How funny... 9 months away from Dolls and the forum and not much change here....

Here are my 2c:

I'm generally against establishing rules. Rules generally constrain and they do not always make sense for all the parties kiting. I rather view things as recommendations (or kite conduct). I would propose for Dolls:

1. It is recommended to maintain 2 line length from the beach, if you are someone that doesn't have outstanding kite control (i.e. beginners/intermediates). The same applies to advance riders trying tricks they don't nail all the time.

2. We should establish a recommended launching/landing area and a kite "parking" area. When I was in Egypt, they had a very simple system. They stretched a 40m rope in an "L"-shape creating a "virtual" box. The rope was pinned down to the sand with 3 camping pins. This box was the launching and landing area, but no kite was allowed to be left in the area (neither were lines). I would propose this to be in the section where the beach is wider and not at the top (very narrow) section of Dolls. The top section should be used to park/rig the kites. Given Kitepower is the biggest beneficiary of Dolls Point and best placed to provide this infrastructure, I would propose them to put up the rope

3. I agree it should be recommended to roll up the lines. At least those kites that "come late". If you're the first kite on the beach, you can probably get away with your lines being on the sand (no one is going to get hurt by the lines, given no one is recommended to launch from there anyway). It just becomes annoying when there is a salad of lines and the one of the bottom wants to go to launch.

4. No self-launches/landings are recommended. Even if you're a pro in doing it, it is recommendable to have someone to assist you. Even if you want to practice it. That also applies to foils. It is safer to have someone close by with an eye on your launch who is in a good position to help if things go wrong.

5. It is recommended entering the water from the launch zone and not through walking up the beach like many do. Walking up the beach to the groin should really only be done when the wind is super light and it is extremely difficult to stay/go up-wind. Otherwise, it is recommended for the rider to go into the water from the launch zone and tack up wind in the water. It is not only risky to walk up wind (kite may end up in the trees, etc.) it is also annoying for those riding to always have one line lengths + a kite hovering over the water when they are trying to use the flat section behind the groin.

Ok, maybe it was 4c....

Anyway, Granini/Bozo/Boozo et. al. this is my addition to the post

M

amen!

Ok, I tried being nice.... There is no way at DOLLS (can you hear me??) that you should EVER move your kite while on land towards the TREES!!, WALL!!, or any where past 12.. Kites on land entering the water HAVE RIGHT OF WAY.. If you can not understand that, please kite away from the setup area, there is simply not enough space and this is a RULE/RECOMMENDATION that all locals respect. Please try to fit in, after all we need to keep our beach safe.

Granini,

I'm not going to argue with you on the foils thing. It's not imporatant enough given you are probably the only one with one down at Dolls.

With regards to flying the kites over the beach, I must agree with that Maxim guy. The top section of Dolls point is too narrow. My 24m lines + bridle get very close to the trees (even at a 70 degree angle, i.e. 11o'clock). Keeping the kite at 12o'clock is not ideal either.

So I stick to my recommendation. Kites should be launched on the wide section of the beach and riders should then go straight into the water and not walk up to the rock groin. If you can't go up wind, there is still plenty of space downwind and people who can't go up wind are definitely not recommended to be walking with the kite in the air close to trees, etc anyway....

Why don't they count for at least another month???