Berkeley kiter on the rocks?

[windoggi]

Saw a multi firetruck action on the frontage road in Berkeley today. We could see a red and blue kite on the rocks and not much else. Any news?

[kevinkan]

a kiter was swimming in w/ his kite, and some beach goer must have called it in. I think there were four fire trucks and one ambulance. I was driving on the frontage road on my way to Candlestick when it happened, and I got stuck a few cars from the "action". There was a fire and rescue guy decked out in a wetsuit, flippers, and helmet ready to jump in the water when the kiter gave him a thumbs up... he was probably 20-30 feet offshore.

move along... nothing to see here.

[beallmd]

We had a similar episode a year or two ago at Washoe Muddle Puddle. A kiter swam across the lake from the offshore side where they used to give lessons. Someone saw the guy swimming his kite and called it in. All the fire and rescue folks came out with various equipment and a boat. When it was obvious everything was fine they did a training exercise, as long as they were all there-I guess.
Glad all was well-these used to have very bad endings-things have gotten safer luckily.

[andydavis]

I had one that didn't end so well for the rescuer last year. I'd launched from the north side of the Emeryville breakwater. The wind is really blocked there when it blows SW and I had to swim the board back. About 100 yards from the ramp, I noticed this old man and his two old brides yelling something at me from the pier. As I got closer I heard them, "Are you all right?". I waved and gave them the thumbs up. I got back, standing knee deep on the narrow, slippery, concrete ramp, thinking how to maneuver the sail without touching it to the rip-rap, when I noticed the old man (well, my age) coming down the ramp.

"Sir, sir -- don't come down here! Sir, go back...it's too slippery and you're too old!". Sure enough, he slips, falls on his ass, rips his cream colored golf jacket, bloodies his arm, gets green slime on his pants, and maybe hits his head. Now he's lying there, stunned, and right in my way.

Anyhow, then I had to lay my rig down on the rocks and drag his sorry ass up to his sister brides. Just as I was about to drive off, he (having recovered somewhat) came over and yelled some stuff at me, like how I made him fall, etc.

so...what lessons should I have learned from that?

[tomg]

Looks like a typical case of wounded pride. made him look like an idiot so of course you are at fault! I use the E'ville launch quite a bit myself. I've learned to ignore the locals -just smile and tell em how cold the water is. They be nothing but trouble!

Tomg