And there is also going to be some Yachtee out there who will be very peeved about damage to his expensive top-of-mast mounted speed and direction equipment.

Anyone know who owns the kite??
We would certainly like to understand how this happened.

And that's why you're not meant to go in between the yachts...

For the skilled, thoughtful and considerate kiters at StKilda, and especially for the ones who are locals, who kite there because they live there, I can only imagine your frustration.

That boat is not even the closest boat to open water. Who kites between moored yachts? WTF!!??

I hope StK doesn't get banned. Not because I kite there (well, occasionally during the week if its windy before 2pm) but (and this is utterly selfish of me) because it seems to attract and contain most of the muppets so that we don't have to deal with them elsewhere.

Although, I am a little bit tired of suggesting to crew (some semi-regulars) at Altona that they don't launch 10 metres upwind of the light poles at the end of McBain St.

AAAAAARRRRGGGHH!!

oh yes, that'll go down well with the club.. (headbang)

oh yeah, the webcam was a brilliant idea! It's zooming right onto it...

"Largo" hasn't been out for a play in years! She's done a beautiful job on that wretched "hairlip". I'm glad she took one for the team, those pesky kites are usually trying that trick on us part-time water users Very few of us could have fought back with such effect, and minimal harm to ones self. Bravo!!!

juggler said...
Maybe someone could kite past jump up & flick it off

Who ever has to remove is going to have fun. The kite lines are wrapped around the mast rigging (you can see it in the picture) all the way down to the deck, then then under and around the keel. The kite was skewered by the mast. The yachtee owner is gonna be real happy.

picker said...

happened about 7pm thursday night, was pretty funny.

maybe kiting a little close to boats, in the middle of it all, trying out some jumps.

got the bridle wrapped around the mast.

mess of lines and **** all over the boat.

then had to swim in past a few learners with only a board.

has been up there for a while. but the one pump works well, she's still inflated.

anyone got a long ladder i can borrow? or any other idears how to get it down, maybe put it on e-bay pick up and inspect in st. kilda

that kite thought it was a bird and wanted to perch on the top. Those kites dont fly regardless

A long ladder will not solve this problem.

The only way to get up a mast is to use a harness and be winched up a halyard. However, this will only get a person to the top of the mast and won't help untangle the kite lines that are wrapped around the back stay.

The only solution for the boat owner will be to drop the mast, which on a boat that size is not going to be a straightforward process. Probably a full day's work and the boat may need to be slipped.

Jokes aside, this is a serious problem for the boat owner and is likely to cost him both in dollar terms and inconvenience.

If the boat owner has to fork out any money for this, he will be less than impressed.

I would be pleased to see the kite owner contact the marina, speak to the owner and offered to pay any out of pocket expenses incurred in restoring the boat to a workable condition. If not, I suspect we will hear a lot more about this incident in due course.

But of course, this relies on a kiter taking some responsibility for their actions, which is asking a lot.

it was still there when I left at about 7. It looks like it's there to stay.
Some one is definitely going to need to go up and get it down.

Is it down yet?

There's also damage to the yacht hull.. I wonder if the water Police have got involved? .. Of coarse they wouldn't know who did it.

I'm sure something can be done about getting it down.. Maybe a knife attached to the top of a windsurfer mast might reach.

You could paddle out there on a SUP board.. I'm happy to help someone try.

Also a note should be left for the owner just like you would if you damaged someones car in a car park.

DJ

What time? it was still there when i left about 5:30. Good if it has though. It looked bad.

would have made a good spinnaker... maybe some hobo took it for a sleeping bag

dont you guys have insurance to cover that sort of stuff?