I once heard about/read about a kite brand (Ozone I think; but don't quote me) that used to supply a line that was rigged from somewhere around the end/knee of the leading edge to the opposite leading edge end/knee. The theory being that it stopped the kite 'flipping though' the lines.

Designed to save the tiresome grovel to the beach to re-rig (if too windy and/or powered to want to try passing the bar through the front lines), it makes a lot of sense.

Thankfully I beyond the realm of newbie now so 'flip-throughs' are less common however I have of late been ramping up my challenges on the water and taking the due crashes along the route to greater things so I have had a few again (not to mention the occasional flip-through when having to drift launch due to being out by myself).

My question is:
Does anyone have knowledge of this line?
How/where was it rigged exactly?
Did it work?
What were the pros and cons of it?

Clearly it can't have been that great otherwise people would still be using it but I'm still interested.

Thanks.

The line was rigged in two halves from the rear line attachments joining to a pigtail at the fifth line. The kite could still roll through a front and a rear, but was still flyable, although that did not happen much (not to me anyway)

The line has the potential to snag on a wingtip and make the kite into a propellor, but once again that is unusual and careful pre launch rigging would eliminate it.

It did stop the 5th line snagging around the kite though, which is what you want to try and stop. The lines was light weight dyneema, approx 100-150kg, we have this line in the shop. I can help you rig it but make not warranty on how well it will work for your particular kite, so best to test it in lighter winds first with an assistant to help out if it goes pear shaped.

Select to expand quote

edhead said...

The theory being that it stopped the kite 'flipping though' the lines.

Theory. Nice theory...

As you said if it was any good then they would still be around, as no matter what kite tech you have (hybrid, C, bow) kites rolling through the lines always has the potential for dramas.

Steve's on the money for the pros and cons, and just because you had that line on didn't mean you stopped the flipping and/or a misbehaving kite after a flip