Just wondering why the Euro I talked to last night decided launching at 6:55pm was a good idea at Pinnaroo? Chatted to him and it was his second or third time out (ever). Saved his kite when he started off, cleary was a learner. Was last seen heading north with his Euro mate. Probably not the smartest idea?? Got to use your head guys. He may have been fine, but why risk another rescue situation and put other kiters privledges at risk.
1. 6:55pm is nowhere near pitch dark.
2. If he is a learner it is very difficult to get some (flatwater) space to yourself and this is the best time to do a few stress free tacks and learn to go upwind.
3. Pinnas is full of beginners and schools and he was most likely seizing a very rare opportunity to have the place all to himself.
4.You are whinging. Go to England where the whingers belong.
night kiting is sweet if you have the location to support it.
kite by feel not sight.
To bring it all back to a constructive post if possible, when easterly patterns are on the radar, launching at sunset can be dangerous as thie wind can turn in an instant and or reduce to near nothing until the easterly picks up momentum. If south west pattern no probs, although as a beginner you,d wanna make sure someone is around. Remember 10 years ago early on in the piece has someone talk me through a difficult relaunch a fair way out when this wind change/ drop occurred. Without him I would have been farqed.
not quite at sunset, but i had an occurance last season when the wind just dissapeared and switched offshore, if i had been further out would have been in serious trouble (channel busting) and heading into the shipping lanes. saying that some sunset sessions are magical when it switch's off, cleans up the waves a treat, i'd risk it for some clean waves 
Some of my fave sessions ever were at sunset, but not as a newb, and always with mates, and having wind shift and sharks always in mind... get out quickly as soon as the wind stops being predicable 
We all take risks at times. As long as we don't risk others, or rely on "big brother" to save us, I don't see the problem. Getting out of trouble is learning accelerated...
