The wind is from the north about 15 kt. It’s a sunny day, so kiters are kiting, sailors are sailing and we’re returning to Shilshole after an afternoon cruise to Poulsbo on ‘Bout Time.
My wife and I had to wait at the marina north entrance for several sailboats leaving the marina under sail, tacking into the wind. Finally, we managed to motor into the launch area between groups of sailboats coming out.
Now to make the pier. But wait, the boat isn’t handling right – it almost seems to do the opposite of what I want. Engine is running OK, steering feels fine, but something is definitely not right.
After a less-than-perfect approach to the pier, we hear people (mostly from the sailboaters at the up-wind piers) yelling. I can’t make-out what they’re saying, and I don’t see anything unusual after a quick look-around.
Then my wife shouts that there’s a kite string attached to our kicker. Sure enough, a kite with a 6’ wingspan is about 200’ downwind of us and 100’ in the air. The kite string handle is tangled on the kicker.
Pulling on the string, I was able to bring the kite down about 2/3 of the way when the kite owner comes running down the pier. Seems he dropped the kite string and handle on the beach north of the marina. Kite and string sailed south, over the marina breakwater, across a couple of launch area piers (with several sailboats moored) and ended-up tangled to our kicker. I let him bring the kite down the rest of the way, and I freed the handle from the kicker.
So, our boat handling problem was explained – the kite was pulling down-wind on the stern with a force I estimate at 30 pounds. That makes a big difference when you’re trying to approach a pier gracefully.
Moral: Watch out for kites – they’ll attack you when you least expect it.
My wife and I had to wait at the marina north entrance for several sailboats leaving the marina under sail, tacking into the wind. Finally, we managed to motor into the launch area between groups of sailboats coming out.
Now to make the pier. But wait, the boat isn’t handling right – it almost seems to do the opposite of what I want. Engine is running OK, steering feels fine, but something is definitely not right.
After a less-than-perfect approach to the pier, we hear people (mostly from the sailboaters at the up-wind piers) yelling. I can’t make-out what they’re saying, and I don’t see anything unusual after a quick look-around.
Then my wife shouts that there’s a kite string attached to our kicker. Sure enough, a kite with a 6’ wingspan is about 200’ downwind of us and 100’ in the air. The kite string handle is tangled on the kicker.
Pulling on the string, I was able to bring the kite down about 2/3 of the way when the kite owner comes running down the pier. Seems he dropped the kite string and handle on the beach north of the marina. Kite and string sailed south, over the marina breakwater, across a couple of launch area piers (with several sailboats moored) and ended-up tangled to our kicker. I let him bring the kite down the rest of the way, and I freed the handle from the kicker.
So, our boat handling problem was explained – the kite was pulling down-wind on the stern with a force I estimate at 30 pounds. That makes a big difference when you’re trying to approach a pier gracefully.
Moral: Watch out for kites – they’ll attack you when you least expect it.
