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Went Kitesurfing for the first time in ages today. wind was forecast around 18kts until 3,when it was due to pick up to about 30kts......thought it would be a great day to loosen the old bones,you know?

Spent ages trying to undo a tangle in my lines but after about half an hour I got myself set up and away. Hit the water and managed a couple of good runs,wind was going from between 12kts to about 20 which meant loads of adjustments on my trim line to keep the power constant. Then,as I was making my way back toward the beach, the wind decided to rip the complete p*** out of me by picking up to 30kts.......in an instant!!!.........just a wee bit above the windrange of my beloved Ocean Rodeo.

Done a quick jump onto the beach and kicked the board off as I floated down.this is where the fun really began.............wind was all over the place now,meaning,for every step toward the grass I took,I was getting dragged 5 metres away from where I wanted to go. Tried to trim the kite to its fullest depower and it just went chicken oriental.....dragged.....nee... .BOUNCED!!
me down the beach at a fair rate of knots before I regained the controls as best I could.....thought to myself "F*** THAT!!! not dying today,thank you very much" and deployed my safety.........


It was a full 1.5 seconds,as I watched the kite float down the beach,before I realised I'd forgotten to attach my safety line to my harness......cue one keystone cops style chase down the beach.......one HUUUUUGE f*** off kite,closely followed by me, running at full pelt!!!!!

And in true old fashioned comedy style,I really was never all that far away.....couldn't grab the bar as I would just have been lofted skywards.....nope! that would have been too easy....what I had to do was to grab the safety line....it was there,about 5mm away from my front toes......just out of reach

So did I Catch up with it in the long run then?

Nope!! Currently the gents serving at RAF Leuchers are combing the grounds of their picturesque little base and I'm still waiting for their call

And I've just received a call this very minute folks.......They've got my kite!!!! :grin:

I have no idea what condition it's in, but I'm just off to pick it up now


WHAT A DAY!!!!!

Ouch a lot of luck involved there..... Could have caused a whole heap of problems on the airfield, glad you got ur kite back though, hope its still in good nick

It would've made a nice big wind sock for them.
I'd have paid to see the chase along the beach!!

the best bit was standing watching from the top of the beach as Owain and Jimx also took to their heels, Owain chasing Dawson to check he was OK and Jimx chasing the kite. It gave me a perfect excuse to discuss safety with my 2 students and then cancel the lesson as it was gusting at least 28mph at this point!
Glad you are getting your kite back Dawson, hope its OK.

Once again this is why I like the kiting community in scotland so much, you know if everything goes pete tong that there are people who will drop everything (if its safe to do so) and come to your aid......hope your kites in ONE piece....see what I did there....its an Ocean Rodeo ONE

O.

hope your kites in ONE piece....see what I did there....its an Ocean Rodeo ONE

O.


Groan!!!

Just checked out my kite, all struts inflate properly......so does the leading edge and no tears that I can see.......just "ONE"(can't believe I just recycled that awful joke :shocked: ) huge birds nest of a tangle where I can't tell where the bar starts and the kite ends........got off pretty lightly by all accounts

Joe mate.........can you thank your mate for me? I owe him "ONE"(must stop that!!)....kidding aside, you have no idea how pleased I am to see it turn up.....I owe him Big time!!!!!

To all at the beach today.....thank you all for all your help/concern. Have to agree with Owain on this one. It's great to see so many folk have each others backs......long may it continue.......though hopefully I'll be the one doing the helping next time

Brilliant news that your kite is intact......

O.

Brilliant news that your kite is intact......

O.


Can't quite believe it myself mate!!! totally stoked about it! need to invest in a smaller kite I think though!!!

Glad the RAF boys came through after I phoned them. They seemed pretty decent about it on the phone.

Great you got it back on one piece....

Cheers

Jimx