Three ring . A parachute release mechanism that utilizes three rings of separate size in a mechanical advantage system. Invented by Bill Booth in the late 70s, the three rings system is almost universally considered the best cut away system available.

www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=1456

For kiting it has to be slightly modified: In place of the cable I am using a sliding sleeve (which I just cut from a PVC pipe and flattened). The smallest ring it is actually a short SS eye bolt. The largest ring replaces the chicken loop. All parts can be purchased at the Yaching shops. The webbing should be of good quality. the stiching is done on a shoemaker sawing machine (I am alwais going the one of the 5 minutes coblers i the shopping centres). The system has another advantage, as the chicken loop is replaced by the largest ring, the control bar stays closer to the user, so, more depowering range!

www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=1457
www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=1458

The operation is very simple, you want to release, just slide the sleeve down, action which is absolutely effortless, and the kite goes off immediately.

www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=1459

One improvement I have to make to my system, is to attach a small elastic to the sleeve to b kept up constantly, however I had the system releasing only once by itself, and I ended being helped by the Live Saving Club!!!

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Silviu,
Clever cookie.

The 3 magic rings parachute release is tricky.
I never use the term 'quick' release either.
I say 'pin' release (in my case anyway) cause my brain-muscle reaction time,
is way too slow to call it a 'quick' release.

The kitemare is over in a heart beat.
If you blink, you'll miss it.

Ego, that makes you hang on longer than you should,
Stoke, that sucks you into making bad judgement calls in the first instance,
these two heavy abstracts test your willpower or your won'tpower.

What do they scream on the Goldie ?
Oh yeah,
"PULL THE FUCN TRIGGER"

Safe kiting,
slave.

quote:

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Originally posted by waveslave

Silviu,
Clever cookie.

The 3 magic rings parachute release is tricky.
I never use the term 'quick' release either.
I say 'pin' release (in my case anyway) cause my brain-muscle reaction time,
is way too slow to call it a 'quick' release.

The kitemare is over in a heart beat.
If you blink, you'll miss it.

Ego, that makes you hang on longer than you should,
Stoke, that sucks you into making bad judgement calls in the first instance,
these two heavy abstracts test your willpower or your won'tpower.

What do they scream on the Goldie ?
Oh yeah,
"PULL THE FUCN TRIGGER"

Safe kiting,
slave.

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Thanks Slave.
Actually the system saved me in several occasions, and deeped me one big time last month when I was rescued by the Life Saving Club.
And all this because against all my rules, I did not check that it was properly close. Ha, Ha, it was a big time rescue, with the LSC dingy and the Marine Safety helicopter hovering above my head.
And by the way, took me three days to get out the water from my leading edge bladder!!

you don't unhook?

Whilst on the subject of QRS.

The QRS on the Switchblades,can and may self release if face planting in the sand.I face planted the other week and it released.I had(and AWAYS DO)a leash also,which wasn't used in this instance because of the low wind and kite being out of the window. I held on,she choked and went in.

Why Cabrinha dont supply a leash with the kit is beyond me.

Before any Dealers go jumping up and down,I'm refering to Cabrinha itself,I understand some(all should)dealers throw one in.Ya shouldn't have to throw one in guys ,it should already be with the fkn kite.

Purchased a Tribal the other week,how pleasing it was to open the manual to see:KITE LEASH with the goodies ya with it.

quote:

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Originally posted by likuid

you don't unhook?

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No, only when I am landing the kite!

quote:

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Originally posted by silviu

Three ring . A parachute release mechanism that utilizes three rings of separate size in a mechanical advantage system.

www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=1456

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Interesting contraption indeed - that's my engineering lesson for the day.

If I am not mistaken however this picutre has the 3 rings assembled incorrectly! The yellow teflon cable should be on the backside of the riser, not the front.

see http://www.relativeworkshop.com/tech_risers.html - fromm Bill Booth's company! (gotta love google)

Or you can get yourself a slingshot surefire release spreaderbar and never have to worry about a thing again.(and i'm not in any way associated with slingy here...i just recon it's an awesome system)

full credit to you for looking into different options - but backyard safety systems scare the ** outta me. your setup looks well constructed and all, but wouldn't the kiting community benefit more if we actually bought the products the compainies have invested their time and money developing instead of making our own gear?

quote:

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Originally posted by lovey

Or you can get yourself a slingshot surefire release spreaderbar and never have to worry about a thing again.(and i'm not in any way associated with slingy here...i just recon it's an awesome system)

full credit to you for looking into different options - but backyard safety systems scare the ** outta me. your setup looks well constructed and all, but wouldn't the kiting community benefit more if we actually bought the products the compainies have invested their time and money developing instead of making our own gear?

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You are right, it is a qustion of choice and trust. The fact is that I do not trust so much "the big companies", and I prefer to build my own devices, which I am testing thoroughly.
I am using this setup for three years, and I did not have any hick ups with it.
I started to look into this system, after spending good money on "products form reputable companies", which unfortunatelly did not work: or it was very difficult to get them working (like pulling the pins under load) or they did not work at all.
I did notrecommended this system for three years, testing it day in day out, and making sure it is safe.
The only reason I went public now, it was I was asked, and is only an idea.
So as i said before, it is a matter of choice, if you feel safe with what it is offered on the market, that's OK, however, after so manny bitter experiences, I decided to go this way, and my clean record over the years (not having any major accidents)is proof enough for me to continuu using it every time I am on the water.
One other advantage of this system is that it is not affected by sand.

quote:

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Originally posted by GalahOnTheBay

quote:

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Originally posted by silviu

Three ring . A parachute release mechanism that utilizes three rings of separate size in a mechanical advantage system.

www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=1456

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Interesting contraption indeed - that's my engineering lesson for the day.

If I am not mistaken however this picutre has the 3 rings assembled incorrectly! The yellow teflon cable should be on the backside of the riser, not the front.

see http://www.relativeworkshop.com/tech_risers.html - fromm Bill Booth's company! (gotta love google)

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Hy Galah - see you are an expert in parachuting!!!!

Whatever you say, but the kitesurfing version, works.

i use a slingshot quick release (05), and imo it seems far simpler than this 3 ring set up, i think what ever you choose to use should be dead simple, fool proof and tested regulary. I must say i was very lucky once and have hopefully learnt from my mistake. I launched a kite that i had a friend help rig and when i launched the kite was uncontrolable, i went to pull my release but due to being used to a wipka system that was different i couldnt release so i was dragged up the beach, just as i reached the tree line my brain some how remembered how the saftey worked. So all i got was a couple of sand grazes and a bruised ego. Now i always rig my own kite, always!, i have practiced releasing my kite (kinda tedious exercise, but once you have done it a couple of times i think it sticks in your mind), i also do a check of my lines and releases before i kite, adds maybe 15seconds to rigging up, kinda becomes a natural thing to do, you would be surprised how often something is loose or jammed up from sand etc. Anyway sometimes **** happens, and sometimes your lucky and sometimes your not, we particapate in a potentially dangerous sport, keep your rig simple, know your rig and set your own lines.

quote:

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Originally posted by silviu

Hy Galah - see you are an expert in parachuting!!!!
Whatever you say, but the kitesurfing version, works.

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actually no - but I know some people who are - and I can use google...

why the hell would anyone want to jump out of a plane when there is nothing wrong with it? Come to think of it,even if there was something wrong with it why would you jump out?!?!?!?

quote:

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Originally posted by ran

i use a slingshot quick release (05), and imo it seems far simpler than this 3 ring set up, i think what ever you choose to use should be dead simple, fool proof and tested regulary. I must say i was very lucky once and have hopefully learnt from my mistake. I launched a kite that i had a friend help rig and when i launched the kite was uncontrolable, i went to pull my release but due to being used to a wipka system that was different i couldnt release so i was dragged up the beach, just as i reached the tree line my brain some how remembered how the saftey worked. So all i got was a couple of sand grazes and a bruised ego. Now i always rig my own kite, always!, i have practiced releasing my kite (kinda tedious exercise, but once you have done it a couple of times i think it sticks in your mind), i also do a check of my lines and releases before i kite, adds maybe 15seconds to rigging up, kinda becomes a natural thing to do, you would be surprised how often something is loose or jammed up from sand etc. Anyway sometimes **** happens, and sometimes your lucky and sometimes your not, we particapate in a potentially dangerous sport, keep your rig simple, know your rig and set your own lines.

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You are absolutelly right Ran, they are words of wisdom, and I would like to think we are not the only ones checking the rig regularly.

quote:

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why the hell would anyone want to jump out of a plane when there is nothing wrong with it? Come to think of it,even if there was something wrong with it why would you jump out?!?!?!?

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Are you kiddin' Galah? Imagine surviving the impact of a 200km/hr fall to earth only to have the plane explode and you burn to death I'd take my chances and jump

By the way, there is nothing dangerous about jumping out of a plane, nor is there anything dangerous about falling through the sky at 200kph, it's the rapid deceleration that hurts the most

On Oahu's north shore there are skydive schools that operate in the same area as the slope soaring gliders. Whilst gliding and seeing skydivers plummet past us flat out within 150m of our glider, the pilot was heard to mutter, Damn meat bombs! LOL

Good winds

quote:

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Originally posted by Kitehard

Are you kiddin' Galah? Imagine surviving the impact of a 200km/hr fall to earth only to have the plane explode and you burn to death I'd take my chances and jump

By the way, there is nothing dangerous about jumping out of a plane, nor is there anything dangerous about falling through the sky at 200kph, it's the rapid deceleration that hurts the most

On Oahu's north shore there are skydive schools that operate in the same area as the slope soaring gliders. Whilst gliding and seeing skydivers plummet past us flat out within 150m of our glider, the pilot was heard to mutter, Damn meat bombs! LOL

Good winds

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lol mate - better you than me - you must have a set of brass balls THIS BIG - oh wait - you do - I have seen you kite... :-)

apparently it's the second bounce that kills you...

Somehow i think the initital impact would be the killer. Few people have survived hitting the ground at high velocity. Read an article about a woman who survived her chute not opening, apparently she left a 40cm indent in the ground. lucky for her it was soft ground. Can't imagine it would tickle either way.

Over the past 4 years of teaching we have gone through many safety systems, most don't work unless the kite is fully powered, very few people seem to throw the safety while the kite is in the air, the kite seems to hit the ground, the safety is pulled, then the kite powers up and most of the time it has not released, this causes the kiter to be dragged or flung into the air etc. Pin and rope loop systems only work under pressure, too much and they need too much effort. Mechanical get blocked with sand or are released when bending over or jumping etc.
The three ring system looks like it may work all the time, with or without loading, Silviu i will be giving this a go!!!!

Also on 3 occasions in the last 2 weeks Bow kites have been getting into problems, BIG PROBLEMS. all from the same thing. They crash, one of the center lines get caught around the power/de-power straps and the kite power up in a loop that doesn't stop, 2 of the kiters were dragged under water for 50 or so meters backwards. The Bow should be on a safety leash as well. When a Bow kite is released altogether it stops flying. All these Kiters are very experienced and some compete at high levels.
All for now

Nic

quote:

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Originally posted by St Kite

Over the past 4 years of teaching we have gone through many safety systems, most don't work unless the kite is fully powered, very few people seem to throw the safety while the kite is in the air, the kite seems to hit the ground, the safety is pulled, then the kite powers up and most of the time it has not released, this causes the kiter to be dragged or flung into the air etc. Pin and rope loop systems only work under pressure, too much and they need too much effort. Mechanical get blocked with sand or are released when bending over or jumping etc.
The three ring system looks like it may work all the time, with or without loading, Silviu i will be giving this a go!!!!

Also on 3 occasions in the last 2 weeks Bow kites have been getting into problems, BIG PROBLEMS. all from the same thing. They crash, one of the center lines get caught around the power/de-power straps and the kite power up in a loop that doesn't stop, 2 of the kiters were dragged under water for 50 or so meters backwards. The Bow should be on a safety leash as well. When a Bow kite is released altogether it stops flying. All these Kiters are very experienced and some compete at high levels.
All for now

Nic

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Thanks Nic. I am using it for three years already!!

That will be my last post on this thread. I think I spent enough time and effort on the subject.
I hope that at least I was able to raise some interest, and more people will start to think about using safety releases, leashes and other safety equipment.
Our safety and others safety should be our main concern.

However, i will like to strighten some thinks:

In our quest for a safer and better kitesurfing, or for any other matter we want to discuss in these forums, amazingly I discovered something else: there is something in the background, on the watch, behind his computer, with all his senses ready to find a new “victim” (read thread).

It is the Galahonthebay Phenomenon

Over 300 posts!!!

Are you … a super “Forums” surfer? Is your day totally dedicated to surf the Forums and post on every thread your “sarcastic” remarks? Don’t you have anything else, more constructive to do? Like growing vegetables? Or scratching your head? And by the way, do you sometimes kite surf, or windsurf or surf or… else? Are they other Forums you are surfing too?

But do you know what?
It is good you are there.
How will we be able to discern between good and bad, between dark and bright, without your “gracious” and “kind” contributions, full of “words of wisdom” and sharp to the point (read to the subject)!

What will the world be without Galahs?

I think this is the downside of the Freedom of the speach!!!

I AM THE KING OF ALL FORUM TROLLS - POST AT YOUR OWN RISK - FEAR ME!

I don't have a day job, so when there is no wind what the hell else do you want me to do? Work?!?! I don't think so - I don't need the money, Besides, I'd rather just spend my days showboating around the place...

As for you - when you get to twice the posts I have you won't be half as good as me.

Keep trying, and bye for now...

Silviu,
Thanks for taking the time to post your version of the 3 ring release! After seeing these releases on a parachute harness I have wondered about using them for kiting, although mainly to replace the quick release on my kite leash.
Perhaps the sliding tube arrangement could be replaced with a 'bungeed' pin system similar to the system used on some chicken loops? This would reduce the chance of accidental release.
Anyway, thanks again for sharing

One question Silviu...how come you have been rescued by heli so many times?

quote:

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Originally posted by gruezi

One question Silviu...how come you have been rescued by heli so many times?

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It was only one time, but it was a big time!
In my quest to have the release as smuth and effortless, I did not use any means of pulling the sleeve on top of the securing pin, excepting my volutary push and the natural friction to keep it in place. That was not such a great idea, as two weeks ago (after three years of perfect functioning) the safety mechanism released by itself!
And like always ,when this misshaps happen, it happened when I was about 2 - 3 Km from the beach, in the middle of the bay.
There is a thread about it: in the General section "Brighton Life Saving Club - Good on you guys "

Good onya mate.
It's good to have some really interesting stuff to look at
cyu

quote:

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It was only one time, but it was a big time!
In my quest to have the release as smuth and effortless, I did not use any means of pulling the sleeve on top of the securing pin, excepting my volutary push and the natural friction to keep it in place. That was not such a great idea, as two weeks ago (after three years of perfect functioning) the safety mechanism released by itself!
And like always ,when this misshaps happen, it happened when I was about 2 - 3 Km from the beach, in the middle of the bay.
There is a thread about it: in the General section "Brighton Life Saving Club - Good on you guys "

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Where was your leash?

quote:

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Originally posted by simonmm

quote:

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It was only one time, but it was a big time!
In my quest to have the release as smuth and effortless, I did not use any means of pulling the sleeve on top of the securing pin, excepting my volutary push and the natural friction to keep it in place. That was not such a great idea, as two weeks ago (after three years of perfect functioning) the safety mechanism released by itself!
And like always ,when this misshaps happen, it happened when I was about 2 - 3 Km from the beach, in the middle of the bay.
There is a thread about it: in the General section "Brighton Life Saving Club - Good on you guys "

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Where was your leash?

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On all the time! Read the story. The issue was that the lines got tangled (spagetti), it was impossible to relaunch.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15264

i'm a newbie and have a couple of 05 ss fuels, i have never had trouble using the quick release. I have used it countless times, very simple just let go of the bar if unhooked, or pull the pin if hooked. Its just a pain if the lines tangle while kite if depowered and flapping around..

quote:

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Originally posted by jonny_6767

i'm a newbie and have a couple of 05 ss fuels, i have never had trouble using the quick release. I have used it countless times, very simple just let go of the bar if unhooked, or pull the pin if hooked. Its just a pain if the lines tangle while kite if depowered and flapping around..

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Welcome to the club kid. The swim after, with the board and all the rest of the gear on top, is the "ultimate fun", isn't it?
There are the moments when I am so greatfull to my PFD/Impact jacket; and is keeping me worm too!!

quote:

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Originally posted by silviu

... and is keeping me worm too!!

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u have a worm? prob not a good idea to keep it with u, u may attract sharks!

quote:

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Originally posted by jonny_6767

quote:

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Originally posted by silviu

... and is keeping me worm too!!

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u have a worm? prob not a good idea to keep it with u, u may attract sharks!

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Ouuppssyy!
Sorry man I intended to say something else, the spellchecker cannot help me here!!!
Any way, I am glad to anounce that one Kitesurfing School in Melbourne found the ideea of the safety release interesting, and implemented it to all the equipment used for beginners, with a "remote release" system by which the instructor can release the kite, if the student gets in trouble!