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I was out on my new Turbo2 9m kite at Reddy and I got my lines crossed on a drift launch. The kite launched and I had to release. The winds were mostly from the west and I expected to head downwind towards Malmo to pick up.. but the current quickly took it offshore almost straight out south toward Hunters Point / Father Hennepin.
I hit most of the resorts on the east side and contacted the police at Isle and they called the shore patrol. Is there anything else I can try?
It's a Slingshot Turbo2 9m kite that is mostly yellow and has some purple/blue/silver stripes
If you have any info on my lost Slingy please call
(651) 216-4526 (cell) or (651) 736-6662
Sorry to hear about the lost kite, that sucks! It's gotta turn up somehow I would think, I 'spose we should all start writing our names on our kites!
I fly the turbo 1's still and aborted a drift launch on Sunday due to a weed tangle. I pulled the chicken loop release and the kite flagged to the leash so I just wound it up and started over.
I realize the "horse has left the barn" but was your leash connected to the flagging ring and you had to eject the leash also?
Leashing bow kites has been a challenge for me, but it's pretty critical for self launching I believe, so this might be helpful info for the bow crowd.
What a bummer. That's a long shoreline. Contact as many bait shops, convenience stores, resorts, etc as you can. I'd put up signs in the grocery store in Isle and Garrison. Offer a reward.
I teach not to attach the leash until you have checked your lines. This comes from a botched drift launch that created a knot that prevented any flagging but allowed the kite to launch and almost pulled me and the kite into the trees. I've also heard of situations where the leash gets tangled or hooks on one outside line as the kite powers up downwind. In most situations it is better to not be attached at all to the kite until it is in the standard relaunch position and you've checked your lines, especially when you are close to shore. From a safety/liability standpoint, I can't teach it any other way.
Drift launches are the most dangerous form of launching. I've been skeptical to teach them but they are pretty valuable to know.
For me I will continue to try and drift launch hooked in and leashed also cuz in my estimation it's a little safer (though this is obviously debatable!). After I have unwound the lines I can check to make sure the leash is not tangled before letting the kite drift. Again while the kite is drifting I monitor the leash and bar for tangles.
Once the lines are taut if there is an unfixable problemo I release the chicken loop and pray the leash flags the kite. This prayer includes being prepared to hit the quick release on the leash if it does not flag!
It's a matter of personal preference I think, launching with the leash hooked does increase the risk of getting it tangled and/or dragged by it. Launching with it unhooked increases the chance of losing the kite and having smack into someone. A completely unhooked kite is probably not that dangerous if you are in a good launch area though cuz there should not be any bystanders downwind.
You could also try to post an add in the local weekly paper -- the Mille Lacs Messenger. The dragging bar may also steer the kite in an unexpected direction. On a SW wind I once had a drifting kite lost at Malmo end up close to Reddy. Hope It shows up.
I've noticed that the above mentioned botched launches and death spirals seem to occur more often with bow kites versus SLE kites. I suspect this is because the bows, such as the TDs launch so easily. Also the stopper ball I think can add to the line entaglement with drift launching.
Are people having similiar issues with SLE such as the waroo, which I think are often tricky to launch. I have not, knock on wood. I've gotten pulled down wind in a failed launch but the kite doesn't launch. Perhaps a hidden safety feature in the more difficult to launch SLE such as the waroo?
If I suspect in anyway that my lines are tanlged in a drif launch, such as a piece of twig getting in the lines, I immediately abort and pull the up wind power line.
I think it's a risk regardless of kite type.
Bummer about the kite I hope it turns up.
If a strong weed, or bridal wrap, or line catching on a wing tip, strut valve etc, causes more tension on the lines on one side of the kite, there's a good probability of the kite spiralling and it getting ugly.
Before I push my kite off I put the kite over the top of my head and rest the LE against the back of my neck. Standing there I look at all my lines trailed out downwind to see if there's a clump of weeds or a twig tangled around my lines. If there is pull the lines in and remove it. I check the connections making sure they're clear and not wrapped, I check the bridal is free. Then I push the kite off.
Even now there's no guarantee so I'm ready for an emergency release to flag a front line ( rather than having a lose and dangerous kite) if the lines don't come out clean.
I am totally with Tighe about Drift Launches, they are the most dangerous form of launching a kite. Now where I have to disagree is about leashing you kite on a drift.
I connect to an out side flag line when drift launching ALL the time. I ride WBL mainly and letting go of my kite at Ramsey or Bellaire is almost a non option as there are too many people and boats down wind of me.... I would rather pull out of my chicken loop and hope for the kite to flag...If this does not happen I am prepared to pull the second safty on my leash... and hopefully run/swim after my kite prior to it getting in the way of others. I just can't imagine letting go of my kite as a first resort when things go wrong.
I also try to keep my drift lauches under 25mph above that things can happen a bit to fast to react to sometimes.
I have only had to do this once with a Waroo there was a stick in my lines about a month ago I pulled out of my chicken loop, and my kite flaged all was well.
After I launch, and want to trick around I clip it to my chicken loop ring.
Barry & I were on shore watching in disbelief as your kite floated off. It
was One time when I wished I had a jet-ski! I hope you have good luck in finding it. Maybe you could rent a jet-ski at Izaty's and comb the shore line. Turned out to be super scary gusty anyway... probably not a day for a newbie to ride. We could barely control our 12's in the gusts, but had fun on the waves. I'll keep my eyes & ears open when I'm up! Jim N.
I had assumed Bill was all alone, but sounds like there were a couple others who could have assisted with a launch?
I agree the drift launch can be sketchy, so if other kiters are present don't hesitate to ask for an assist or if you're not confident wait until someone is available.
I think Kurt is correct in that the "launch happy" nature of the bow kites and the stopper ball on the Turbo line can complicate things. Has anyone just chucked this annoying stopper ball? Seems like it may be more trouble than its worth, cuz who cares if your bar slides all the way to the kite? It could be a little messy maybe but perhaps better than dealing with that dang stopper ball all the time?
Another thing I have tried successfully at Reddy (when there is absolutely no one to assist of course) is a beach self launch where I've piled just a little sand on the kite and walked the lines out upwind to flip the kite around. This is easier to ensure your lines are ok, but not so good cuz you lack the proper downwind buffer zone. So maybe it's less safe than a drift, I guess I'm not sure. At least the one time I launched this way it was somewhat sideshore, directly onshore might not be an option.
Certainly only try when the weather sucks and the beach is completely uninhabited. Also I think it's required to be leashed for this type of launch cuz you risk sending the kite onto the highway if you cut loose completely.
Friday morning QB signing off, hope you find that kite Bill!!
I always take that yellow ball on the flying line off ( not the one on the Chicken Loop). It is more hassle than it is worth. I don't think the T2s even have them.
Yes if you have a beach and it's sideshore do the same launch we do in the winter. I set my kite half in the water half on the beach, with tons of sand just behind the LE. Extend my lines out DOWNWIND to check them and TURN THE BAR RIGHT SIDE UP, then walk in a semi circle out into the water. When the kite is slightly upwind and to the side of me I start to tension the lines to get the kite to turn with me. Eventually the downwind side of the kite will start to grab some wind as you walk upwind. The kite will swing downwind into the water and be ready for a standard water launch, after flicking the sand off it's backside. I am usually just holding on to my chicken loop as I walk upwind. That way if anything happens the kite is completely depowered. Even if it launches it will just race to the neutral zone and depower. When you hook in is up to you.
If the conditions are pretty intense the risk of "issues" on a drift launch increases significantly.
I, Lakawa Kiteboarding, my family, and my sponsors do not endorse, support, encourage, or recommend doing drift launches. Do so at your own risk.
Wind that day was just a shade off shore leaving it calm to almost back winded on shore, thus precluding an assisted launch. I think that is why Bill went out so far before attempting a solo drift launch. He had already aborted one launch where his lines tangled, but did not request assistance despite this. You're right we probably should have offered, and perhaps Barry did so. Guess that proves we all need to be more vigilant and watch out for one another during our sessions together. Another lesson learned. Jim N.
I had successfully drift lauched the previous week at Mille Lacs... but I seemed to be doing something systematically wrong on this day (...perhaps due to the wilder conditions).
Barry & Jim did offer assistance when I was rigging my 9m (and Barry later showed me on a map where I might find my kite) . The 9m was definitely a good kite for the conditions and it was my call to try it solo (lesson #1).
When I checked the lines after it drifted out ..they were crossed. It tried to correct rather than abort immediately (lesson #2). Somehow the kite pulled out of my hands and my leash was purposely not attached to the OS line ....given the open space and no traffic, I believe attaching the leash the the OS line would have been a better call to give me the option to flag the kite (I could always pull my leash safety and ditch the rig as a final option...lesson #3). The kite drifted out faster than I could catch it (and not in the same direction as the wind...lesson #4)
I was never in any danger... the whole thing played out relatively slowly... and it ended up being an expensive lesson.
After you took off to find your kite it continued for a quite a while on the tack we had plotted on the map... straight to Big Point. Finally as it got way out there (2-3 miles?), its course began to gain a little more of a easterly angle. Assuming this continued, Agate Bay might be where it actually ended up or perhaps as far south as Picard Point. Again, there are shallow rocky reefs for the control bar in that area so... who knows?
By this time its:
1) in somebody's trunk
2) on the bottom of Mille Lacs
3) in someone's trash can
4) wrapped around a dock
5) still hung up on a reef out on the lake
6) washed up on some shoreline and no one has noticed
7) ????
There's 6 miles of shoreline between Malmo and Hunter's. That's the area I would recommend focusing on. If you were to walk the shoreline, I think I'd start from the resort just south of Malmo and go south. I hope to kite on Milly Sunday. I'd be willing to start from Hunter's and go north until we meet. I'd be a hike and a bit of a long shot after a week...
More walkers would shorten the search effort... but if you want to try it, Bill, my cell is 763-232-2726. I'm in.
Is there anyone out there who could just be cruising around the highway ready to pick us up and get us back to aour cars? We'd want to be able to contact you by cell phone.
Any better ideas?
If you're interested, I'd say let's start walking around 9AM. The South winds (hopefully) don't look good until after 12:00. I'm hoping for another go at Reddy.
I'll have the Jetski up there tomorrow. We're doing lessons most of the afternoon, but if it isn't found by later in the day, stop by Malmo, I'll take a run down the East side and see what I can see.
Another thought I had....it might be benefitial to make up a flyer and drop it in all the mailboxes along the eastern side. I know it'd be a lot of work but if you're cruisin the east side anyway tomorrow, it would help hit the cabins where the owners aren't home.
Thanks everyone!!!
I think the shoreline hunt is a great idea. Unfortunately... I will be tied up tomorrow ... I have my 3 children competing at the USATF state track meet tomorrow at St. Thomas.
I have posted an ad in the Mill Lacs messenger and have made up flyers to put out in stores on Monday. I was thinking of renting a boat to cruise the shoreline... but I didn't consider walking it ...despite all the upwind walking I've done at Malmo...I should have done this earlier.
If you get a chance to look a bit tomorrow... that would be great... and I'll pick up the chase on Monday.
It ends up that the kite drifted overnight almost right back to my launch site (within a mile of Reddy Beach). A homeowner found it the next day tangled around his dock and kept it in his boathouse for the last 3 weeks. They spotted the lost and found add in the Mille Lac Messenger and I picked it up yesterday. Thanks for the help!
The kite, lines, and bar were in almost perfect condition! It washed up on the North shore which was all sand. The kite was fully inflated when the owner found it.... he deflated it some to get it into the boathouse It took about an hour to untangle the lines. The kite still feels and looks new. There is one small L-shaped tear in the canopy about 2" x 2"... I'm following the links at Lakawa to find best way to repair... it will cost about $35 at Airtime.
That seems like a pretty good deal compared to where I was last week.
I had also kayaked the shoreline and put out flyers... but I never thought to look north of Malmo.
I was out on my new Turbo2 9m kite at Reddy and I got my lines crossed on a drift launch. The kite launched and I had to release. The winds were mostly from the west and I expected to head downwind towards Malmo to pick up.. but the current quickly took it offshore almost straight out south toward Hunters Point / Father Hennepin. 
Jim N.
. The 9m was definitely a good kite for the conditions and it was my call to try it solo (lesson #1). 