Self-rescue & water relaunch — kitesurfing lesson 8

1 Learn

Relaunching from the water

Most kites land leading edge down. Pull gently on one side of the bar — the side you want the kite to go. It slides across the water to the edge of the window, rolls onto its wingtip, catches the wind and lifts off.

Then keep the bar calm and let it climb the edge to 12, just like a launch.

Help it along

Relaunch on the side the kite is closest to — less water to cross.
Keep some tension in the lines; if they go slack, swim or kick backward a little.
Be patient in light wind — it takes longer.
If the kite lands on its back, it has to be turned over first. How depends on the kite — your instructor will show you yours.

When to stop trying

Self-rescue when the kite won’t relaunch after a few tries, the lines are tangled or wrapped around the kite, the wind has dropped, you’re drifting away from the beach or toward obstacles — or you’re getting tired or cold.

Decide early. A self-rescue started with energy left is much easier than one started exhausted.

Self-rescue, in short

Fire the quick release, pull yourself along the safety line to the bar, wind the lines onto the bar as you work toward the kite, take hold of the kite and get back to shore the way your school teaches (sailing with the kite or swimming with it).

Details differ between kites and bars, so practise it on land first, with your instructor and your own gear.

2 Try it in the simulator

Complete the missions in order. Each one ends with the same move to try on the beach.

The simulator needs JavaScript. The missions are listed below.

Relaunch from the water — Your kite dropped in the water, leading edge down, a little right of the middle. Slide it to the right edge, let it roll onto its wingtip and lift off, then let it climb to 12.

Relaunch on the near side — The kite is down just left of the middle and the wind is lighter. Relaunch it on the side it’s closest to and have it at 12 within 32 seconds.

Then: the self-rescue game

Decide to self-rescue, and signal for help if you need it — The kite won’t relaunch or you’re in trouble. To signal distress, slowly raise and lower your outstretched arms.

Fire the quick release — The kite flags out on its safety line with almost no power, still attached to your leash.

Pull yourself along the safety line to the bar — Hand over hand along the line attached to your leash, until the bar is in your hands.

Wind the lines onto the bar as you move toward the kite — Keeps the lines under control. Never let them wrap around your hands, arms or body.

Take hold of the kite — With the lines wound up, grab the kite by its leading edge or wingtip.

Get back to shore the way your school teaches — Sailing with the kite or swimming with it, depending on the conditions and what you practised.

3 On the beach

On the beach

Now do it for real

You need: Kite and bar, harness, a line cutter, and your instructor in the water with you.

On land, with the kite on the sand: practise the self-rescue steps with your own bar until you can do them without thinking.
In the water: your instructor puts the kite down near the edge. Pull one side and relaunch it.
Relaunch from further into the window, on the side it’s closest to.
With your instructor next to you: fire the quick release, pull yourself to the bar and wind in the lines.
Reach the kite and practise the way back to shore your school uses.

Tick each step after you’ve done it with your instructor.

4 Check yourself