Downwinder lesson
A downwinder can be an exhilarating adventure and a pleasant change of scenery. The ocean is like a playground. The water and landscape change constantly and add excitement. Breaking waves, rolling waves, chop, flat water, currents, bays and inlets, sand bars, turtles, dolphins as well as any number of other surprises can all add to the fun. A safe downwinder takes planning to execute. Many preparations should be made.
Logistics
The forecast for both wind and weather must be reviewed considering the time and tide for leaving as well as expected arrived time. Prepare for sunset, storms and temperature changes.
Once you’ve determined it is safe to go, a vehicle large enough to transport all kiters and wet gear is typically dropped at the end location enabling a convenient return. Select your end location wisely. Is there a safe place to land your kites? Do you have a way to warm up?
Think about how and where you will land your kites. At least one rider has to be skilled at self landing and/or assisting other kiters while flying their own kite. These are advanced techniques and should be practiced often.
Notify friends, loved ones and/or other kiters of your plan to do a downwinder and inform them of your intended destination and time of departure.
It’s a good idea to bring a phone in a water proof bag. Bring some cash just in case you need to call a taxi if something goes wrong before you arrive at the destination.
Once you’ve determined it is safe to go, a vehicle large enough to transport all kiters and wet gear is typically dropped at the end location enabling a convenient return. Select your end location wisely. Is there a safe place to land your kites? Do you have a way to warm up?
Think about how and where you will land your kites. At least one rider has to be skilled at self landing and/or assisting other kiters while flying their own kite. These are advanced techniques and should be practiced often.
Notify friends, loved ones and/or other kiters of your plan to do a downwinder and inform them of your intended destination and time of departure.
It’s a good idea to bring a phone in a water proof bag. Bring some cash just in case you need to call a taxi if something goes wrong before you arrive at the destination.
Personal Preparations
Check your gear well for damage and potential problems. The down wind out changes so there isn’t always a safe place to land your kite or even yourself.
Is there a knife in your harness and is it in good functioning order? Do you know how to assist a kiter in a death spiral?
Better to be over powered than under powered. The wind feels lighter when you move in the same direction it is blowing. Choose your kite carefully.
Know how to perform a self rescue in case something goes wrong. Be able to sail on your kite in case a line breaks or the wind suddenly increases to a dangerous level.
Because going back is typically more strenuous than finishing, make sure you have the endurance and skill to complete the challenge. Do this by kiting often and keeping a mental note of how long your sessions are as well as what conditions you were working with.
Is there a knife in your harness and is it in good functioning order? Do you know how to assist a kiter in a death spiral?
Better to be over powered than under powered. The wind feels lighter when you move in the same direction it is blowing. Choose your kite carefully.
Know how to perform a self rescue in case something goes wrong. Be able to sail on your kite in case a line breaks or the wind suddenly increases to a dangerous level.
Because going back is typically more strenuous than finishing, make sure you have the endurance and skill to complete the challenge. Do this by kiting often and keeping a mental note of how long your sessions are as well as what conditions you were working with.
Required skills
Pinch your strut valves closed so that if your leading edge fails, you can still use your kite as floatation. The inflated struts also aid in rolling the kite up if necessary keeping loose lines tucked safely away from you.
There is typically less wind near shore so plan ahead and enjoy the rare opportunity play in the open space away from shore. Obstacles on shore often obstruct the wind flow causing it to build up and slow down in front of a barrier near shore. Watch for wind shadows as the terrain changes. Think ahead and compare the wind direction and the landscape. Plan ahead.
Learn and be skilled at a light wind power stroke. Know how to kite loop in case the wind speed drops too low. Some kites fly better in light wind when the kite is trimmed slightly with using depower line. Some kites have power setting options that can be adjusted based on the conditions. Know your kite.
How to handle increase in wind:
Know how to flip your kite over when the trailing edge is in the water by pulling hard on the center lines above the bar.
When kite lines become inverted, some lines are easy to reverse and some can’t be safely uninverted from deep water. Kites can be flown with inverted lines. It is beneficial to know which kite you’re flying and how you will handle the situation should it arise.
Everyone on the trip should be skilled at both body drag and board drag, however, fatigue or injury can cause a rider who can normally body drag up wind to find themselves unable to recover their own board. It’s helpful to have practiced the skill of retrieving a board and placing it downwind for another rider. A group on a downwinder is a team. Everyone stays together and assists each other when necessary.
When you are in waves and your kite goes down, use the butterfly stroke to swim backwards and toward the edge of the wind window. While one wave swallows your kite, the next wave is going to push you forward into your lines unless you begin moving yourself away from the kite. Moving yourself toward the edge of the wind window prepares you for a faster water relaunch. Swimming on your back, like with a butterfly stroke, positions your feet near the surface of the water away from your lines and enables you to see your kite as well as any waves as they approach.
There is typically less wind near shore so plan ahead and enjoy the rare opportunity play in the open space away from shore. Obstacles on shore often obstruct the wind flow causing it to build up and slow down in front of a barrier near shore. Watch for wind shadows as the terrain changes. Think ahead and compare the wind direction and the landscape. Plan ahead.
Learn and be skilled at a light wind power stroke. Know how to kite loop in case the wind speed drops too low. Some kites fly better in light wind when the kite is trimmed slightly with using depower line. Some kites have power setting options that can be adjusted based on the conditions. Know your kite.
How to handle increase in wind:
- Depower kite and rest at 12 oclock.
- Lower kite to the water in the direction of safety and wait for the wind to settle down.
- If you get lofted, let go of the board before landing so that you just drop into the water feet first. There is often no wind after a gust so you go down fast. Sheet the bar in just before landing if possible.
Know how to flip your kite over when the trailing edge is in the water by pulling hard on the center lines above the bar.
When kite lines become inverted, some lines are easy to reverse and some can’t be safely uninverted from deep water. Kites can be flown with inverted lines. It is beneficial to know which kite you’re flying and how you will handle the situation should it arise.
Everyone on the trip should be skilled at both body drag and board drag, however, fatigue or injury can cause a rider who can normally body drag up wind to find themselves unable to recover their own board. It’s helpful to have practiced the skill of retrieving a board and placing it downwind for another rider. A group on a downwinder is a team. Everyone stays together and assists each other when necessary.
When you are in waves and your kite goes down, use the butterfly stroke to swim backwards and toward the edge of the wind window. While one wave swallows your kite, the next wave is going to push you forward into your lines unless you begin moving yourself away from the kite. Moving yourself toward the edge of the wind window prepares you for a faster water relaunch. Swimming on your back, like with a butterfly stroke, positions your feet near the surface of the water away from your lines and enables you to see your kite as well as any waves as they approach.
Final Thoughts
If you were headed out to sea alone for any reason, swimming back is probably not going to work out so it is best to not ditch your kite. Keep your kite flying if possible and keep it inflated if possible. This is the easiest way to be spotted and rescued. Save your energy. Stay calm.
If you ever do get separated from your kite, notify the coast guard as soon as possible so that when the kite is recovered, they won’t send out a search party. Maybe they’ll even give you the kite back. Keep the local phone number in your phone.
Apple watches can send and receive a signal or call from the ocean. Not something you want to rely on, but good to know.
Be safe and have fun. Common sense is your best friend. With kiting, as well as with life, what you know is important. The problems often arise from what you don’t know that you don’t know.
If you ever do get separated from your kite, notify the coast guard as soon as possible so that when the kite is recovered, they won’t send out a search party. Maybe they’ll even give you the kite back. Keep the local phone number in your phone.
Apple watches can send and receive a signal or call from the ocean. Not something you want to rely on, but good to know.
Be safe and have fun. Common sense is your best friend. With kiting, as well as with life, what you know is important. The problems often arise from what you don’t know that you don’t know.
