Looks like another Great week

avery · Post by **avery** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 2:45 pm

much better....

drknap · Post by **drknap** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:50 pm

Landing a hot kite loop can suck, I'm still hurting from a hot landing from 2 weeks ago.
I'll have to try a link. On the topic, I think looping unhooked would be safer but I haven't unhooked yet.

Dave is definitely going for the looking cool.

Nice graphic manipulation Avery, I think the above picture needs some work.

Eric P · Post by **Eric P** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:16 pm

Try it unhooked Kurt. It's much more forgiving. I think you guys are crazy to be looping hooked in on those gusty lakes you got down there. Besides, Unhooking is fuuuun.

Tom L · Post by **Tom L** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 5:41 pm

Tighe, I used to do my 5th line drifts using this highly unorthodox system. Your 5th line needs to be perfectly balanced and you need to wind your lines up with the 5th line safety activated. There is so little pull you can unwind lines as the kite drifts away. When I was done I would just deploy the 5th, wind up the kite in this attitude and then it was ready to go for the next session. It worked perfectly for me, everytime, but you have to practice to get this procedure to work. Balancing your 5th line is key, if it's wrong your kite can potentially fly upside down, and not want to come down (very embarrassing)

.

OOOPs forgot the main point.....using this method there is no slack 5th line to get tangled

ice_kmauve · Post by **ice_kmauve** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:53 pm

DRA · Post by **DRA** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:50 pm

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:30 pm

wow, Tom that makes perfect sense. I'm assuming when you say to have the 5th line tuned right you mean that the bar slides up only to the point that the kite has rolled back and there is still a tad of tension on the rear lines to keep the kite down on the water.

slick technique, thanks

Tom L · Post by **Tom L** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:49 pm

Yep, you got it Tighe. When the bar hits the stopper all 5 lines are evenly tensioned holding the kite so very little canopy is shown to the wind. You also have to wrap the last 8-12 feet of 5th line independent from the rest. I think I would wrap that extra 5th either 1st or last (before or after the other 4 lines) can't remember exactly how I did it. Having a senior moment. That's how I used to drift launch from my boat.

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:58 pm

nice trick Tom. thanks

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 5:23 pm

Tighe...sorry for the delay getting back I've been away.
I roll my lines onto the bar. Take great care to keep the bar locked against the leading edge of the kite as I pick up the kite. This stops bar loop throughs etc.
I put the kite bladder down over my head with the inside of the leading edge resting on the back of my head. I walk up wind, backwards, unwinding the lines as I go. What's nice about this is you can watch the lines, make sure they go out clean with no twigs , weeds etc. causing problems. I look to make sure the bridal is clean, lines are not wrapped against anything and all is free and clear. I hook in attaching leash to one of the front lines. As the kite goes downwind I continue to walk up wind to gain more upwind space and then start as normal once the kites ready to go at the end of the line length. I probably have 5% of launches where I pick up an unseen twig or weed and have to abandon as the weed will tangle lines enough that if you get tension on everything you just tie the knots tighter.