Kite Rescue in Dieppe 2016

[DaveM]

Looks like it was willibob and his flock of birds.

An explanation of what happened by Andrew Beattie AKA gaffer

"This is fairly cool but I need to explain. The guy in the red jacket was flying a"flock" of bird kites.
A single main line with many smaller lines tied along it, each one of which was connecter to a single bird,
giving the appearance of a flock. The main line was cut and the whole lot went off into the drink in the off-shore wind.
A couple of the kites at the bottom caught in the water, providing enough drag to keep the rest of the kites flying.
Quickly, the flier dashed to the Columbian tent where he recruited some fighter kite fliers for assistance.
Before they had even reached the water, the fighter flyer had manoeuvred his kite out amongst the flock.
By repeatedly spinning the fighter round one of the birds, he snared it and was able to bring the entire flock back to the beach."

[willibob]

Thanks Dave for posting the video I was going to ask you to post it for me I couldn't get it to transfer
Yes the crows were unfortunately cut from the sky about ten foot from their anchor. I was chatting to a fellow kiter when an Indian fighter drifted by us only feet from the ground when my colleague said I think that !*"^! cut your line. At that instant I noticed my line marker tumbling to the ground and the crows floating away towards the sea. I immediately gave chase but they were already in the water five in the water and five flying high dragging the rest out to sea.
Having the fighter competition guys behind us around the arena I ran back up the beach while Sandra stayed at the waters edge I hoped that the Indian guy's I had been talking to earlier were still there and could help. They were not but the Brazilian team were, so I approached one of them for help to retrieve my crows which were now well away from the shore, we had a language problem but that was soon resolved as others in the team were fluent in English and the rescue was on its way.
While the one flying retrieved his head stick Brazilian fighter another ran for some stronger line while another changed the line. With all six in tow one feeding the line off the drum for the flyer by the time we got back to the beach the rescue kite was already 2-3 hundred metre's away and almost on to the crows. At that point I knew my beloved crows were coming back and the rescue kite was manoeuvred into position wrapping around the lines The team then slowly pulled the kites back to shore and very kindly untangled the birds nest of lines and sea weed. After 30 mins all ten crows were aloft. I will always be grateful to my new found friends of the Brazilian fighter competition team they were magnificent and took the top 2 positions in the competition the existing world champ finishing second on the day.

[John N june]

I was a bit surprised you did not strip off and dive in swim out and pulled them back when they were so close to shore.

[norfolkdick]

Sept 21, 2016 8:14:39 GMT willibob said:

Thanks Dave for posting the video I was going to ask you to post it for me I couldn't get it to transfer
Yes the crows were unfortunately cut from the sky about ten foot from their anchor. I was chatting to a fellow kiter when an Indian fighter drifted by us only feet from the ground when my colleague said I think that !*"^! cut your line. At that instant I noticed my line marker tumbling to the ground and the crows floating away towards the sea. I immediately gave chase but they were already in the water five in the water and five flying high dragging the rest out to sea.
Having the fighter competition guys behind us around the arena I ran back up the beach while Sandra stayed at the waters edge I hoped that the Indian guy's I had been talking to earlier were still there and could help. They were not but the Brazilian team were, so I approached one of them for help to retrieve my crows which were now well away from the shore, we had a language problem but that was soon resolved as others in the team were fluent in English and the rescue was on its way.
While the one flying retrieved his head stick Brazilian fighter another ran for some stronger line while another changed the line. With all six in tow one feeding the line off the drum for the flyer by the time we got back to the beach the rescue kite was already 2-3 hundred metre's away and almost on to the crows. At that point I knew my beloved crows were coming back and the rescue kite was manoeuvred into position wrapping around the lines The team then slowly pulled the kites back to shore and very kindly untangled the birds nest of lines and sea weed. After 30 mins all ten crows were aloft. I will always be grateful to my new found friends of the Brazilian fighter competition team they were magnificent and took the top 2 positions in the competition the existing world champ finishing second on the day.

Greetings Ernie

Are you sure the problem was not that bird of prey at the top, the flock was so frightened they just flew out to sea to escape!

Regards
Dick.