Hi guys,
I got Rebel 2013 11m ...after the wind down to 9/10 knots couldn't relaunch ...Wonder what's minimum wind to just launch the kite and relaunch it from water? I think 14 knots needed to actually ride it...70kg rider with 140 TT...I think with a foil board can do 10knots riding...
cheers

Can you touch the bottom? Technique helps, but a high Y limits your options...

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Kamikuza said..
Can you touch the bottom? Technique helps, but a high Y limits your options...

need to improve the technique, can touch bottom. From others experience want to know what's possible...I think pulling the 5th line at the same time as top line helps...though not tried..

There are so many factors that influence your ability to relaunch a kite in lower winds, the main one, as usual, being your skill level.

It's important to understand that the wind can be a lot weaker and more turbulent at the surface of the water. It might be 10 knots up where you kite flies and at the height of your local wind meter, but it might be as little as 6 knots or less at the surface of the water! Here is a good example of this:


That day it was probably around 7-9 knots in the kite, but around 2 knots on the surface of the water. I initially didn't even think the kite would fly, had to launch it straight in the power zone by running backward. No chance anyone can water relaunch any kite in this wind, even if you were able to stand in shallow water.

Then comes multiple factors like: are you standing in shallow water? are you in deep water? is there strong current in the water? waves ? is the wind gusty ? is the wind dense and cold or hot and weak?

So if you actually had 10 knots at the surface of the water with your 11m Rebel and you had solid skills you should be able to relaunch it in deep water provided there isn't a very strong current going in the same direction as the wind. A Newbie in his first lesson could relaunch an 11m Rebel with 10 knots at the surface of the water if standing in knee deep water.

In other words, when you're kiting in 14-15 knots, you're probably actually trying to relaunch the kite with only 10 knots at the surface of the water.

The video you posted above shows the 5th line technique which is essential for C-Shape riders but not as useful/effective with modern Delta kites. By the way, in the actual wind conditions of that video, there was no need to use this technique especially while standing.

Christian

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cbulota said..
There are so many factors that influence your ability to relaunch a kite in lower winds, the main one, as usual, being your skill level.

It's important to understand that the wind can be a lot weaker and more turbulent at the surface of the water. It might be 10 knots up where you kite flies and at the height of your local wind meter, but it might be as little as 6 knots or less at the surface of the water! Here is a good example of this:


That day it was probably around 7-9 knots in the kite, but around 2 knots on the surface of the water. I initially didn't even think the kite would fly, had to launch it straight in the power zone by running backward. No chance anyone can water relaunch any kite in this wind, even if you were able to stand in shallow water.

Then comes multiple factors like: are you standing in shallow water? are you in deep water? is there strong current in the water? waves ? is the wind gusty ? is the wind dense and cold or hot and weak?

So if you actually had 10 knots at the surface of the water with your 11m Rebel and you had solid skills you should be able to relaunch it in deep water provided there isn't a very strong current going in the same direction as the wind. A Newbie in his first lesson could relaunch an 11m Rebel with 10 knots at the surface of the water if standing in knee deep water.

In other words, when you're kiting in 14-15 knots, you're probably actually trying to relaunch the kite with only 10 knots at the surface of the water.

The video you posted above shows the 5th line technique which is essential for C-Shape riders but not as useful/effective with modern Delta kites. By the way, in the actual wind conditions of that video, there was no need to use this technique especially while standing.

Christian

makes lot of sense that actual wind close to water is lot less and the technique required for low wind kiting...I never thought its possible to launch anything under 5knots ..maybe foil...also maybe North is over stating the case for 5 line kites with relaunch ...on a separate note I find the 5th line so useful in self landing

I can definitely relaunch my 10m Rebel in 25-28knots. Haven't tried it in any less, I wouldn't get out of bed for less than 20 knots.

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wishy said..
I can definitely relaunch my 10m Rebel in 25-28knots. Haven't tried it in any less, I wouldn't get out of bed for less than 20 knots.

I never drop my kites

Shouldn't this be in the queersland section

Sorry Queensland , autospell beat me to it

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cauncy said..
Sorry Queensland , autospell beat me to it

If autocorrect spelt queersland for you that means you search and use the term queersland on your phone regularly.
Is there something you aren't telling us Cauncy?