My first rescue at Crissy Field was this weekend. It was a doozie.
I put the story and some photos on my blog
http://kiteboardblog.com/?p=8
Also, My friend Karl Long was there and took some great shots of other people doing some kiting. Feel free to go download your photos. He's putting them on his flickr account here...
http://flickr.com/photos/karllong/
Crissy Field Rescue
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paulwhitaker
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pipedragon
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Good story. I personnaly am not a big Crissy fan anymore after a kitemare there a few years ago. With experience I am sure it is completly kitable but my wind gods tell me to stay away now. There are a lot of other great places to kite in the Bay Area and I would definitly take 3rd ave. over crissy anyday. I am going to take your advice on a radio though. I was out at Half Moon bay yesterday and had no problems but if I had that beach is a far away. Would be nice to be able to call for help.
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paulwhitaker
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Scotty
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West Marine sells the Standard Horizon, model # hx370s vhf marine transceiver. It has automatic buttons for Coast guard and acts as an effective two-way. Has a strobe lite beacon that can illuminate, rechargeable battery pack that even includes a car adapter, and NOAA weather radio. Costs about $200 and fits nicely into my impact harness pocket. The one time I had to use it......Crissy Field. I always wear it @ 3rd Ave as well. Been riding with it for 2 seasons now and still going strong. But put it in a plastic bag just in case while you are kiting.
scotty
scotty
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pipedragon
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michael
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I read your story and have a couple of questions:
1) "I was not staying in the same location as the Crissy Field veterans who were obviously aware of the wind shaddow I was heading for" - where that shadow is located where you were heading for ?
2) "Donít ride between the towers because the wind shadow pretty much guarantees a boat ride home" - so again, can you describe in more details the location of the shadow?
The only shadow I know about is just south from the souther tower (Fort Point). I saw people riding between the towers many times, so I am a little bit confused where exactly you were when the wind died.
"Even with a wet suit and life vest on after about 30 minutes in the water I could feel myself starting to get cold and worried" - after 30 minutes at 4.2 knots you would be almost 2 and a half miles away from the Golden Gate. That's really scary. Who called the CG - a kiter, a windsurfer or a yacht? I am glad everything ended in a good way!
1) "I was not staying in the same location as the Crissy Field veterans who were obviously aware of the wind shaddow I was heading for" - where that shadow is located where you were heading for ?
2) "Donít ride between the towers because the wind shadow pretty much guarantees a boat ride home" - so again, can you describe in more details the location of the shadow?
The only shadow I know about is just south from the souther tower (Fort Point). I saw people riding between the towers many times, so I am a little bit confused where exactly you were when the wind died.
"Even with a wet suit and life vest on after about 30 minutes in the water I could feel myself starting to get cold and worried" - after 30 minutes at 4.2 knots you would be almost 2 and a half miles away from the Golden Gate. That's really scary. Who called the CG - a kiter, a windsurfer or a yacht? I am glad everything ended in a good way!
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jono
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"A rite of Passage?" You got some rites alright. You got a Pacific Ocean Baptism, just before your *very* Last Rites on your way to certain death and a cold burial at sea. Be careful dammit!
I don't have much kiting experience, but I've read about a few CG rescues at Chrissy. I know it's cool to get out near the Golden Gate, but shouldn't you be riding like there is no CG? I try to ride like no one is coming to get my ass if I get in trouble, why did you feel it was ok "not staying in the same location as the Crissy Field veterans?" I'm not trying to be rude or rub in any kind of mis-judgment, I just want to know if you figured if you got into deep shit the CG would come get you -- and I want to know if this is really the best plan, especially your first time at a super dangerous location.
I'm worried about other people out there and I am concerned about what would have happened to you if no one called the CG. What happened to the rule about not getting out farther than you can swim back (meaning don't kite chrissy during certain tides)? I've read the CG picks up lot's of kiters at Chrissy (thank god for them), but what happens when they don't get the call or can't find the tiny head bobbing in the swell?
That guy Jim Gray was lost *with an entire boat* between SF and Farallons and they found NOTHING, no boat, no debris, nada.
A radio is probably a good idea, but it seems like a better idea to not get into that situation in the first place. I'm glad to hear no kiter has died out there (that I know of), but is it ok to use the CG like a water rescue taxi service? Do they make you pay for the pickup? What if they confiscated all your kite gear and auctioned it off to pay back the taxpayers who paid for the fuel they used looking for you? Also, if people are expecting pickup and they don't get it, someone will be dead pretty soon, so even with my limited experience, I don't think people should go out there thinking the CG or a boat or someone is going to help them. What if a tanker found you in it's path?
In the end, thanks for the report so others understand the dangers, glad you are ok.
Last, my instructor taught me a technique I'd like to run by more experienced people. If you are going to drift and be stuck for a while (huge tidal flow, etc.), is it a good idea to blow your leading edge, roll up the kite (with struts inflated) and use this as flotation, paddle/kick board if the only other option is sitting in the water for a couple hours? I'm talking about no self-rescue option, no using the kite to get back to land, etc.
I don't have much kiting experience, but I've read about a few CG rescues at Chrissy. I know it's cool to get out near the Golden Gate, but shouldn't you be riding like there is no CG? I try to ride like no one is coming to get my ass if I get in trouble, why did you feel it was ok "not staying in the same location as the Crissy Field veterans?" I'm not trying to be rude or rub in any kind of mis-judgment, I just want to know if you figured if you got into deep shit the CG would come get you -- and I want to know if this is really the best plan, especially your first time at a super dangerous location.
I'm worried about other people out there and I am concerned about what would have happened to you if no one called the CG. What happened to the rule about not getting out farther than you can swim back (meaning don't kite chrissy during certain tides)? I've read the CG picks up lot's of kiters at Chrissy (thank god for them), but what happens when they don't get the call or can't find the tiny head bobbing in the swell?
That guy Jim Gray was lost *with an entire boat* between SF and Farallons and they found NOTHING, no boat, no debris, nada.
A radio is probably a good idea, but it seems like a better idea to not get into that situation in the first place. I'm glad to hear no kiter has died out there (that I know of), but is it ok to use the CG like a water rescue taxi service? Do they make you pay for the pickup? What if they confiscated all your kite gear and auctioned it off to pay back the taxpayers who paid for the fuel they used looking for you? Also, if people are expecting pickup and they don't get it, someone will be dead pretty soon, so even with my limited experience, I don't think people should go out there thinking the CG or a boat or someone is going to help them. What if a tanker found you in it's path?
In the end, thanks for the report so others understand the dangers, glad you are ok.
Last, my instructor taught me a technique I'd like to run by more experienced people. If you are going to drift and be stuck for a while (huge tidal flow, etc.), is it a good idea to blow your leading edge, roll up the kite (with struts inflated) and use this as flotation, paddle/kick board if the only other option is sitting in the water for a couple hours? I'm talking about no self-rescue option, no using the kite to get back to land, etc.
Last edited by jono on Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:15 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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paulwhitaker
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You guys are totally right. If you don't mind I'm just going to post this as an update to my blog so that it doesn't get lost in a sea of forum threads...
I also added a diagram of where I went down, can anyone tell me if I have the wind shadow mapped correctly?
http://kiteboardblog.com/?p=8
I also added a diagram of where I went down, can anyone tell me if I have the wind shadow mapped correctly?
http://kiteboardblog.com/?p=8
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jono
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jono
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Paul:
Seriously, since you don't see to be scared about your last rescue, and are talking about going out there again today and think it's some "rite of passage" to get a CG pickup as you drift out to sea, I'd like to provide some other scenarios. It's not some kind of bragging right to get picked up out there.
If you get stuck out there:
-This means CG drove out and expended fuel. They will have to refuel. What if this interferes with another rescue?
-You are taking time from them they could be doing another rescue. CG does not mean "Kiter Taxi", there are people with serious, life threatening problems out there *who didn't mean to get into the situation they are in*, get a VHF and listen to it for a while.
-Some other boater may be impacted, attempt rescue, etc. which could also cause problems for them. All other boats that have the means are obligated to provide assistance to someone in distress. Are you ready to accept responsibility if something bad happens during their attempt to get you?
If you are involved in a marine casualty, you have an obligation under federal law to stop and render assistance.
The Federal Act is known as the Stand-By Act. It provides that you must "render necessary assistance to each individual affected to save that affected individual from danger caused by the marine casualty" ...The failure to do so can result in 2 years in jail and a $1000 fine. Make sense? While probably uncommon, someone could be fined/jailed if they don't render assistance to you.
-You know that big rock with the old prison out there? They put it there for a reason: it's hard to get from there back to land.
-Why jump *off* the bridge if you can just kite *under* the bridge and achieve the same outcome?
-I bet you are going out again with that same wetsuit that's too thin for Chrissy aren't you?
-Aren't you riding a kite that's being recalled for it's habit to invert?
Don't buy a radio, it will just give you extra guts (and the confidence to make stupid decisions), instead, buy swim fins like some of the Chrissy veterans apparently do. If you aren't ready swim back to ocean beach, the point, or pacifica with those, you aren't ready to go back out.
Remember, CG does not mean water taxi. You are making them get a dispatch to your location -- this means they could be out getting you when someone else needs assistance and now as they pick you up, they find they are just too far out to get there in time.
Seriously, since you don't see to be scared about your last rescue, and are talking about going out there again today and think it's some "rite of passage" to get a CG pickup as you drift out to sea, I'd like to provide some other scenarios. It's not some kind of bragging right to get picked up out there.
If you get stuck out there:
-This means CG drove out and expended fuel. They will have to refuel. What if this interferes with another rescue?
-You are taking time from them they could be doing another rescue. CG does not mean "Kiter Taxi", there are people with serious, life threatening problems out there *who didn't mean to get into the situation they are in*, get a VHF and listen to it for a while.
-Some other boater may be impacted, attempt rescue, etc. which could also cause problems for them. All other boats that have the means are obligated to provide assistance to someone in distress. Are you ready to accept responsibility if something bad happens during their attempt to get you?
If you are involved in a marine casualty, you have an obligation under federal law to stop and render assistance.
The Federal Act is known as the Stand-By Act. It provides that you must "render necessary assistance to each individual affected to save that affected individual from danger caused by the marine casualty" ...The failure to do so can result in 2 years in jail and a $1000 fine. Make sense? While probably uncommon, someone could be fined/jailed if they don't render assistance to you.
-You know that big rock with the old prison out there? They put it there for a reason: it's hard to get from there back to land.
-Why jump *off* the bridge if you can just kite *under* the bridge and achieve the same outcome?
-I bet you are going out again with that same wetsuit that's too thin for Chrissy aren't you?
-Aren't you riding a kite that's being recalled for it's habit to invert?
Don't buy a radio, it will just give you extra guts (and the confidence to make stupid decisions), instead, buy swim fins like some of the Chrissy veterans apparently do. If you aren't ready swim back to ocean beach, the point, or pacifica with those, you aren't ready to go back out.
Remember, CG does not mean water taxi. You are making them get a dispatch to your location -- this means they could be out getting you when someone else needs assistance and now as they pick you up, they find they are just too far out to get there in time.
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