After crashing and having the kite roll through the lines I have ended up with 1 steering line crossed through the centre lines. (4 line kite). I know how to pass the bar for 2 steering lines crossed but I cant figure out how to do it with 1 line crossed. Usually I just fly back to the beach and fix it but it would be great to know how to solve this on the water. Especially if a boat launch has failed. Kite is on the water on leading edge, can anyone help with this?
It's usually a steering line needs to go around the bar. Not an easy one to fix in the water as you need to pull the steering line so far to get it around the bar.
I reckon you would have to unhook and pass the chicken loop through on one side but not the other. Imagine its like the bar is a stick which you point at the twist and unwind it. Keep the kite de-powered by holding the front lines and pulling towards you. If you get enough slack in the back lines it shouldnt turn the kite. I'd put the kite in the water on the side of the untwisted back line to undo it and then relaunch. Be ready to deploy the safety if it all goes wrong!
Yeah I think I got it. So turn the bar back in the direction of the twist 90° and then roll that end through the front lines keeping the steering line thats not twisted free. I would disconnect my leash and hold on the the front lines at the Y inetersection. Thanks!
been done but can't remember why , however..... you have to unhook the leash and pass it through, can leave the kite in deathloop mode if not done quickly.
I have done it with an IDS Cabrinha when able to stand.
Pulled the centrelines in until I was holding the bottom of the centrelines. The kite was then depowered and stable and I could unhook and pass the bar end through.
Key seems to be to have pulled in enough of the centrelines so both rear lines will be slack. So when you pass the bar end through, there is no steering going on.
Would be difficult to do floating in the water because its hard to see which way to pass the bar and hard to see where the lines are in the water.
Might be something that could be learned by practising in light wind and waist deep water.
Sounds like your just better off getting back to shore and fixing it there, Why take the risk of the kite looping , getting tangled in your lines,or dropping the front lines when your unhooked .And were is your board when all this is going on , about 200m down wind !!!
Thanks all very good points about the risks. Anyway it is a good skill to know, last time i missed out on a kite in open ocean from a failed boat launch this would have been handy to know. If kiting from land i will definately opt to sort it out on shore.
Yes thinking about it you have to disconnect the leash and unhook so be prepared to lose your kite if it goes wrong. At least death looping is not a problem if you are totally disconnected. I'd say this one is for the very experienced... only do it if you are in the middle of the English channel , have no other choice and you have to meet some French chick for a croissant.
, however..... you have to unhook the leash and pass it through, can leave the kite in deathloop mode if not done quickly.
