Send him a sizeable BILL for the emergency rescue costs and he may think twice about wrapping himself in a Kite in the dunes, whilst the Heat sensing cameras are operating in the sky until midnight.

jeff2 said..
Send him a sizeable BILL for the emergency rescue costs and he may think twice about wrapping himself in a Kite in the dunes, whilst the Heat sensing cameras are operating in the sky until midnight.

In some Euro countries they invoice the tourists for a search fee, 5-6k

On an average day (for Geraldton) it would be difficult to miss corro's - there's always one......but....

Having been out several times in 35-40 knots in a 4m + swell at Corro's, I can tell you out the back, around the bomby, you can barely make out the land. In fact you're highly likely not to see any of the windsurfers. With that wind strength there are only like to be a couple of kiters - so get confused with Spot X? Maybe.

I do know a lot of LOCAL kitesurfers that regularly do that trip. And that's the difference. If it all goes wrong they know where they are. They know where to go etc.

Just glad was found alive and well.

Sandfoot said..

jeff2 said..
Send him a sizeable BILL for the emergency rescue costs and he may think twice about wrapping himself in a Kite in the dunes, whilst the Heat sensing cameras are operating in the sky until midnight.

In some Euro countries they invoice the tourists for a search fee, 5-6k

That's what travel insurance is for, if you're from here you've already paid taxes for those services.

Also I think we should all be considering using some basic safety gear when the conditions call for it.

Whilst I don't agree with the DoT requirement for flares and pfd andEPIRB if you're 400m+ off the beach but there are plenty of times when some safety equipment would be a good idea.

I recently got a pfd/impact vest which I will wear when kiting breaks like Lancelin and corros where you end up tacking a long way out to sea. The vest is pretty comfy and I can wear it without it affecting my kiting.

I also will look into getting a PLB, you can get some which have basic sms capabilities and are compact enough that you won't notice your wearing them.

In the case of this lost kiter gear failure was the cause but had he sustained a serious injury to the point where he was incapacitated the results could have been much worse

Yep, I have an EPIRB in my boat but because I am a shift worker and often off on adventures by myself during the week 4wding, boating, kiting, SUPing etc, I also have a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) in a pouch which I attached to the strap on my PFD.
I am usually wearing the PFD & PLB combo when in the boat (even though I have the EPIRB), or if I am SUPing or kiting way offshore or somewhere remote.
Sometimes it is just threaded onto my harness strap for kiting offshore, when I am not carrying it, it lives in my 4wd.
I may sound paranoid but as a former sea rescue skipper, I know it is a small price to pay for something that has the potential to save your life.

This is the one I have but I paid less than that when on sale.

https://www.whitworths.com.au/acr-resqlink-plus-406mhz-gps-plb

The other week, for example, it was in the pocket of my camelback when a few of us did this downwinder.

www.relive.cc/view/g28325597220

Would this work? Im assuming they are waterproof...
Seems small and wouldnt be cumbersome like an epirb.

Chris6791 said..

Sauce said..
Would this work? Im assuming they are waterproof...
Seems small and wouldnt be cumbersome like an epirb.

Doesn't have a distress function like an epirb/plb. All it's good for is showing us what your drift track was once we find the body.

Or track the shark