Swiss Nationals kite-surf out of Dhanushkodi to Thalaimannar

As you sit in the sands of Marina beach, you can watch waves trying to get on to the land, retrace and come again….the water brings sea shells and more…. you can see fishing boats and some ships out in the middle…….. OSM Arena has been stranded [anchored in outer anchorage !] for months without movement now…. Chennai and for that matter Indian shores are not places for water sports …

Sébastien Cattelan was the first to break the 50 knots barrier by reaching 50.26 knots in Oct 2008.  later it was broken… there reportedly are at least 3 who have broken the 50 knots barrier.  In Oct 2010 Rob Douglas became the outright record holder for the short distance 500 meters with 55.65 knots.Sébastien Cattelan  reclaimed the title.  Just as we measure distances on land by Mile or Kilo meter, it is Nautical mile at sea – while NM is the distance, Knot is the unit of measure for speed.  When we say 10 knots, it is speed of 10 nautical miles per hour. A Nautical mile is 1.852 km approx.

In many countries, ‘Kitesurfing or kiteboarding’ is an enjoyable sport attracting many.  A kitesurfer or kiteboarder harnesses the power of the wind with a large controllable power kite to be propelled across the water on a kiteboard.  Kitesurfing is a fusion of some of the most exciting and challenging water sports, taking components of paragliding, surfing, windsurfing and wakeboarding before sprinkling some acrobatics and gymnastics on top for good measure. There are different styles of kiteboarding, including freestyle, freeride, downwinders, speed, course racing, wakestyle, jumping and wave-riding. There are millions of kite-surfers across the globe. 

In the 1800s, George Pocock used kites of increased size to propel carts on land and ships on the water, using a four-line control system; both carts and boats were able to turn and sail upwind. The kites could be flown for sustained periods.  The intention was to establish kitepower as an alternative to horsepower, partly to avoid the hated "horse tax" that was levied at that time.  Towards the end of the last century, kite-surfing as a water sport has developed in a big way.  Bill Roeseler, a Boeing aerodynamicist, and his son Cory Roeseler patented the "KiteSki" system which consisted of water skis powered by a two line delta style kite controlled via a bar mounted combined winch/brake.

Down South in India, 4 Swiss nationals who visited Dhanushkodi for kitesurfing appear to have landed in trouble as they surfed all the way to Thalaimannar. Today’s Hindu reports quoting sources in Intelligence Bureau state that the four foreigners who arrived at Rameswaram from Chennai by train on May 27, left for Danushkodi the same day for kitesurfing after checking into a hotel. After checking out the next day, they went for kitesurfing again, but did not return, the sources said. Neither the local police nor other security agencies in Rameswaram island were aware of their arrival or their activities in Danushkodi as the hotel authorities failed to get the ‘C Form’ filled in by the foreign nationals, giving details of their passports and visas, the sources said.

A Foreign National arriving or leaving out of the country – not through a custom port is serious breach of security.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

4^th July 2013.