Charles Didcott >> C4 downwinder from Kommetjie to Scarborough

The wind was North West and 25-plus knots. The day had started very grey and rainy but things cleared up enough by about 9am. It was important to launch on the high tide at the Kom or the kelp makes it impossible. The tide was still high enough so Patrice, Marten, Andre and Adriaan rigged up on the grass at the "Kom".

The wind was gusty and all over the place at the launch site. This made for a rather hairy start. Adriaan said he felt very uncomfortable walking over the slippery rocks to the water, with his kite behaving like it could not make up its mind whether to loft him or fall out of the sky.

Everyone made it out without mishap though. Made quite a cool sight the four C4s heading out the Kom past the old lighthouse. Got a few good scenic shots there. Andre loves kiting "Outer Kom" and made it look like familiar territory by hooking into a few bombs. The other guys were also having fun until Marten got eaten on a wave and his kite came down in the kelp. He somehow managed to disentangle his lines and get the kite back up though. Unfortunately this resulted in his being washed up on the rocks and slicing his foot just enough to leave a steady flow of blood in his wake. Every now and then one of the guys, a wave and the lighthouse, all co-operated, lining up nicely for the camera.

Adriaan was on a 7m C4 and after his session at the "Outer Kom" decided he was too overpowered to do the whole downwinder to Scarborough. He came in just south of the lighthouse, still with a big smile on his face, though. Marten and Patrice were on 5m C4s. Andre was handling a 7m with his extra weight and riding a twin-tip. While I went to collect Adriaan they kept going, hitting all the solid surf off Soetwater, Crayfish Factory and Witsands. The sets coming through off Misty Cliffs were very intimidating from where I was sitting, safely in my car.

By the time they made it in at Scarborough, roughly two hours since the start, the wind had become very strong and the guys were, aside from being completely stoked, pretty happy to get back on land. Lots of stories and laughter on the drive back home.

Regards,
Charles