Self-rescue in the lagoon in Paje

The self-rescue is an essential skill for kitesurfing safety and is always included in the full kitesurfing intro course. Trouble can always occur when you are kitesurfing. Either the wind picks up beyond your capacity, or you can experience equipment failure like a broken line or leading edge. If the situation occurs that you need to perform a safety pack down during your session, you don’t have to panic. In fact, it is much better to remain calm. To make sure that you can remain calm, it is important to know what you are doing. We are here to provide you with advice about the Paje Lagoon. 

The spot

Our spot, like every spot, has it’s unique characteristics that you need to be aware of, before your first session. Here’s what to be aware of: 

• Sea urchins. In front of the Kite Centre the sands are as white as can be, but if you end up going downwind too much you can end up in area’s with some sea urchins. You can easily spot them as they are often grouped together and situated in black spots with the seaweed.
• Tides. The tidal changes in Zanzibar can change drastically every day. Transforming the lagoon from a flatwater heaven to wavy and bumpy high tide conditions (which are however perfect for foiling).
• Boats. Watch where the local fisher boats are, there may be a few scattered on the coast line.

The self-rescue

Here’s a quick run through the self-rescue: *

> Release the bar and open the chicken loop (quick release) to depower the kite as much as possible.
> Once the kite is depowered and on the water, regain your bar by going hand over hand along the safety line that’s connected to your leash. Keep in mind not to wrap the line around your hand as you don’t want to loose one of your fingers!
> Secure the safety line onto one side of the bar. You do this by wrapping the safety line around one end of the bar. After that you wind the rest of the lines like normal. Usually on Zanzibar you are able to wind the lines onto the bar end to end. But if you experience difficulties, or the wind is too strong, you can wrap the lines around the bar the same way you did with your safety line.
> Wrap all the lines onto the bar.
> Once you get to your kite, you can pull yourself to the wingtip to flip the kite over. Now you can use the kite to sail back across the wind. The great thing about Zanzibar is that we have side or cross-onshore wind. This will guarantee that you will end back up on the coast, instead of the open Indian Ocean.

If you have been riding with low tide in the shallow lagoon, there is no need to use the kite as a sail, because you can simply pack down the kite and walk back. 

Important*

This article highlights the points to focus on in the lagoon in Paje, Zanzibar for those who already know how to do a self-rescue. If you have never done it before please inform at the Kite Centre for Kitesurfing Lessons before heading out without the proper knowledge and experience!

Enjoy your time on Zanzibar! We are here if you have any questions about kitesurfing. Check the following options for lessons for: Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced or Hydrofoil. We also offer Rental and Storage. For information about accommodation options you can read this blog, or book straight away.