Drift launch video - shows drifting the kite at 90 degrees

[RobH]

I found this video as a recent post was asking about drift launch. The interesting thing is I realized Is they show spining the kite to 90 degrees, LE down and at side drift (let it drift as you would like to see it launch) instead of LE down facing you. Here is the video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_sm9q6V3bIM


Has anyone had issues doing the drifting the kites out sideways this way ?

[Tighe]

Yes, they are correct. If you let it drift down with the LE perpendicular to the wind, two things can happen. In high winds and waves, the LE can rise enough to get wind under it and the kite will roll downwind or if you're near the end of the lines, hot launch...NOT GOOD. In very light winds it can float directly downwind and end up in the same position, LE into the wind, even maybe invert.

We teach people to turn the kite 90 degrees before letting go of the kite. Never had an issue, in the hundreds of launches we do off the ski.

[Dave Z]

One extra thing to do is to splash a bunch of water up onto the canopy of the kite before setting it adrift. This will help prevent the kite from flipping over.

[Tighe]

good point Dave. Not as easy to do from the back of a ski, but when in the water yes, that would stabilize it as it floats down wind.

[Terry Dunklee]

Rather than splash water onto the canopy a quick one-handed submersion of the leading edge between the center and middle struts puts adequate water on the canopy to stabilize the kite just before letting go

[Eric Bro]

Nice video. Thanks!

Monday was a successful day off the pontoon; I was able to get a good session in. The drift launch went well and I set the kite adrift as in the video. Getting the lines off the bar quickly enough was dicy, but worked ok. I might try the suggestion of using a tub to lay the lines in.

Keeping the chicken loop attached to the pontoon also worked well. I actually didn't leave the pontoon until I had the kite overhead and my board on my feet!

Eric

[Tighe]

you're not letting the kite drift as you take the lines off the bar are you? That is mucho dangerous.

[Eric Bro]

Tighe,

How do you let the lines out when drift launching off the jetski; if you're not on the beach or in shallow water, that is?

[Dean Rizer]

Rob the 90 degrees release has worked for me. I noticed that the kiter in the video did not touch his bar until the kite was on it's wing and almost into the wind. I haven't tried that technique I've always held the bar. Two times my bridle picked up sticks or weeds during the drift and the kite started spinning immediately as it turned. In both instances I had to punch out and thankfully the kite hit the water and stopped spinning. Right at the end of the drift is when I'm expecting anything.

[Tighe]

Eric.
On the jetski, we head upwind with the kite wingtips up, bar wound up and near LE and student letting it flap out behind the boat. When we get about 2/3 rds of the way up the lake, I'll put the jetski in idle. It is still going forward very slowly. I have the student turn around and sit backward on the ski. I have them rotate the kite a bit to either side. This keeps the lines from getting caught in between the strut and the canopy as you take the lines off. So as they hold the kite with one hand (or you can have them take the kite leash up through their spreader bar and hook it on the pump leash attachment) they take the lines off the bar and throw them out over the canopy. Eventually you end up the bar, lines going downwind and back up to the kite. You can check to make sure they are clear, i.e. no line clusters. then you flip the bar and LE on axis. Now the wingtips are in the water. Check the lines once more (the jetski is still idling forward). Often times the lines will catch on one of the struts when you flip it. (clear them). Set the LE on the water, turn 60-90 degrees and let go. I usually recommend hooking into your leash and holding your LE. Holding the bar just powers up the kite. As the lines tension I shut the ski off or put in neutral. I usually have the rider jump into the water. NOT TOWARDS THE KITE THOUGH as the slack in the lines can cause the kite to roll. Launch and go.

hope that helps.

[Eric Bro]

Thanks, Tighe

I'll try a version of that on the pontoon.

Eric