I lost 16 before I bought myself a SAFETY leash.
Never lost one since

One and half.

Years ago (2002). It was a prototype relaunchable ram air foil from the days when safety leashes and stuff had not been perfected.

Put the kite up and decided it was too big for comfort. Brought it down to land and the leash broke. The wind pushed it into the water and we did the chase/tease thing where the bar was just always out of reach.

Being a foil the bar and lines created front line drag so the kite sat up in relaunch position ready to go and proceeded to sail off down the coast.

The wind was cross shore but the gusts were bouncing off the coast and pushing the kite slightly away from the beach.

Run down the beach and out on the reef and just missed it.

Ran back to the car and drove to the next point only to see it had just passed by.

Drove to the next point and it was 400m offshore. Next land was 70k downwind.

Called search and rescue to tell them I was ok and to not go looking for a big bright yellow kite. It was no big deal for me because I was test riding for the manufacturer and got free kites. They sent me a couple of new prototypes so it was all good for me.

We went from open chicken loop and separate safety leashes to permanently shackled systems. That was much better but shackles tend to fail, ether opening when they shouldn't, or not opening when they should. One day the shackle opened but I was able to chase the kite down before it got too far.

Now I use both a chicken loop with donkey dick and a safety leash with quick releases. No lost kites since.

I have had several accidental unhookings but managed to hang on and just hook back in. It is still good to have the leash as backup.

I have had a lot of partial unhookings where the loop comes off the hook but the donkey dick still hangs on.

2 for me both kites snapped the centre depower line with the leash attached to the end of the depower,first one ended up in a tree (not a cab) about 2k away,second one was in an offshore so ended up about 10+ k out and was picked up by the coastguard,since having a centre override none.

I've lost three.
Twice when the leash snapped and once when I was in a rush and just simply forgot to attach it.

First time the kite ended up in a tree.
Second time the kite took off, when it was overland the bar snagged a post and the kite slammed into a car park. Luckily the only person there was a kiter who quickly secured it.
Third time the kite was slowly blowing towards some kids but a kiter on the beach ran down and intercepted it (I was a long way out)

I'd hate to think what stories I'd have if I didn't have a leash

Lost my first kite in light winds when it dropped and got a steering line caught over wing tip After death looping down the coast submerged I released on to safety which snapped under the force. There my kite proceeded to blow out to sea when winds turned off shore. Swam in and was body dragged 1km out by a kind soul to catch it right on sunset. A memorable 3rd session in the water

None, I always ride a real safety leash...

But even a safety leash does not save kites from trees, waves and other painful deaths by misadventure.

< BUT FIRST, A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR >

puppetonastring said...

For all those about to answer.
We have an item in stock here which will prevent you ever loosing another kite.
Its called a "Safety Leash"
Comes in numerous styles and some really cool colours. We sell them really cheap so no-one is ever tempted to go without and risk kite loses, public disasters or adding to the argument for people wanting to cut our beach access.

lol.
Gee,
I post up a social thread and pimp-daddy jumps in straight-away and interrupts it with an ad-break.
Sheesh.

Not sure how the anti leash agenda is looking with the amount of kites lost due to no or faulty leashes.
I have only lost one that hasn't been recovered when I lent one to someone who used their own crap leash that had a plastic clip connecting it to their harness. Sure enough chicken loop came off and the clip broke.

djdojo said...

^^^ No, you post a sh!t-stirring thread, and a guy who knows your angle defuses it by pre-emptively disarming your ulterior motive.

Got it in one djdojo
Not planning on retiring on sales of leashes

blueprint said...

Don't know how or why this became about leashes and don't care.

I for one am accually getting something out of the stories of how, why, circumstances in which people have lost kites there are some good lessons in there if you read them.

Right-on Blueprint. ^^^
Spreading the good word is always my true motive.
However,
This social thread of mine, this thread that could have been a compilation of interesting anecdotes,
This thread that could have been a source of learning from a series of real-life experiences,
has been unfairly hijacked by a pimp.
A pimp who has an unhealthy obsession and a commercial love-affair with stupid death-leashes.
lol.
Please carry on with the stories.
Thank you.

f#ck you ^^^

on a far more serious note john daly is 1 under after 1 hole birdie. in the British open go big fella ....

There seems to be more and more kites turning up without riders in coral bay I here.
Not sure where there coming from but I am pretty sure Gboss would know

waveslave said...

f#ck you ^^^

Bahhh haaaa ha,,,snap
Forum rules...
No abuse, insults or personal attacks
* No foul language
* Be friendly

You seem to be breaking all of them.

as well as bagging out the moderators.

wave slave and lot of wind need a room...........