New to Perth and have messed up my last two self launches (dog beach south of Scarborough) - have not had to self launch for about a year.

what I did:
Roll my lines out downwind so bar is downwind of kite
wind was 25 knots so put some sand on one side (panel in from wingtip)
Kite is stationary while i walk down to pick up bar

Problem
When i pick up the bar and start walking around to the side for launch the kite is getting blown downwind too much making for an ugly launch

Have not had this issue on the northern QLD beaches I am used too.
Is it best to roll lines out into the wind so bar is upwind of kite? Or do I need more sand?
Will sus it out soon but any tips would be appreciated

Cheers
Dan

The only way I can roll my lines out without getting tangle is into the wind.. it is still a mystery to me how people manage to do it the other way around.
Rather than using sand, you could as well just drag the kite into the wind. If it is going downwind suddenly, push the bar out and change the steering input.

There are some examples:
www.kite-skills.com/index.php?option=com_seyret&catid=6&Itemid=53

If you are looking for a more sensible way to self-launch, this technique might do it as well:

Everything you are doing is fine until you get to the launch.
Rig the bar downwind (upside down), and check the line for tangles.
Put sand in the centre section, nearest to the side you will launch from, having sand in the wing tip sections, esp. over 20 knts can make the kite blow rather than rotate.
Hook in, turn bar over (i.e correct way) walk round so you're at about 90 degrees to kite.
Tension up lines, and pull the line for the wing tip furthest away from you firmly, this will help rotate the kite into the wind.
As the kite starts to rotate the furthest away wing tip will start to fill up as it rotates, walk back to keep tension in the lines.
As the kite starts to tip up (water re-launch position), take 1/2 step towards the kite so it doesnt power up and launch unexpectedly.
In your own time steer the kite off the sand as you would if it was on water.
If you having other problems, i normally kite at pinnas, PM me and i'll help you out.

I always fold the wing tip over and put heaps of sand on it.

That way it's not going anywhere, until you want it to.

Then I do everything as above ^^^, expect with all that sand on the low wing tip, you need to give those line an extra tweak to flip the wing tip, dump the sand and up she goes.

It's always nerve wracking self launching when it's been awhile. But self landing worries me even more!!!

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Ben De Jonge said...

I always fold the wing tip over and put heaps of sand on it.
That way it's not going anywhere, until you want it to.

Then I do everything as above ^^^, expect with all that sand on the low wing tip, you need to give those line an extra tweak to flip the wing tip, dump the sand and up she goes.

It's always nerve wracking self launching when it's been awhile. But self landing worries me even more!!!

That's how I used to self-launch C kites but not sure if that is the GO for bows/hybrids??

On my bows I have been doing something similar to todds method and as long as I have the trim strap set conservatively I haven't had any dramas. Having said that i always wait a few mins to get an assisted launch instead of self launching if there are kiters around.

Agree on the self landing - bit sketchy in winds over 25kts!


BTW I set up downwind (as I was instructed to do in lessons years ago) and it seems most peeps around here do but I reckon setting upwind probably makes more sense. Hard to break the habit and rigging @rse up with lead to lack of kiting time.

if you try and launch the kite at 90 degrees to the wind the kite will slide downwind a bit before it will launch. It is best to try and self launch slightly downwind(say 15 degrees) and the kite will whip straight up.

Also setting up with your lines downwind of the kite helps eliminate tangle issues as you can hold the bar up with lines taught, and do a visual check on connections.

i thikn you mean walk slightly upwind of the kite @ 90degrees the kite will slide downwind.

so walk slightly upwind to eliminate the slide

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exarch said...

i thikn you mean walk slightly upwind of the kite @ 90degrees the kite will slide downwind.

so walk slightly upwind to eliminate the slide

I mean't exactly what I said. Try and launch (the kite, what else did you think I meant) slightly down wind. What you said is just symantics!

I launch about 45 degrees to the wind at the start and walk in an arc downwind keeping tension in the lines as the kite begins to rollover. this makes for a safe and controlled launch found if the kite is sitting too far back when it rolls over it gives you a hotter launch. not the best idea in higher winds or a weedy beach.

GetFunky - I have Flexifoil Ion2 and Atom and it works fine on both of them, bridled kites, so Hybrids I guess.

Cheers Ben. Haven't seen any bow kiters do that myself but obviously it works.

You are meant to put the kite down tailing edge into the wind with the side of the kite you see when its in the air facing up, you gotta put sand on it so it won't blow away. Then all you have to do is pull in your stopper (or it wont work properly) and run backwards (upwind) as fast as you can. Works a treat everytime.

Funky ... you can use the fold the wing tip heaps of sand on Bow kites. Emphasis on heaps of sand. Certainly not my preferred method. i pump my kites fairly hard and the folded bow kite wing tip needs a heap of sand to hold it while you get ready to launch.
I use 4 different techniques depending on where I am. Nice clean sand no shells then I use the first techniquie mentioned. ****ty beach lots of rubbish, fold the wing tip as the kite doesn't blow around the beach you can get the kite to stay in 1 place, and in light winds reverse lauch as per the Lenton video. I also use the connect the chicken loop on tow bar, sign post or tree or something..... stand the kite on its tip and walk back hook in and up she goes method. This last method doesn't work for all kites (the more delta shape the kite the less likely this method will work )as some kites don't sit to well on the wing tip they tend to fall foward.
Self landing these days I just use the quick release in anything over 20 knots. Drop the kite in the water first then quick release, can't go wrong. The last time I used the beach front edge down technique I ended up with a shell cut right through the leading edge, on my home beach too. The real pizz off was I only came in to help a guy who was standing on the beach wanting to land there was no one on shore to help him and he had been there a while and obviously didn't know how to self land. Our beach can be pretty treacherous lauching and landing as there is very little room and we get some very unpredictable things happen off a fairly high enbankment. So i came in self landed, caught his kite. Looked back at my now deflated kite (only second time out of the bag too) ....****!!..end of session. Not worth the pain.

^^^^ how dose ya lines look after doing a quick realse . Mine turn into s**t after i QR no stopper ball . Is there a stopper ball you can buy to stop handel from ending up at the kite with lines in a buch of knots .

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suface2air said...

^^^^ how dose ya lines look after doing a quick realse . Mine turn into s**t after i QR no stopper ball . Is there a stopper ball you can buy to stop handel from ending up at the kite with lines in a buch of knots .

Get a set of Ozone lines. They come with a stopper ball.

Jesus.... go get a lesson

I didn't know Jesus kited? Bet Buddha does zen stylie kiteloops.


Some great tips on launching/landing above.. embarrassed I didn't know bows could be self-launched wing tip folded. I had always assumed the bridle/tangles etc could be a drama.

Nth metro Perf beaches are generally free of debris enough to slide the kite around a bit but I might try the folded wing tip in winter if there is heaps of weed onshore. Only if no-one else is around obviously.

Cheers.