I have a couple of kites - my biger one is a SS fuel and with its square wing tips is OK to pile on sand onto the folded wingtip - and the launch just fine.

BUT ...the other one is a Cabrinha Revolver which has swept back wingtips which dont seem to so friendly to the normal 'fold it over and load it with sand' approach. All of the sand seems to be loaded too far back and the kite is very unstable on the beach (scary when you are walking back to the bar!!).

Wots the safe technique for self launching one of these fandangled bow kites??

Cheers, Lambie

face the kite into the wind.. run the lines from the back of the kite.. hook in and pull around from say 12 to 3.. the kite will just stand up on its tip.. pull the bar in a little. and up she comes.. not recommended when launching on rocks.

follow the rest of the 'herd' to (all about)youtube

Er.. Lambie - do a search mate. There are a few recent threads on SB floating about.