I am always nervous about letting my kite drift away for a self-launch in strong wind, mostly because I have had the kite flip over before it drifts to the point where there is tension on the lines. I finally discovered a pretty safe way to drift launch in high winds with a fifth line. Here is the procedure.
1) Get out in the water and roll out the lines.
2) Connect the bar to your harness by whatever means you use.
3) Put the kite leading edge down in the water with wingtips downwind.
4) Run the lines under the kite LE.
5) Grab the 5th line and slowly kite drift away AS YOU LET OUT THE 5th line.
6) Once the 5th line is all the way out, let go of it, grab the bar, and pull the bar to one side to get the kite to turn around. Holding the 5th line makes this safer.
7) When the kite turns around, use the standard 5th line launching procedure to get the kite on its back.
I tried this a couple of times yesterday, and it worked great. Step (6) is the trickiest, but manageable.
Self-launching, 5th line, and High wind
Moderator: MK
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Jeff Gorton
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2002 8:08 pm
Mike, I can't believe you were kiting in that wind, we didn't see any kiters at Waconia. What size kite did you use?
Is the self launch process you're describing the same as normal, but rather than just letting the kite drift you real it out on the fifth line? I wasn't sure from your description where the kite was when you were letting out the lines, but I'm assuming you're standing inside of it, right?
Is the self launch process you're describing the same as normal, but rather than just letting the kite drift you real it out on the fifth line? I wasn't sure from your description where the kite was when you were letting out the lines, but I'm assuming you're standing inside of it, right?
Couldn't you also leave the kite wingtips up and submerge the LE so that it sticks to the water as it floats backward and doesn't start to hover. Your way may be better. I know what you mean about high wind self launches though.....scary any way you do them.
I don't know if it is such a good idea to hook in as early as you suggest. I usually recommend hooking in after the kite has orientated itself downwind and you can check your lines.
Jeff, Not sure which way Mike was suggesting, though I usually am upwind of the LE, wingtips up as I walk into the wind unwinding my lines over the LE. Chris B. has a technique where he puts the LE in the water wingtips down and downwind of the LE and then gets inside the kite and backus as he's undoing his lines. Both work, though I think in higher winds the latter may be challenging. Then again in highwinds having your wingtips up and fluttering like crazy, your lines can get all twisted up.
Conclusion...avoid self launching in high winds. If you mustremind yourself over and over how you're gonna break free from the kite.
I don't know if it is such a good idea to hook in as early as you suggest. I usually recommend hooking in after the kite has orientated itself downwind and you can check your lines.
Jeff, Not sure which way Mike was suggesting, though I usually am upwind of the LE, wingtips up as I walk into the wind unwinding my lines over the LE. Chris B. has a technique where he puts the LE in the water wingtips down and downwind of the LE and then gets inside the kite and backus as he's undoing his lines. Both work, though I think in higher winds the latter may be challenging. Then again in highwinds having your wingtips up and fluttering like crazy, your lines can get all twisted up.
Conclusion...avoid self launching in high winds. If you mustremind yourself over and over how you're gonna break free from the kite.
Tighe
I agree that the whole idea of self-launching in strong, gusty wind is a bit hairy, but it can be done with relative safety if it is done with care. I was on a Naish X4 8m, which I have found to be a killer kite. It handles tons of wind, has impressive low end for its size, and floats much better jumps than any small kite I have flown. Best of all, it is not punishingly fast like small kites can be.
When I reel out the kite, I am upwind. So, yes, it is like a standard drift launch except the kite it going straight downwind AND you are reeling it out on the 5th line.
I may have to try the upside-down-water-on-the-kite method Tighe mentions. My worry is that the water would spill off. Once the kite starts levitating, the chances of lines getting messed up in the strong wind are significant.
When I reel out the kite, I am upwind. So, yes, it is like a standard drift launch except the kite it going straight downwind AND you are reeling it out on the 5th line.
I may have to try the upside-down-water-on-the-kite method Tighe mentions. My worry is that the water would spill off. Once the kite starts levitating, the chances of lines getting messed up in the strong wind are significant.
I used to drift launch all my C kites and my Rap 1's using a 5th line with the wing tips up all the time. I just let the kite drift away as I unwind the lines from the bar with the 5th line deployed (pulled in, bar at the stopper). You have to have your stopper ball precisely placed to keep the kite from hovering. If the stopper is placed correctly the kite will not hover, and the wing tips don't flap. Even in a huge gusts there was no chance for disaster as you already have the safety deployed, and very little pull on the kite.
I think there are many, many ways to drift launch that work well. you have to find one that works for you, refine it, practice it, and get comfortable with it. High winds always add a little extra anxiety, and need extra attention to the details.
Mike sounds like he has his system wired.
I think there are many, many ways to drift launch that work well. you have to find one that works for you, refine it, practice it, and get comfortable with it. High winds always add a little extra anxiety, and need extra attention to the details.
Mike sounds like he has his system wired.