Re: RANT [was RE: Rescuer Rescued]

From: Allen H Zimmermann (allen.zimmermann@gte.net-DeleteThis.com)
Date: Wed Jun 11 2003 - 18:26:26 PDT

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Message-ID: <003701c33081$a6c13460$99718244@computer>
From: "Allen H Zimmermann" <allen.zimmermann@gte.net-DeleteThis.com>
To: <wind_talk@opus.labs.agilent.com-DeleteThis.com>
References: <v04220800bb0d728adb95@[192.168.3.126]>
Subject: Re: RANT [was RE: Rescuer Rescued]
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2003 18:26:26 -0700

Peter, have you developed a screen play? Just kidding, glad it came out
happy for all involved. As a kitesurfer (and long time windsurfer), I don't
know why the kitesurfer didn't self-rescue. If he didn't know how, he has
no business at Crissy.
----- Original Message -----
From: "tom krebs" <tom@tippett.com-DeleteThis.com>
To: "Multiple recipients of list WIND_TALK"
<wind_talk@opus.labs.agilent.com-DeleteThis.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 5:59 PM
Subject: Re: RANT [was RE: Rescuer Rescued]

>
> I agree with Jonathan (whom ever you are) on this topic....I've
> windsurfed since the late 80's and have never tried kite surfing but
> would love to check it out. I am embarrassed to hear fellow
> windsurfers snub kite surfers. It's petty and narrow minded, and yes
> it sure is a repeat episode of the snowboard vs skier conflict. It is
> prejudice pure and simple. There are a lot of people out there who
> don't like change if it effects their piece of the pie. Kiting is not
> going to disappear....deal with it and realize there are just as many
> windsurfers using bad judgement as there are kiters who end up having
> to be rescued by the coast guard. I don't think the point of this
> thread was to snub kiters but rather to share a rescue experience.
> However I can see how kiter's would feel a bit paranoid and on the
> defensive. Hearing snide remarks like the comment made on the
> iwindsurf pager add up, create hostility and only further split
> apart two wind related sports that should be working together.
> The backcountry skiing credo that is mentioned at times in magazines
> talk about the experience of glisse and whatever way you get down the
> mountain is secondary to the thrill of making turns down the
> mountain. In kitesurfing as well as windsurfing, the equipment
> should be secondary to experience of being on the water, feeling the
> rush of speed, catching air, and being out there in the elements.
> We are all on this planet for a speck of time...figure out how to
> share the space. And "no kite" signs are not the answer. A beach with
> "no kite" signs on it harkens back to 50's in the deep south if you
> ask me.
> Anyway enough "ranting" enjoy your summer people.
>
>
>
> >Kiters go to Crissy for the same reason that windsurfers go to Crissy;
> >it's a fun place that pushes your skills and abilities so you can become
> >a better rider.
> >
> >A "no kite" sign? Everywhere I look in the windsurfing community there
> >is anti-kite sentiment.
> >
> >I'm still a little hot under the collar from my recent iWindsurf
> >subscription. I paid over $100 for state-of-the-art wind information,
> >and I gotta tell you I am *very* happy with the services they provide,
> >but on the info page for my favorite launch they have the following
> >quote:
> >
> > "Also, the sandy beach downwind from the launch
> > is in a wind shadow and can be OK for a beach chair
> > - until the kitesurfers show up..."
> >
> >Man, I just gave you $100 and you're slamming me because I need a place
> >to rig and de-rig my gear? I'm your *customer*. Wake up.
> >
> >Ugh, not again. I already went through this whole thing 10 years ago
> >with skiers vs. snowboarders. Skiers were upset that snowboarders were
> >everywhere, taking over their mountains. Resorts that used to be
> >half-empty are now crowded with boarders "ruining the snow."
> >
> >What the ski industry finally realized is that snowboarding brought a
> >new generation into the mix. The younger consumers brought a
> >revitalized interest in buying equipment, lift tickets, and lodge
> >rentals. Ultimately the skiers have had to deal with more crowded
> >conditions on the hill, but greater demand has meant lower costs, more
> >places to ride, and better facilities for everyone.
> >
> >Kiteboarding is bringing more people out to the best, windiest launch
> >points every day. As a new, hot, and popular sport, it's pumping money
> >into the windsurf/kitesurf communities. It has a steep but short
> >learning curve, making it easily to progress quickly in the sport, and
> >feel good about your progress in the water. "What's the difference
> >between an amateur and a pro kiteboarder? Two weeks."
> >
> >Kiteboarding is fun to watch. It's brought more spectators to the
> >launch sites. There are more companies supplying equipment, more
> >magazines, more wind-water-sport television programs, more advertising
> >dollars, and more competitions with more prize purses.
> >
> >In the long run it will create more demand for better facilities at
> >wind/kite hotspots as well as improvements in technology, gear, and
> >safety equipment.
> >
> >The first time I saw kiteboarding, I bought a trainer kite that day,
> >paid for a lesson 2 weeks later, and bought a full setup of equipment
> >the week after that. I'm totally hooked, I love the sport and the
> >entire community at my usual launch.
> >
> >There are minor entanglements with windsurfers - they don't want us
> >rigging in *their* rigging area, or launching from *their* launch point.
> >It seems that the windsurfers also feel the right to park illegally
> >because their gear is heavier and more awkward to carry from the back of
> >the parking lot.
> >
> >Hopefully I won't have to wait another 8 years before windsurfers and
> >kitesurfers can get along with each other, talk about the wind and the
> >waves, and swap "best day ever" stories.
> >
> >
> >-J
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: wind_talk@opus.labs.agilent.com-DeleteThis.com
> >[mailto:wind_talk@opus.labs.agilent.com-DeleteThis.com] On Behalf Of Lev Brouk
> >Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 3:08 PM
> >To: Multiple recipients of list WIND_TALK
> >Subject: Re: Rescuer Rescued
> >
> >
> >Honestly, I do not why kiters would go to Crissy alltogether... I had
> >windsurfed there for over 2 seasons quite regularly, and IMO it's got
> >to be superdangerous, if not so much for kitesurfers themselves then
> >for all vessels around them. And it can't even be that much fun! With
> >the irregular offshore wind, the wind strength difference between all
> >the different "zones" there, the choppy waters...
> >
> >I guess, in the San Francisco area there aren't that many nice long
> >sandy beaches with sideonshore winds and no currents, so it almost
> >forces the kiters to launch where they shouldn't. I live in France now
> >and here for the most part they go to miles-long beaches with
> >side-to-sideon winds, and you never see them going more than a few
> >hundred feet away offshore.
> >
> >And why would they? They don't need to since they don't need to work
> >upwind as hard as most windsurfers, they don't need the stronger winds
> >on the outside, and the smooth water between the waves seems a better
> >playing ground than the chop outside.
> >
> >I hate regulating beach usage where it comes to watersports, but maybe
> >this is a rare case where a "no kite" sign would be appropriate?
> >
> >Disclaimer (to avoid blame :-). I do not even live in SF any more, so
> >I may not know the extent of kite beach shortage. BTW, I do a bit of
> >kiting myself, and I think I do have an appreciation for the issue.
> >
> >- Lev
> >
> >--- Eyes4Hire@aol.com-DeleteThis.com wrote:
> > > I was windsurfing from Crissy Field yesterday. I was just about a
> > > mile inside the Gate when I came upon a kitesurfer who was unable to
> > > fly his kite due to lack of wind. He was in the shipping channel
> > > and there was a large tanker coming inbound toward the Golden Gate
> > > Bridge. It was hard to gauge the ship's exact path, but it looked
> > > like there was good chance that the kitesurfer would be harms way.
> > > I dropped my sail and pulled out my radio to make a general
> > > broadcast warning shipping in the area to keep an eye out for the
> > > down kitesurfer. I was on wave gear and barely had enough wind to
> > > keep myself moving in the light wind. A few racers came by on their
> > > larger windsurf boards, but none of them were confident that they
> > > could tow the kiter to shore in the light wind. The current was
> > > flooding and there was no way that this guy would be able to swim
> > > back to the San Francisco shore before the current took him on
> > > toward Alcatraz and Treasure Island. I got back on the radio on
> > > channel 16 and hailed the Coast Guard for assistance. The
> > > dispatcher responded immediately and said they would send help. It
> > > wasn't clear if they had dispatched a boat yet, but I could see a
> > > 47' Coast Guard rescue boat moving near the Marin shoreline. The
> > > rescue boat was so far out of position that I assumed they were
> > > handling another call. I rebroadcast our position repeatedly over a
> > > 10-15 minute period to make sure that they knew we were drifting.
> > > During this time the flood current was pushing us to the east and by
> > > know were a couple of miles inside the Gate. The Coast Guard rescue
> > > boat eventually worked its way up to the Golden Gate Bridge and
> > > seemed to be moving in a search pattern. I hailed the Coast Guard
> > > on channel 16 and asked to be switched to channel 22 in hopes that I
> > > would be operating channel as the rescue boat. Once I was on
> > > channel 22, I was able to talk directly with the skipper of the
> > > rescue boat and guide him in on our position. Once the rescue boat
> > > clearly had the kiter in sight, I radioed and advised them that I
> > > would start heading for shore immediately since the current and the
> > > light wind were going to make my return to shore very difficult if I
> > > waited any longer. I had already drifted over a mile while I stayed
> > > with the kitesurfer to make sure they could locate him. The skipper
> > > told me that they would prefer to bring me ashore since there was
> > > heavy vessel traffic in the area. I told the skipper that I would
> > > start toward shore and asked that he catch up with assist and me if
> > > I was having difficulty. I stuffed my radio in my wetsuit and
> > > started sailing for shore. Almost immediately, I could tell that
> > > the light wind and the current would prevent from hitting the shore
> > > anywhere within a mile of Crissy Field. I turned back toward the
> > > kiter. The rescue boat had arrived and they were already at work
> > > loading his gear. I stood off at a distance of about 30' and tacked
> > > my board back and forth, waiting for my turn to load up. I had not
> > > made any further radio call since I was using both hands to sail. I
> > > assumed that my return to the scene would have made it clear that I
> > > was accepting the offer of a ride to shore. They finished loading
> > > the kiter and I started heading for the starboard side of the rescue
> > > boat where the crew had pulled the kiter up. As I was nearing the
> > > side of the boat, I heard the 450 horsepower engines revving up and
> > > the boat started moving away. At first I thought he might be trying
> > > to reposition the boat, but as he moved farther away, it was clear I
> > > was going to be on my own. I immediately let go of the sail and
> > > dropped to my knees. I waved my right arm from side to side
> > > intending to indicate that I needed help. The skipper happened to
> > > look back just at that moment. He raised his arm and waved a
> > > friendly goodbye as the boat picked up speed. At this point I
> > > realized I should have waved both arms to more clearly have
> > > indicated distress, but it was too late. My momentary chance had
> > > passed. I reached into my wetsuit and pulled out the radio. I
> > > broadcast a call on channel 22, advising the skipper that I needed
> > > assistance. There was no reply. I tried again. No reply. I tried
> > > channel 16. No reply. I tried for five minutes to get a response
> > > from the Coast Guard or anyone at all. No reply. I finally
> > > accepted the fact that the radio had failed. By know I had been
> > > pulled so far to the east that I wasn't sure I'd make the City even
> > > if I ditched my rig and swam for it. It seemed ironic to me that I
> > > might be the one to swim home after dark even though I was far more
> > > prepared than the kiter I had stopped to help. I was glad I had a
> > > strobe light since there wasn't much day light left. I took a good
> > > look around and over my shoulder I spotted the "heavy vessel
> > > traffic" that the skipper had referred to. A cruise ship was headed
> > > outbound from the City toward the Gate. Because of the Coast Guards
> > > elevated port security, two Coast Guard vessels were escorting the
> > > cruise ship. I pulled out the one flare in my safety pack and
> > > hurriedly pulled the safety cap off. I wanted to get the flare off
> > > before while I was still somewhat in the forward view of the nearest
> > > escort vessel. I tugged the firing chain and the red flare shot up
> > > into the sky. I was surprised by how high it flew and how long it
> > > burned. It seemed like the performance was better than advertised.
> > > I watched for a minute or two and there was no response. I was
> > > hoping that their port security mission didn't preclude the rescue
> > > of stranded windsurfers. I figured that they might be worried that
> > > I was a diversion of some sort. After a couple of minutes, the
> > > smaller rescue boat peeled off and turned in my direction while the
> > > larger and more heavily armed cutter stayed alongside the cruise
> > > ship. The smaller boat was a rigid hull inflatable with a three-man
> > > crew. When they arrived they were very friendly. They radioed for
> > > assistance and told me that they would stand by until the original
> > > rescue boat returned since their boat was too small to handle my
> > > gear. After about five minutes in the water, the original rescue
> > > boat returned. With four crewmen helping me out, we were able to
> > > get my gear onboard quickly. They held my sail across the bow of
> > > the boat with the clew pushed up against a bulkhead. The skipper
> > > powered up and headed for Crissy Field at full throttle. As the
> > > wind pushed on the sail, the sail wanted to flutter with the clew
> > > downwind, but the tail was trapped against the bulkhead. As the
> > > wind sail pushed into the bulkhead, a fitting on the bulkhead tore a
> > > small hole through the monofilm. I climbed up the ladder to the fly
> > > bridge and asked the skipper if he could ease the throttles back so
> > > that the sail wouldn't be damaged any further. He was glad to
> > > accommodate me, and I finished my adventure with a leisurely ride
> > > back to Crissy Field.
> > >
> > > Peter
> > >
> > > [HTML file part2 deleted by listprocessor]
> > >
>

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