Another kite-mare!
I didn’t think I was going to get out kiting today as the forecast said no wind was due. After lunch the wind seemed to be blowing around 15 knots and kiters started to get out onto the water. So off to the beach we went, for another session of kiting.
My first hour out on the water was great. I did a few 360ºs, some toe-side riding and was practicing gaining more height and consistency in my jumping. While out on the water I think I saw a flying fish. It flew above the water for about 20 feet then dived back into the sea. It didn’t seem to have feathers like a bird it looked more like a fish. I even stopped and watched where it entered the water to see if it re-surfaced, which would confirm it was a bird but I never saw it again. So I went back on land and rested for a while before having another session.
Once back on the water everything was going great. I was still practicing my jumps while going quite far out to sea. Then I misjudged my landing slightly and my kite hit the water. I went to re-launch the kite but something was wrong. At first I though it had just wrapped itself up like it has done in the past but no, the kite had a big tear in it. Not just a small tear, one of the panels was half ripped off and the kite just wouldn’t re-launch.
Thankfully another kiter noticed I was in trouble and carried my board all the way to shore. I was preparing to self rescue all the way back to the beach, not necessarily within a mile of where Lucy was waiting but dry land none the less. I noticed the Red Cross life-boat in the area and it wasn’t long before they came, picked me and the kite up and took me back to the beach.
So I’m uninjured but the kite isn’t in good shape. I can only hope Dock 11 repair shop in Tarifa can patch it up. Otherwise that’s a kite and a board I’ve lost. I don’t seem to be having much luck with this kite-surfing!
August 1st, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I’ve just searched the internet to find out about flying fish and I can confirm it was a flying fish just like the one in the picture here:
http://barbadostravel.squarespace.com/barbados-flying-fish/
They jump out the water and glide to avoid predators, so god knows what predator was lurking around when I was bobbing around in the sea.
August 1st, 2008 at 8:11 pm
you worry me taking all yhose risks be carefui/ yes there are several types of flying fish your great granddad was bitten by a poisonous one while he was in the navy. that was in tropical watersso no need to worry about those there it enough for me to worry take care
August 1st, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Oh dear, poor kite! I suppose the fabric gets stressed after a while and maybe gets weakened.
It’s good to hear that kiters look after each other, I saw how quickly they responded when you had trouble with the lines on the beach when I was there.
As for the predators - I expect it was one of those dolphins I saw!