles like a tarp in a wind. You really have to be able to tie it back up. How you do this depends on the way it fails. This can be difficult and finicky. As long as you still have a pin or cap for the mast tip fixing you should be able to jury rig a tie with the help of a knife with a fid.
7) Tack fixing ditto but not as critical as a top failure.
8) Sail panel failure is not critical. Just sail home and tape it up.
9) If your mast track falls out (unlikely) or you have a board and rig separation for any reason (not uncommon) stay with the board. If you can mark the position of your rig or attach your pfd to it without letting go of the board then do it and paddle back. Don't let your board float away. Without a rig attached you will not be able to catch it in any but the lightest breeze.
Some things cant be fixed and you will have to self rescue. The recommended procedure is to lay the rig over the front of the board and lie on top of it with your legs through the booms and paddle back fin first.
If you snap your board I guess you keep the biggest bit to get home on
If you have to chose between you rig and your board, ie they are separated and going in different directions, ALWAYS choose the board ...fast too, because they float away quicker than you can swim sometimes. Just watch kiters sailing in a wind against tide situation for about 15 minutes, you'll see.
Only situation I've had was the very first time I went out by self and I didn't expect the tide to be quite so strong. Became exhausted and had to flag a boat for help. We learn.
Got munched 2 x on the way out.. ditched the gear ( 1st x ever) & got sucked out on the sandbar & in the washing machine..
Thanks to all who've posted...Some really good points have been brought up. Cheers!
Rule 1 Sail with a friend
Rule 2 Don't sail alone
Rule 3 if rule 1 and 2 are not possible go home and sail another day.
I have seen and performed many successful tow-ins when somebody got in trouble.
Hi GusTee
As EvlPanda said, always stay with the board, whether it be equipment, bodily or wind failure.
My other advice is wear a wetsuit for the water temperature, not the air temp. Water temp is probably not so bad in NSW, but after bobbing around in Port Philip Bay for an hour one November with a dislocated shoulder getting hypothermic waiting for help, I've learnt. Also got skunked (when the wind drops out) in the middle of winter, sub 10degree water temp, but actually enjoyed the 1.5 km swim as night fell towing my gear back in as I was toasty warm in suitable rubber and hood.
Sail within a group, but if you don't, buy an Aquapac from a boating store for about $40 and carry your mobile in it.
As for injuries, just harden up princess and sail back in. Then recount the tales of heroism later.
I think one of the most important things to do if things go wrong is try not to panic.
If your sail, mast, boom, UJ is history always stay with the board. Learn the process of self-rescue if you can, which tries to save your sail, boom etc. by wrapping it all up in a neat bundle and putting it on the board and paddling back. It does work but it depends on how bad conditions are. If you can't do it due to severe wind or wave conditions detach the rig and let it go. Hang onto the board.
I have been caught at the Box at Umina Beach NSW in an onshore breeze and an outgoing tide with 1-1.5 metre waves every 10 seconds smashing on top of me and a sail severly damaged thanks to the waves. (This happened when I tried to help a kiter who lost his board and was struggling in the same spot as I was. I got his board to him and then had to water start which I thought would not be a problem. He got going, went in to shore and left me). I did not get up in time and I got hit by a few big sets. When they passed I realised the sail was damaged with two panels useless! Not much usable sail area left at all. My 5.9 was now worth about a 4.0. Water starts were now going to be somewhat difficult!
I tried a few but it was almost an impossibility; self rescue was a thought and was a high priority, but I always kept hold of board. Drowning crossed my mind as no PFD is worn when in waves, but PANIC was the biggest worry. I was also bleeding from a split lip courtesy of the mast hitting me. I began to wonder what would happen first: drowning or a shark. I tried not to panic and kept hold on my rig & board.
After about 10 minutes of this pounding and no luck getting going I looked for assistance from any source but none in sight. So I though time to swim for it on the board. Decided to give it one last go at waterstarting and managed to get up. Rode the wave as far as I could till I fell in with a massive leg cramp in the calf. (Think treading water and trying a hundred water starts had something to do with this). By now I was in shallower water and could just touch bottom when the waves passed. This gave me a chance to recover.
Finally got onto another wave and rode it into shore where I collapsed and spewed up a bit of briny. My helmet saved any further head injuries. Called it a day and retired the sail.
Now I know that you should never place yourself in danger if trying to help others. Was dismayed that no one saw me in trouble and came to my rescue.
PS:the kiter never thanked me.
. Thankfully I've never had to use it on the water, but have had two downhauls break whilst rigging and it's come in handy then.
