Why do I get the feeling this may go down the same road as wearing a weight belt to increase the ability to hold down a kite?

someone with a camera(funniest home video) and 000 on speed dial

self launching you can do fairly easily so shouldn't need an anchor, landing maybe just fill a bag with sand in case **** gets real, don't want an anchor flying through the air.

Yellow, I've used a sand anchor specially made for kite launching and a handy piece of kit to have when can't rig up to a log, fence post, etc. best to have kite depowered on launch and coming to land and wouldn't use under 10 knots or in very gusty conditions

Just in case it's a serious question. At face value it sounds like a viable idea because the kite will pull the anchor deeper if something goes wrong. But if it powers up and starts ripping across the wind window you now have a out of control, Powered up kite at the perfect angle to rip the anchor out and send it flying. That's got to be a bad thing.

If you're gonna do it, use a wombat ground anchor. It holds 500KG's which is higher than the breaking strain of your lines. If it pulls that it, you don't want to be attached to it.

hey

maybe this will help on self-launching. tried it last week and worked fine for me



hope it helps

Saffer said...

If you're gonna do it, use a wombat ground anchor. It holds 500KG's which is higher than the breaking strain of your lines. If it pulls that it, you don't want to be attached to it.

But not greater than the combined breaking strain of four or five lines. If I go a tethered launch I use a short rope between the chicken loop and anchor (car) as a sacrificial link. But when there is room I'm also working on a proper self launch without waveslave's woooosh.

Depends on what conditions you plan to use it? I wouldn't recommend self launching in over 40kts either especially on a weed littered winter beach, kite buddy is the only way in serious winds. One launches, puts their kite on the side then holds the kite for the other one.

I made one a few years ago similar to a wombat and was using it on a typical Perth winters day, went to the kite and turned it over, all was sweet with the kite on the edge of the window, then as I prepared to return to the kite it did a complete 180 and drove full speed at head height into a sign destroying itself (so much power, would have hated being attached). I think as it was gusty an the kite was bouncing a little the bar jammed in the sand and turned the kite.
Like i said I would have hated to have been attached with a similar scenario from self launching, these anchors can work well but the bar should be able to float freely.

Buddy is still the best option, and can assist if it goes tits up in the water also!

kite potentialised by being mounted to a fixed point. big gust , (w) anker lets go and flies though the air with the greatest of ease, can't see why that would not work.

if you can't self launch and land in any kitable wind with appropriate
size kite for conditions then maybe you shouldn't be out there

in high wind is best not to go alone any way ,and is more fun with
a mate to verify your mega boost..........

Martyflyer said...

The only way i can see it being safe is if you leave the boat attached to the anchor too

and the boat attached to a jetty!

i use anything solid on the beach, fence post, towball, fixed wheelie bin, sign posts. and if not the good old wooooosh swing around. sand on the wing tip is another if its a bit strong for the woooosh.

Saffer said...

Chris6791 said...

Saffer said...

If you're gonna do it, use a wombat ground anchor. It holds 500KG's which is higher than the breaking strain of your lines. If it pulls that it, you don't want to be attached to it.

But not greater than the combined breaking strain of four or five lines. If I go a tethered launch I use a short rope between the chicken loop and anchor (car) as a sacrificial link. But when there is room I'm also working on a proper self launch without waveslave's woooosh.

True. But if the kite generates enough power to pull a 500kg stake out of the ground (I.e. a squall), would you even want to be attached to it?

No, definitely not, but if I'm attached to it I've got half a chance of controlling it or dumping it, same as if I was in the water in the same squall. The problem with the tethered launch is the run from the kite back to the bar where you have no control over anything.

I mix my launches up depending on time, place, circumstance. Sometimes tethered, sometimes wooooosh, usually with a buddy but always with safety in mind. I've had one tethered launch go wrong, I think a bit of weed pinched a couple of lines together without me realising. The kite was ripped from my hands and started rocketing right through the wind window and slamming into the ground on both sides back and forwards. After a few slams the link between the car and chicken loop snapped and the kite fell harmlessly from the sky.

NickT said...

Depends on what conditions you plan to use it? I wouldn't recommend self launching in over 40kts either especially on a weed littered winter beach, kite buddy is the only way in serious winds. One launches, puts their kite on the side then holds the kite for the other one.

I made one a few years ago similar to a wombat and was using it on a typical Perth winters day, went to the kite and turned it over, all was sweet with the kite on the edge of the window, then as I prepared to return to the kite it did a complete 180 and drove full speed at head height into a sign destroying itself (so much power, would have hated being attached). I think as it was gusty an the kite was bouncing a little the bar jammed in the sand and turned the kite.
Like i said I would have hated to have been attached with a similar scenario from self launching, these anchors can work well but the bar should be able to float freely.

Buddy is still the best option, and can assist if it goes tits up in the water also!

What if your buddy doesn't want to go with you on a particular sunday because it's blowing 70 knots on rotto?