Our eye caught a message from Rescue brigade post Rockanje. Yesterday, February 20, 2021, 31 kite surfers were rescued from the water. The number on one day is extreme and according to Rockanje Rescue Brigade normal enough for a year of rescues.
First of all, we can be happy and grateful that no serious accidents seem to have happened. Also with the Lifeguards from Rockanje, because they responded and acted very adequately.
Kite surfers, think carefully
The beautiful spring day with good wind attracted kite surfers to flock to the coast. However, there are hardly any suitable kite surfing locations suitable for the wind this day, south-south-east in the Netherlands. With a water temperature of about 4 degrees, the question is in any case whether it is wise to go out on the water. If you do this then, you do this under very strict conditions. Yesterday the wind blew on many beaches parallel to the shore (side shore) or even diagonally offshore (side off-shore). Landing diagonally is a no-go anyway. Parallel along the side also with this water temperature. Unless you stay very close to the side and can preferably stand there. We were at Maasvlakte Slufter ourselves. View the photo series. The second Maasvlakte beckoned, but we deliberately chose not to opt for safety reasons. The wind there was side shore to side off shore.
Judge 31 kite surfers
Kite surfers saved Rockanje. We are not judging because the wind direction yesterday seemed quite good for kite surfing for Rockanje. It is also shallow to fairly far out of the side so that you can stand there. We read reports about the temporary spontaneous disappearance of the wind in combination with current and inexperience. The disappearance of the wind can always happen but was not predicted and Rockanje is also not known for strong currents. Then there is still inexperience, sometimes stupidity and bad luck.
Direct responses and tips
- Make sure that if your kite falls from the sky or whatever, you are always pulled to the side because the wind carries your kite there. Always observe this rule. During cold winter months this is even more important and therefore you stay even closer to the shore, if you were to go all the water.
- In addition, make sure that you can restart your kite independently in deep water. Practice this, if necessary in water where you can stand where you lie down. Because according to bystanders, there was enough wind in the afternoon and a number of kite surfers were unable to restart their kite independently.
More reactions from kite surfers who had to be picked up or have seen what happened are very welcome. We hope to be able to learn from it, because with this kind of numbers there is a drama lurking and nobody is waiting for that.
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I myself helped 4 body wear to the side. Little effort and a huge difference for brigade and kiter.
If there were 35 inexperienced or broken down. Then there were 100 experienced who could easily have done the above.
Anyone can be unlucky and inexperienced is only experienced when practicing. Great day, but kitesurf community the Netherlands can just help each other more.
Thank you Tom. Indeed, helping each other is not as natural as we would like and expect. Even though it is sometimes so cozy on the shore and on the water. I would say continue to lead by example.
I was sailing in Rockanje myself, underpowered with a 9 and was still able to sail just fine. I think the ones who were endangered are also inexperienced kiters who cannot get the kite up in the air with slightly lesser conditions. I must also say that people were saved quite quickly. But better save than sorry we say.
Hi Arne, thank you. I also understand that kite surfers are taken out of the water by default at a certain point if they could not restart independently for about 5 minutes. I think that the Lifeguards of Rescue Brigade Rockanje acted very adequately in this situation. In this way they also kept it clear and indeed 'better safe than sorry'.
With a south wind you can always safely take a few knots off the forecasts. and a lot of inexperienced kiters who can't restart but go out to sea. schools should pay much more attention to this instead of “sailing guarantee”.
Yes, a current in the back can be disastrous with that wind and a kite in the water. Totally agree with your comment about the schools. When I help people I also focus too much on sailing fast, so certainly good feedback. Are we going to do something with it?
Good coverage of the sudden situation at Rockanje.
Indeed, we are not waiting for dramas while practicing our beautiful sport….