Good tip regarding attach leash to board, i wish i told my mate that while he was being boat rescued recently. It disappeared!

Good article Peter. Here is some feed-back:

Release systems:

The first safety release (near or at the Chicken Loop) will release the kite so that is attached by only a depower line, thereby almost eliminating all power from the kite.

To be thorough you should provide a list a common problematic scenarios when it's best to activate each release system. (I would also include letting go of the bar as a safety system)

It's vital for kiter to understand the type of safety system they are using. Either a single front line safety system, dual front line safety system (most common on the market) or fifth line (or perhaps older type of unsafe safety system like a rear line safety system). It's important to understand and list the advantages/disadvantages of each safety system as well as the possible behaviors of the kite when the safety system is activated in relation to each type of safety system. If the kite is not in a flagging position and still pulling after the release has been activated it is not safe to proceed for any kind of self-rescue.

It's also important to understand the importance of releasing the safety system as soon as a problematic scenario occurs to avoid the possible accumulation of tangled lines which may prevent the kite from depowering even after releasing the chicken loop QR.

Depending on design and configuration, Dual front line safety systems may or may not flag the kite out (full depower) especially in case of tangled lines or kite inversion, as opposed to single line safety systems which are much more suitable for beginners as they are very rarely likely to not flag the kite out completely.

Pros and cons of Wrapping the lines around the bar vs not wrapping lines around the bar to perform a basic self-rescue (creating a sail with your kite) should be discussed.

When choosing to wrap lines around the bar, only the leash line/safety line (not both front lines) should be wrapped around the bar once making sure the bar is gone out to the stopper ball (usually equals to 1 kite span), once the leash line is secured around the bar, then proceed to wrap all lines around the bar.



Boat rescue - kitesurfer not packed down

If the kitesurfer is still attached to the kite, they can be approached by boat from upwind, ensuring that the kite remains downwind.
Once the kitesurfer is reached, they can be fully detached from their kite and the kite later retrieved, or the kite can be retrieved by pulling in the front lines and winding them up.


The procedure to rescue a kitesurfer by boat is as followed (as per IKO standards).

-Approach the kiter from downwind and assess his condition. If the kiter is in need of immediate assistance, release the kite/cut lines and provide first aid.

-If the kiter is fine, explain how you will proceed for the rescue

-Approach the kite from upwind with the boat, cut off the engine or at least put it on neutral. Grab the kite's leading edge and quickly deflate the kite. Place the kite in the boat and pull in the lines to retrieve the kiter. Place the lines carefully in the boat and make sure no lines are dangling out before starting the motor again.

Approaching an overboard person in a boat from downwind is how you get taught when you do your skippers ticket.
More of a safety thing so the boat doesn't get blown over/into the person in the water.

Peterc150 said...
Gateman, thanks - I have incorporated your suggestions.

cbulota, thanks also. Release systems are explained in more detail in the linked article kitesurfing-handbook.peterskiteboarding.com/gear/safety-leash

The leash line/safety line on many kites attaches to the two front lines just above the bar, hence the need to wind them around the bar first.

The IKO procedure doesn't seem right:

Approach the kiter from downwind and assess his condition. If the kiter is in need of immediate assistance, release the kite/cut lines and provide first aid.


This would mean the boat would be coming close to or over the lines between the ktie and his kite (if still attached)?

Approach the kite from upwind with the boat, cut off the engine or at least put it on neutral. Grab the kite's leading edge and quickly deflate the kite. Place the kite in the boat and pull in the lines to retrieve the kiter. Place the lines carefully in the boat and make sure no lines are dangling out before starting the motor again.

If the kite is drifting the lines would be trailing upwind, so approaching it from upwind would have a high risk of entangling the prop in the lines?

You need to experience boat rescues yourself with experienced and qualified instructors who have done this many times, or take the IKO course. These methods have been trialed and tested beforehand. I personally boat rescued about 10 kiters in the last 3 years using the method described above, in small 8hp dinghy most of the time in winds averaging 25 knots. Never had any issues.

I understand you just want to help out kiters out there with your handbook. It's a great initiative and such guides are rare. My advice is to get more hands on experience with kite schools and gather more advice from various experienced instructors, plus take an instructor course (BKSA, IKO...) This will give your guide more credibility and may give you a more open mind approach to add or modify sections of your guide.

IMHO not a good idea to come in from down wind when in or near breaking waves if U risk tangling lines in propeller - this has caused a few SLSaving RIB's to get munched - will block jetski intake too.

But good initiative Thanks Peterc

Cheers

AP

I have added some explanatory diagrams kitesurfing-handbook.peterskiteboarding.com/safety/rescue-and-handling-kites

BOAT RESCUE

When i was learning in Egypt, this is the way they rescued you with a boat which seemed to be very effective and always worked without a hitch.

Kite down.
Pull safety but don't wind up lines.
Boat approached downwind of kite.
They grabbed kite from water.
As soon as rescuer grabs kite you pull your 2nd safety.
Rescuer deflates kite ASAP and pulls in all lines into boat.
Boat then picks up kiter and his board.