3 rd Avenue Kite Safety

1. Ken Poulton + Rick Cavallero 3rd Avenue Kite Safety

2. 3rd Ave Site-Specific Issue #1 • Never fly a kite over the bike path Never fly a kite over the bike path Never fly a kite over the bike path • Never fly a kite over the bike path • Never fly a kite over the bike path • Never fly a kite over the bike path • Never fly a kite over the bike path

3. Never Fly a Kite Over the Bike Path • This includes the windsurf ramp • Risks injury to the kiter by hitting the riprap • Risks injuring civilians walking or cycling on the path • This could put the whole 3rd Ave site at risk for closure • Instead: • Land your kite in the water 300 feet away from the rocks • Wrap up your lines before you get to the shore • On the bar or in a ball, just don’t let your lines catch on the riprap

4. Landing a Kite • Be careful not to let a non-kiter catch a kite • Most ways of grabbing a kite are wrong and dangerous • Use the hand-on-head signal to ensure that the catcher is a kiter and knows your intent • If you can’t reach the beach, put the kite in the water long before you get to the rocks! • If you need to get back upwind in too-light wind, use the board-retrieval body drag. If you hold your board against your chest, you can go upwind even faster.

5. Launching Your Kite • Make sure the person holding the kite knows what to do • When unsure of conditions, ask for someone to hold you down • Preflight check: • Kite leash attached • Chicken loop attached and secured • 200 feet of space downwind clear of obstacles • Scan for other kites in the air • Wait for a 150-foot clearance • Kites landing have right-of-way • Check that kites lines are not twisted • Kite canopy is filled • Give the thumbs-up signal • Shouts are not clear enough • Once flying, walk into the water ASAP – reduces risk to you and others • Walk around the wet spots (“slip and slide”) • When a launch goes bad, hit the release immediately • You will reduce the chance of injury to both you and the kite

6. Launching Someone Else’s Kite • Don’t do this without instruction! • Do the preflight check: • 200 feet of space downwind clear of obstacles • Scan for other kites in the air • Wait for a 150-foot clearance • Kites landing have right-of-way • Check that kites lines are not twisted • Kite canopy is filled • Insist on the kiter giving the thumbs-up signal • Shouts are not clear enough (did he say “no” or “go” ?) • When a launch goes bad, run to catch the kite again

7. Holding a Kiter at Launch Time • Be ready to hold on or decline to do it • Make your own pre-flight checks: • Kiter has a chicken loop safety release and knows how to use it • 200 feet of space downwind clear of obstacles • Scan for other kites in the air • Wait for a 150-foot clearance • Kites landing have right-of-way • Check that kites lines look right • Hold the kiter down (don’t pull backwards) • You want to hold the kiter’s feet on the ground • Hold on with both hands • You’ll need both hands if the kite goes wild • Walk the kiter around the wet spots (“slip and slide”) • When a launch goes bad, tell the kiter to hit the chicken loop immediately

8. Walking on the Path We need to avoid creating problems for other path users • Walking in the duck pond (when dry) avoids problems • Walk on the downwind edge of the path • Step off the path when pedestrians or cyclists approach • Keep watching for cyclists approaching from behind • No loose bridle lines! • Connect them together or hold them so cyclists can’t snag them

9. Necessary Safety Equipment • Helmet • Rocks and even the ground at launches • Your board • Quick release on chicken loop • Friction releases are lousy, esp pin+rope models • Spring-loaded ones are much easier and more reliable • Practice using this with each hand!! • You don't choose which hand gets wrapped in a line

10. More Safety Equipment • Kite Leash • You can use your release without losing your kite • A loose kite endangers others on the water • Knife • Has to be accessible with either hand • Check for rust!

11. Safety Equipment • Wetsuit • Stuff happens - dress for a breakdown • The water temperature may be comfortable for a short time near shore • But being in the water in the channel WILL cause hypothermia • Death from hypothermia estimated at 16 hours in 60 degF water, even in a full steamer wetsuit! • Unable to function or THINK well at 5 hours • If you ever go to the channel mark, you need a full suit, at least 4/3 mm • Crissy Field and the ocean (and the Bay in early spring) are another 10 degrees colder – you need a 5/3 and booties and a hood • A hood will help keep you a lot warmer – I carry one as a backup

12. Safety Equipment - Signalling • Reflective Tape • A strip on your helmet can make you a lot more visible to a searchlight • Flasher • the way to be seen at dusk or dark • $30 at West Marine • Submersible VHF Marine radio • the way to call for help if no one else sees you (Channel 16) • Coast Guard can locate directly on this signal as well as talk • ~$200 at West Marine • Get an alkaline battery version, not rechargeable • Use a waterproof pouch (found at REI) • Cell phone • Only indirect contact with Coast Guard units • Will die if your waterproof bag fails ($100-$200 to replace) + Much better than nothing! Program this number: Coast Guard Emergency 415-556-2103

13. Optional Equipment • PFD/Impact Vest • May save a rib bruising • A Board Leash is a risk • Use a helmet

14. Buddy System: 3 Versions Best: Kite with a buddy • Keep each other in sight at all times Next Best: Make sure someone at the launch site knows you are out and will wait for you until you return Adequate: Make sure someone somewhere knows when and where you went kiting and will call the Coast Guard if you don’t return by sunset. • Can be a message on their machine if they are sure to see it before night.

15. Kite Down in the Water • Keep trying to relaunch – it often takes a while • Try different ways • Wait for a puff of wind • When you can’t relaunch, pull to your kite and roll up your lines • Loose lines wrap around your feet – many people have been hogtied in their lines while still attached to their kite • Keep your kite inflated for flotation and visibility and power • Self rescue • A kite lying on its side can pull you about 45 degrees from straight downwind • Hold both wings of the kite and point the top of the kite towards shore. Shift your grab point around to just fill the kite canopy for best speed and angle • If the wind is too offshore for kite-drawn self-rescue, you must choose between • Wait for a rescue – hold onto your kite for flotation and visibility. As long as there is light, it makes a good distress signal. • Swim to shore - abandon the kite to allow you to swim faster.

16. Weather Conditions at 3rd • Common pattern: wind gets lighter and slightly offshore late in the afternoon • Your kite can still drag you back to shore • Occasional pattern: wind goes very offshore, even if there is normal wind in the channel • Don’t launch in SW wind conditions • If caught in this, you may have to roll up your kite and swim, or even abandon it

17. Attitude • We have a great community at 3rd Ave. A major part of that is based on helping each other out. • Offer help when you see the need • When you see something unsafe, approach the person and offer your advice in a friendly manner • When you’re unsure of what you’re doing, ask for help or advice • When someone asks for help, say yes! • Keep On Shreddin’!

18. Resources • Weather, discussion, site information: • poulton.net/windsurf • Iwindsurf.com