, thanks for that
Cant believe there is any negativity on these blokes at all, sounds like they planned a lot better than some would.
Also happy for my portion of the record state revenues (doubled in the last 3 years to something stupid) to be spent on this.
Cant believe guys are knocking them for giving it a red hot go.
You blokes should give up kiting and lock yourself in a closet, because you never know when you can get into trouble.
Pity the sport is going this way.
I am with Wal269 on this.
It is unfortunate that people had to go searching for them but from what I have read they seemed well prepared.
Kitesurfing as a sport is supposed to be about adventure, challenge and fun. These guys have got off thier arse and done a cool mission. Good for them.
Sometimes these forums sound like the 6PR talkback lines. Save the negativity and criticism. Its kitesurfing not knitting.
See you all at Kitestock!
From what I can gather(from ABC interview with Paul) these guys spent a long time walking on tracks and were confident they could find their way back to civilisation. They were not relying on anyone rescuing them until they saw an aircraft which was obviously looking for them and only then did they set off the emergency beacon, so that rescue services would know where they were, know they were safe and not spend any more resources on searching for them.
Good on them!
Shouldn't this thread be in the Lost & Found section?
Good result but unfortunately might get an invoice for the search.
Don't know what all the grief is about. It sounds like a fantastic trip. I would have loved to have done it.
The main problem is the briefing they gave their support crew. They had gear to stay out overnight. The support crew should not have called them in as missing. Perhaps they needed a better way to notify their support crew they were OK.
Perhaps for a serious downwinder like this, registar with the authorities first, with your dedicated EPIRB identifier number. Then if it goes off, they know it's not a false alarm, and would know to come looking.
Full credit to these guys. Well prepared, having testicles big enough to tackle a great trip. I'm jealous. (although obviously not of the testicle size)
I cant believe the number of people sticking up for these guys! sure enough they were well prepared and all, but why not take a boat?
what about the negative media? how irresponsible does this make the whole community look?
Great Support Crew,
Most of the area down there is inacessable with the National Park and 4wd tracks leading everywhere. Mate you'd need someone to even know there area well. I went down to up with some old mate's and half the time they didn't know there way around, and they were licensed fisherman chasing fish schools. Bad idea boys....next time try 20kms intervals. Guranteed to get to your destination or at least hike the rest.
The wind direction could have been why they ran it to trouble. Although the wind was a nice 25 – 30 knts - it was blowing from the south east which is typical for this time of year.
However the angle they would of liked to kited at to go as the crow flies would of been almost directly down wind (not quite but almost) - they therefore would of probably had to put some tacks in which would of drastically increase the amount of distance they needed to cover to make it to Augusta.
If someone could re do a google map with an arrow to indicate the direction of a true south east wind – you will see what I mean. – Perhaps also add on the direction you would have to kite to make in comfortable and this is the path they could of taken.
excellent result that the lads were found safe and sound. shows that awesome planning and a lot of prep goes a long way.
downwinders open up a lot more oppoturnities to explore our our amazing coast line. and the only sad thing is that it wasn't a bigger group of crew with them.
well done to all concerned.
The topic title is retarded.
"Kitesurfers missing Albany".
Really ?
lol.
The town is nice but do they really care ?
The only things they really missed was water, food and shelter.
Quick....
push the EPIRB button.
lol.
Select to expand quotewestozwind said...
An emergency beacon was activated just after 9 o'clock this morning near yeagerup , which is between Augusta and Windy Harbour.
Yeagerup that would be the worst place to end up this kind of year the waves are so big and the wind woldent help.... i go down there every easter with a 4X4 it takes hours to get to the beach. and we were sitting on the beach and we sore about 20 sharks all in a big group and u get a fish real it in and ull only have a head nealy every time so meny sharks
but this time im taking my kite gear down to kite in the river mouth all ways windy... lol
good winds mitch
Uncle Rico said
'ken good on them I say.
Stop being kill joys.
We haven't even heard the full story from the kiters involved yet.
If they were so well prepared, why did their 'support' crew initiate a rescue on the first evening. The very fact that they got rescued, regardless of circumstances, indicates poor preparation in some way. If they were well prepared, they would have had a sat phone or radio so that they could let the authorities know not to bother with any rescue rather than activating an EPIRB. Their support crew would have not worried after their delay because they could contact them and let them know everything was OK, and their families would not have had to worry about them karking it. On a last note, any rescue potentially puts the lives of the rescuers in danger and has a direct cost to the organisations that run the rescue services. Unnecessary rescues do potentially endanger lives and are definately a waste of money that could be better used where really needed. The whole adventure they set out on sounds awsome, but my view is if you are rescued then you have stuffed up somehow and need to reassess how prepared you really were.
Good on 'em. It's only a mistake if you don't learn from it.
Good to see the seabreeze forum do gooders riding in on their high horses.
Would be nice to know what the conditions were that lead them to abandoning the downwinder....
Offshore winds? Light winds? Sh1tty weather...
I make no judgement, as we do not yet know the full story.
Both sides of the "under-prepared, cost of rescue, etc" v "good on them for having a go" debate are valid.
However, I hope those on the "having a go" side were equally supportive of the likes of Tony Bullimore
[This is not a comment on the kiters, just on consistency of opinion]
Thanks to Ray and Lou for their support and the other that seemed they might care if we drifted out to sea never to be found. The rest of you especially Waveslave I sincerely hope your future holds more then you currently have.
I have asked Waveslave not to be so stupid before in here and I re-iterate it again. Get a life mate - and the girls will stop bending their pinky at you !!
Audun and I had planned this trip for some time.
We had made researched ways to walk out using Google Earth (one of which we were walking out on when we were found)
We had food for 36 hours when we were found, water for about 24 hours, dry clothes and a bivsac to keep warm (enough) at night in the event we had to stay overnight.
We alas had a first aid kit - a VHF marine radio, telstra and Vodaphone mobiles and an EPIRB.
We had method to light a fire, a spare bar (complete) 2 pumps, bladder repair and assorted kiting rope to make repairs if needed.
We have done several other trips and each time improved our safety even though we did not have mishaps previously.
We left detailed plans with a friend in Augusta and also my wife so I had a back up back up crew if we did not turn up.
Audun and I have been kiting for more then 5 years in a nearly full time basis - We have kited Perth to Lancelin 5 times and made other larger trips - We made the decision to try something more remote and believed we had the experience and preparations to do so.
I am happy to answer sensible questions to out safety preparations if anyone is curious to ask me.
Was the wind direction to ' in your backs ' to make the down winder comfortable ?
Or was the wind strength strong enough to go pretty much down wind and loop your kites as you went - or where you taking long tacks ?
I am theorising that this could of made the journey difficult ?
