Kitingpaul said...

We left detailed plans with a friend in Augusta and also my wife so I had a back up back up crew if we did not turn up.

Did the plans include mounting a full scale air search and rescue after the first night even though you had provisions and for 36 hours and plenty of spare parts? Not criticising the decision if that was it, just curious, and hoping for a few more details.

Or do you mean plans as in maps?

Glad you both made it .Can you tell us how you started off time kite size boards wind how far you got and how you had to walk out.I have done Lancerlin to Weg island 25 km point to point that was on 9m kites and took 4 hours and the hole 6 of us ware stuffed would have kited 50 km that day surfing the waves. where you guys going point to point streight or surfing the waves as you went with cut backs.
Regards Kevin

We slept at Windy harbour so to make an early start. We planned to take 4 –5 hours to make it to Augusta. Maybe a bit longer if the conditions were good and the waves nice.

Left in almost onshore wind at around 8:00am. Prob 20 knots but having been in Augusta for last few days we believed it would increase.

There is a big rocky headland at windy harbour which you can clearly see on Google Earth. Here we expected to encounter some turbulence until we got a few km's past to the beach on the other side. This was the most tricky part of the trip but being so close to town we decided that the 'likely worst case' was that we let the kites go and swim. Note to the comment on big waves - If this had been so I would suggest we would of called the trip off. It is a part of our safety plan to discuss access to the ENTIRE length of beach. No part of this rocky outcrop would of been too difficult to get out of the water. With the kites its a different story but we are prepared to loose them if need be.

The problems began after the 2nd turn in the headland. The SE wind seemed to be slight more E then S and thus was blowing slightly off shore. We realised this very quickly and agreed with our rehearsed hand signals that we should go to the beach ASAP and access our situation.

For the next 10-15km’s we made about 20 attempts to kite to the beach but each time about 100-200M out the wind got extremely holey and thus we were forced to tack along the beach between 100 and 500m from shore. Let me assure you that neither of us was so comfortable with the situation and Audun commented later that he could see me smiling but also see the nervousness on my face.

We did NOT kite so far out that we could not swim back to shore – following our agreed rules. We were making good progress west believing that the slow curvature of the coast would improve the wind direction and allow us easier access to the beach.

After about 1 hour we decided enough is enough and the wind was dying off. We decided to get as close to the beach as we could and then swim or self rescue. Fortunately the wind allowed us to get to within about 50M of shore and the waves pushed us the rest of the way. Audun commented he kept his kite in the air longer then me, which I am not so sure about!

On reaching the beach all we could do was wait for better conditions, which we did for 6 hours from 10:00am to about 4:00pm. Twice getting into dry clothes then back into wetsuits and trying to keep kiting but always beaten by the wind direction and speed being to light. It was decided that while trying to kite again if for any reason we were pushed beyond the waves we would self rescue and come back to shore. Under no circumstances would we allow ourselves to be so far out to sea again in the bad gusty slightly offshore wind. During this time I walked to the top of the highest sand dune in the area to try to use the marine radio several times – We wanted to warn of the increased chance we would be spending the night on the beach. No contact could be made on channel 16 or channel 73 after repeated attempts.

At 4:00 pm realising our chances of making Augusta were diminishing fast we started to walk East as we could see an antenna and I remembered seeing a fisherman’s house some distance back. We planned to stay the night there and hopefully there would be road access which we would walk out on. Also there was a chance someone would be there or the radio would allow us to make contact with someone. We walked to about 5:00pm which was the time we decided that it was no use to kite West since it was too far to make it by night fall.

Right on 5:00pm the wind suddenly blew up stronger and to our delight was slightly more South thus being a tiny bit cross on shore. We quickly decided to kite as far as we could. Thinking that we had 3 hours of light and thus could travel about 50-60 km’s. With the estimated 25km’s we had travelled this would allow us to walk into Augusta around Midnight which at the time seemed like a very good outcome.

Unfortunately about ½ hour later the wind turned really bad again. We were just past the river mouth at Yeagerup sand dunes (maybe Warren beach) so after some discussion we decided to follow a tyre track back to the camping site on the river and bunked down for the night. I estimate that we had walked about 7Km’s on the beach during the day with all the equipment. This was not so much fun.

Rationing our food gave as ½ of a small tin of baked beans warmed on a small fire and a handful of sultanas which I had forgotten that Audun had brought for dinner. We had about 1 1/2 l of water but the river had fresh water which we decide not to drink at this stage.

Realising at dark that the police were being notified we considered operating the EPIRB but I decided that my wife would assure the police that staying overnight was part of our backup plan and we were provisioned for such an event. Activating it at night would risk causing panic by the police as they might think we are in grave danger and send people searching for us at night or send a helicopter or whatever. This would put people at risk and cause a lot of discomfort so we agreed to debate our situation after a cold and uncomfortable night sleep on the ground.

We slept in a Nylon bivsav to which we had to add the warmth of wrapping up in our kites later in the night. I commented to Audun how many stars there were in the night sky and that I would bring my wife here for a weekend away. This place was really beautiful and in the right wind direction the river would be amazing to kite in. Also even with the small swell the waves looked great. I take note of the shark comment !

The next day no sign of kiteable wind so the choices were to stay there on the beach and wait or try to follow the track out or operate the EPIRB. The decision to walk was based on our healthy physical condition, adequate supplies, and knowledge from Google that the track would lead us to civilisation and mainly this was the plan we had left for the authorities. We hoped to find help before a rescue was begun.

We walked for around 3 hours travelling mostly North until the very top of Yeagerup dunes where several things happened almost at once. First I tried the marine radio and once again had no response. Then we noticed a plane that was obviously searching for us along the coast. We immediately took the decision to operate the EPIRB agreeing that given someone is looking for us we should make it easy for them to find us. The plane turned around within 60 sec of operating the EPIRB which at the time seemed more like a miracle then a marvel of technology which it genuinely is!

About 3 minutes later a CALM vehicle with 2 guys on the way to do some building work in the national park drove over the sand dune and casually asked if we were the 2 kite surfers everyone is looking for. They were not looking for us as such.

Thus we were found and the police and search plane advised accordingly and the adventure ends. We were about 1km from good fresh water and 3-4 km’s from a camp ground and a good dirt road that leads into Pemberton. Even so it felt good to get a ride in the CALM vehicle and the fruit they gave us which was their morning tea tasted delicious !

To all who wish to criticize please consider that the first thing the police told us was that we had done everything correct and they had no criticisms at all. Upon further discussion we learned that the decision not to operate the EPIRB at night was totally correct but it would have been completely acceptable to activate it at first light !

Upon talking with Audun and others we have decided to take a satellite phone or similar next time so as to not cause the inconvenience and cost to the Australian taxpayer and rescue people. I apologise that anyone on Seabreeze has been distressed or concerned about our well being or the possibility of us bad naming kite surfing.

Audun and I would like to extend our greatest thanks to all people involved in helping to search for us. All involved were totally professional, kind, courteous and friendly .We were not once told we had done the wrong thing or made to feel bad or guilty. The police were fantastic and helped with advice on dealing with the media (GWN WIN ABC and others).

We unreservedly regret that people were inconvenienced and apologise that even with our best attempt at planning we caused a rescue to commence and will make every attempt not to repeat such an effort.

I will enrol in a VHF radio operators course and we will invest (or hire) a satellite phone for any other similar trips but at the moment I am under the thumb and forbidden to do this type of thing again !

Doh !!!!

Ioz said...

or where you taking long tacks ?..

Would that be gybing downwind

Thanks for the details Great reading.

Phenomenal. Looks like you blokes had all your bases covered and did everything possible to not cause panic.

Sounds like a great adventure and i feel mighty jealous.

Just one question. How did you carry all that stuff?

What a great story. Bad luck on not making it to your desired destination, but the story is much more interesting this way.

I kited on the warren river just a few months ago Its a really good spot with a direct onshore( flat and shallow)! But i was pretty concerned when kiting in the ocean as there was a intense swell and it was very wild (plus no other kiters out just mtes on the beach)...

That area is really beautiful and we camped there for a week... I never thought anyone would attempt to do a downwinder there as it always has pretty wild weather, lots of sharks and varying wind conditions everyday...But in saying that there are always fishermen and campers in plenty on that stretch!

I will have to try that one day as it sounds alot more adventurous than the downwinder to lano ive done...

Top marks for planning and at least giving it a go.....

I'm sure many of us have tried much more weird ****, with way less preparation, and have not come to the notice of authorities .... perhaps by simply better luck.

Trying to be constructive, your wind was found not to be ideal from very early on. It then teased you on and off during the day, making your situation worse. I could be self righteous and say that you should have given up earlier, had I not had a personal experience where even perfect conditions led to failure .... circumnavigation of Rotnest, perfect seabreeze in at 10 am, tacked up wind to West End to have the wind die at 11.30. Never happens, but it did. Limp dicked it home, no harm done, but .....

I don't envy you all the gear you were carrying, but nobody could doubt your preparation. Well done.

In April I am sailing 3000 NM from Galapagos to Polynesia. Hoping to get the kites out a few times, but we will have a boat to keep us company.

Apology accepted!

I figured would be best to wait till more info came to light before casting judgment and opinion behind a puter screen... sounds like you guys did prep well, only thing was not having a sat phone… live n learn and better luck next time (just don’t forget the phone )!

Does WAKSA have a comment ?

Why do people assume you have to be "out to sea" to drown? Being within swimming distance**** or even worse "i can see it therefore i can get back" is a mistake made by many.

*** How would you prepare? There aren't many pools that simulate the sea. Swim training in a pool usually compounds the error because people think they can swim further than they realise.

My experience as a volunteer lifesaver in both south africa and australia has clearly shown me how little we know about the sea, currents, panic or even a slight injury will drag you under in minutes. And while paul(and friend) clearly prepared far more than most it just goes to show what DOES go wrong regardless.

I have witnessed many people start to drown metres from the shore, let alone kms out to sea. Those of you not aware of the dangers or ridiculing negative comments need to spend a summer on the goldie pulling people out of the surf. (i use the goldie as an exmaple as many tourists who don't know the local conditions get into trouble in a heartbeat)

You don't need big waves to cause problems, a slight offshore wind with an outgoing tide will beat most human capabilities. Add in an unknown coastline and remoteness and the odds are stacked against you.

Yes, rescuers don't always die, but having lost a couple of friends to stupidity and an unneccessary rescue previously i guess my attitude "appears" negative.

Kudos for the downwind attempt and i personally hope next time there is a boat to carry all your gear and provide instant assistance.

wal269 said...

As alternative opinion........I reckon a boat in this situation could:
1. Be another thing to go wrong
2. Endanger others
3. Provide limited help, in either big seas, rocky coast line and high wind
4. Add to everyone's risks
5. Not be practical for lots of reasons

Maybe the emergency services shouldn't use boats to rescue people then? A well prepared offshore craft saves lives everyday of the week and....arrggh bugger it, just read this site.

http://www.coastguard.com.au/links_aust.html

wal269 said...


I think it was a superb effort and should be applauded.

Its is, but any measured risk when going wrong will draw critiscm.

wal269 said...


Wish I could have be there, even though it didn't come off.

ditto.

wal269 said...


Never gonna stop accidents or things going wrong.

Nobody is saying a boat will.

Just to save this thread from slipping into cozy civility . . .

I really admire the attempt made by Paul and Audun and I admire it more because they didn't have a support boat. Not having a support boat meant that their planning, judgement and attention had to be that much better. They would have had a completely different experience if they hadn't had to rely on themselves.

Watch out for the armada of rescue boats on your next City beach-scabs downwinder!.