Safety is our number one priority

• 12 rescue boats - some will accompany kiters, others will be based at gates.
• Personal tracking devices
• Gate system keeping you reasonable close to the shore - you must go through the gates
• Group riding (10 riders) with 2 experienced Team Leaders (carrying VHF radios and kitesurfing with your group)
• Water Police and Coast Guard on-call for emergency
• Westpac Rescue Helicopter on-call for emergency
• Event plan submitted to all relevant authorities
• Training program for all participants, noting that all participants must be experienced kitesurfers

• Winding kite lines in (making sure to allow at least 1.5m slack for the rear lines)
• Flip the kite over so it is upside down (wingtips pointing skyward)
• Sailing the kite in using a wing tip of the kite
• After you have wound your lines in you can detach your leash from the bar and use it to secure your board by looping it through a footstrap

• Keep good board and kite speed to keep apparent wind across the kite
• Keep edging the board a little and pull the bar in further to power the kite and keep your speed up
• Sine the kite (as you do in lower wind conditions) to generate more power and more apparent wind
• Use giant slalom turns from heelside to toeside to vary your stance and the muscle groups you are using - this will help you avoid cramps
• Use different tacks and stances. Turn from heelside to toeside then track toeside for a while, then turn from toeside back to heelside
• Use downloops to keep going if the wind drops off.

• Stay out to sea so you have a better safety margin away from hard objects.
• Trim your kite to maximum depower setting
• Keep your kite low if a squall hits. Worst case you get dragged sideways, but this is much better than being lofted.  Do not park your kite at 12!
• Ride with one hand on your safety so you can release the kite to the safety line quickly if you need to.
• If you are getting dragged and there is danger, release your bar and deploy your safety #1.  
• If you are still getting dragged too fast or risk being lofted, release your leash and the kite with it (safety #2)

Equipment for kitesurfers

Rules for participants

• Kiters will travel in allocated groups (up to 10 kiters) based on their skills and ability.  Groups will depart at different times and travel independently.
• If you lose contact with your group the crossing director or Team Leader may advise rescue boats and emergency services (Coast Guard and Water Police) that you are out of the event
• Kiters are not to join other groups until Ricketts Point - stay in your designated group
• Kiters groups must stick together - if one kiter stops, the group should stop with them until situation is resolved
• Each group will have two Team Leaders, each will carry VHF radios and lead the group
• Gate system - all kiters will travel through designated gates that will be provided by Yacht Clubs along the course
• Crossing Director has full control and authority - any decision they make is final
• Boat skippers may make decisions to pick up kitesurfers.  Any decisions they make are final.
• Lead boat will in front of all kitesurfers.  Do not go far past this boat. 
• Avoid kitesurfing just behind or too close to boats.  Its best to kite where the skipper can see you easily, off to the side and just in front, or well to the rear.
• Avoid shipping channel - it should not be crossed
• Rear boat will stay behind all kitesurfers.
• Only activate an EPIRB (if you have one) if there is grave or imminent threat of danger.

Route map

Signals

Rescue by boat   

• 2015 ATB Program and Kiters
• Across The Bay to Conquer Cancer
• Event & Training sessions - Across The Bay to Conquer Cancer 
• Kitesurfing across the bay from Rosebud to Port Melbourne - Peter's kitesurfing blog