How was it?
Moderator: MK
How was it?
My daughter and I played yesterday, and I didn't get out. Seemed like it was crankin all day. I intentionally avoided checking current conditions, but by the sounds of the trees it sounded windy.
Tighe
Sailed on Pleasant Lake in Anandale (only sailor on the water). Wow was it blast’n. Rigged up the 6.5 and held on for dear life. All I could do was sail up-wind to dump off some of the power, obviously the 6.5 was too big. The gusts were insane and the lulls were terrible, I was either schloggin or hang’n on for dear life. I wound up so far up wind by the end of the session I wondered if it would let up so I could get back downwind. Finally it did and I called it a day. I had fun and the weather was nice, sunshine, hot wind, and no dry suit! Is summer finally here?
Yeah, definitely the meanest beating ive ever taken. I broke my ankle last May kiting, but that was more of a fluke, and this was just a throttling! Chris and another fella were out on their 9's, sorry I always forget the other guy’s name. I spoke with the first kiter while he was breaking gear down, he said it was cranken, but really fun. I’ve been out in winds like this before a few times down in Iowa and was able to hold down my 9, so i figured this would be no different. Chris came in, said it was nuking, the waves were sometimes breaking over his shoulder, and even in neutral the kite was lifting him out of the water, though mainly in the gusts. I knew the risks, decided that this would definitely be a border line outing, but i was going. Once out there I realized that my 9 was definitely a little much. I’ve lost about 15lbs since last summer, and really noticed a difference in my inability to hold this thing down. I kept the kite at the very edge of the window but when the gusts hit, the kite would charge past the edge, the line would barely go slack and it would drop back almost directly down wind of me. So a huge gust came along, much strong than anything that had hit me so far, the kite flew right past the edge, and then fell directly down wind of me, 5ft off the water.
This is where it picks up a bit... I took off, going as fast as ive ever gone on a board...of any kind. I was slowly bringing the kite above me, while gaining an enormous amount of speed. I didn’t want to fly it up fast because ive done that before which leads to getting launched with the kite shooting over head, falling out of the sky, and almost always breaking something on my bar or kite. After riding it out until the kite was in neutral I was still hauling because of the 30+mph gust engulfing me. It didn’t matter that the kite was in neutral; I was still gaining speed. Then while looking up at the kite, I hit a wave, lost the board, slammed headfirst on the water, was dragged on my face for quite a distance, picked back up, and slammed again. The bar is an old 2002 north bar with no release, just a safety leash. There was no chance I could have pulled anything anyway. Once I slowed down, I gained control of the kite while it was still flying. I caught my breath, and then the line attachment on the bar exploded and kite dropped. I wrapped up my lines into a rats nest, grabbed the kite and made it to shore.
One thing I forgot was my helmet. That was a mistake, and I was lucky to not get knocked out. A windsurfer name john came over the make sure I was ok, very nice of him. I hate to be the guy ruining another fella's session. I tried to make it obvious I was ok, by climbing up on my kite and kick with extra large splashes so people could see I was making it to shore just fine. John saw that I was ok, but still came over, which was really kind of him. Thanks again! My board was probably 200 yards behind and finally washed ashore. One of the jet skiers went down and grabbed it, thanks to him as well! Also thanks to Randy for reminding people to dress for the swim in, I tossed on my booties and was very glad to have them!
I have taken many bad falls kiting but this one takes the cake. Luckily the only damage was a bruised ego and a really long swim/walk to think over my poor decisions for not bringing my helmet, and maybe going out in the first place. I did get some nice compliments on the beach from people who saw disaster strike, always a bonus. I wish I knew how to windsurf for days like that, you guys where ripen! See ya next time
This is where it picks up a bit... I took off, going as fast as ive ever gone on a board...of any kind. I was slowly bringing the kite above me, while gaining an enormous amount of speed. I didn’t want to fly it up fast because ive done that before which leads to getting launched with the kite shooting over head, falling out of the sky, and almost always breaking something on my bar or kite. After riding it out until the kite was in neutral I was still hauling because of the 30+mph gust engulfing me. It didn’t matter that the kite was in neutral; I was still gaining speed. Then while looking up at the kite, I hit a wave, lost the board, slammed headfirst on the water, was dragged on my face for quite a distance, picked back up, and slammed again. The bar is an old 2002 north bar with no release, just a safety leash. There was no chance I could have pulled anything anyway. Once I slowed down, I gained control of the kite while it was still flying. I caught my breath, and then the line attachment on the bar exploded and kite dropped. I wrapped up my lines into a rats nest, grabbed the kite and made it to shore.
One thing I forgot was my helmet. That was a mistake, and I was lucky to not get knocked out. A windsurfer name john came over the make sure I was ok, very nice of him. I hate to be the guy ruining another fella's session. I tried to make it obvious I was ok, by climbing up on my kite and kick with extra large splashes so people could see I was making it to shore just fine. John saw that I was ok, but still came over, which was really kind of him. Thanks again! My board was probably 200 yards behind and finally washed ashore. One of the jet skiers went down and grabbed it, thanks to him as well! Also thanks to Randy for reminding people to dress for the swim in, I tossed on my booties and was very glad to have them!
I have taken many bad falls kiting but this one takes the cake. Luckily the only damage was a bruised ego and a really long swim/walk to think over my poor decisions for not bringing my helmet, and maybe going out in the first place. I did get some nice compliments on the beach from people who saw disaster strike, always a bonus. I wish I knew how to windsurf for days like that, you guys where ripen! See ya next time
Great storyMike
I love posts like this and find them to be the real juice of what this site is about. Mike, you really hit a lot of points that I'm sure apply to all of us. Who hasn't arrived at a site and wondered, "Should I or shouldn't I?" I've seen so many sailors stall out from either their fear that it's not enough or it's too much, unwilling to go into the "surprise" of the day. It's this willingness to go into "I don't know land" with the experience we've garnered, being able to find the gift in whatever comes...this is what our sport's about.
I now find it very humorous as we all try to find 'just the right size', 'just the right place', 'just the right equipment'...'cause there's really only 'just where you are now and what are you going to do about it?
I'm sure I've had a dozen life/death decisions through the course of my sailing career, and I suspect this is a small number compared to some of the rest of you. And then, in the end you see the gift of previous 'learnings, whippings, bashings, etc' is what gave you the presence of mind to survive. In this case, your willingness to share what you learned is what we can all take to the bank of experience as we face similar conditions in the future (i.e. sufficient neoprene to survive the big swim, helmet, and the wisdom to know that you can't count on someone to save you...although in your case you had some great citizenry going on)
I'm always amazed at the sense of false security we get, thinking someone's going to save us. My closest encounter with near drowning was only a few hundred feet from the Ramsey Cty Beach life guards, with dozens of sailors passing me from no more that fifty yards away. For sure, I advocate buddy sailing, but all too many times, when you're in extreme conditions, it comes down to your experience, ability to relax, and presence of mind to collect yourself for making it through a challenging situation.
I'm a big believer in 'exit plans' for when things don't go as expected. I'm always dismayed when I see sailors without neoprene when the air's warm and the water's frigid...they just haven't visioned an exit plan in the event of losing their rig.
Mike...thanks for sharing your 'surprise' and 'insights' with us. It's the learning from when things don't go as expected that we all evolve.
I now find it very humorous as we all try to find 'just the right size', 'just the right place', 'just the right equipment'...'cause there's really only 'just where you are now and what are you going to do about it?
I'm sure I've had a dozen life/death decisions through the course of my sailing career, and I suspect this is a small number compared to some of the rest of you. And then, in the end you see the gift of previous 'learnings, whippings, bashings, etc' is what gave you the presence of mind to survive. In this case, your willingness to share what you learned is what we can all take to the bank of experience as we face similar conditions in the future (i.e. sufficient neoprene to survive the big swim, helmet, and the wisdom to know that you can't count on someone to save you...although in your case you had some great citizenry going on)
I'm always amazed at the sense of false security we get, thinking someone's going to save us. My closest encounter with near drowning was only a few hundred feet from the Ramsey Cty Beach life guards, with dozens of sailors passing me from no more that fifty yards away. For sure, I advocate buddy sailing, but all too many times, when you're in extreme conditions, it comes down to your experience, ability to relax, and presence of mind to collect yourself for making it through a challenging situation.
I'm a big believer in 'exit plans' for when things don't go as expected. I'm always dismayed when I see sailors without neoprene when the air's warm and the water's frigid...they just haven't visioned an exit plan in the event of losing their rig.
Mike...thanks for sharing your 'surprise' and 'insights' with us. It's the learning from when things don't go as expected that we all evolve.
Ride...just be it!
www.just-be-it.com
www.just-be-it.com
After reading Johnny's post again, I am going to preach one more time.
The two things that I preach the most to my students is that before ever putting a bar in your hands, whether your own or someone else's, (1) always know how to turn off the power and(2) if that doesn't work how do you break free completely. Older chicken loops, fixed harness lines and one piece leashes that do not have quick releases built into them, are death traps. Please update your systems. There is no way to break free from these systems when you are getting torqued.
I frighten to think of how Johnny's situation would have panned out if his bar hadn't broken. I am so glad you are ok Johnny.
The two things that I preach the most to my students is that before ever putting a bar in your hands, whether your own or someone else's, (1) always know how to turn off the power and(2) if that doesn't work how do you break free completely. Older chicken loops, fixed harness lines and one piece leashes that do not have quick releases built into them, are death traps. Please update your systems. There is no way to break free from these systems when you are getting torqued.
I frighten to think of how Johnny's situation would have panned out if his bar hadn't broken. I am so glad you are ok Johnny.
Tighe