To all you guy's out there who are having trouble self launching your bow's here is how you do it.
Set your kite up as per normal with the lines rolled out up wind of your kite,little bit of sand on the leading edge,Now here is the trick you turn and position the kite so that one of the wing tip's is catching a LITTLE bit of wind, the sand on the leading edge keeps the kite secure,then you make your way to the bar hook in and now pull the back line that is going to the wing tip that you exposed a little bit to the wind already,the kite will swing around leading edge down in the down wind relaunch position,keep a hold of the back line and the kite will simply take flite.
I was taught how to do this buy the Cabrinha rep and it works like a charm.
It is so easy and safe to do.
If any one on the Sunny Coast wants a demo of this please contact Luke at Kite Action Caloundra.

Hope this helps.

When you do the launch are you at 90 degrees to the wind or directly downwind?

Thanks

Would love to hear some ideas for a rocky beach!! Maybe a sand bag on the kite similar to the C style method of folding over a section of the kite but without the fold?? Could maybe steak the bag to the ground so that it doesn't fly off with the kite??
Anyone tried any of this??

4 methods I have used, all work.


1. attach your chickenloop to a fixed object, and launch the kite at the edge of the window your self (sketchiest and least reccomended, its pretty safe if you have a really ****en sturdy object. People have tied kites to cars before and had the car be moved, so be carefull).

2. Have lines set out downwind and walk around with the lines taught so the kite spins around and drags downwind, then reverse launch. (Big beach needed, plus ****s your kite up)

3.Place sand inside tip at the LE (like normal C self launch but dont fold the tip), just enough so the kite doesnt fly away. Then work around like a normal launch. You need to pull in the top line really hard so that the top tip begins to fly backwards, this will make the kite tip back and empty sand off the lower tip, Tug on the front lines to make it fly forwards dropping the left over sand as it rises. (Puts quite a bit of load on the kite, the canopy could tear from the LE.

4. Normal folded tip techinique. This requires a ton of sand, and the LE is folded alot (high risk of bladder or LE exploding, wouldnt do it with a crossbow/halo/TD type bow as it could tangle nastily).


I use number 3 the most. It requires a bit of practice to get the amount of sand right. To little and the kite flys awat before you get to the bar (Lost kite anyone?), to much and it wont launch at all unless your willing to tear the kite in half.


I have used number 1 to land my kite a few times. I don't like it but it does the job. I do walk up the front lines, In case the chickenloop and safety both giveway (or the object) I can grab the line (obviously walking on the upwind side). Wouldn't think of doing this in 20+ knots though.

quote:

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Originally posted by cliffor123

is this a list of the most dangerous things you can possibly do with kites?
i like the one where you start downwind and let it fly past you and you just wait for the pain.

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Dont know what video its in, but lou wainman does that with a 2 line wipi with 10m lines. Throws the kite in the air.

ten4 i think, maybe.

www.kitepower.com.au/blogs/news

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve McCormack

Hey Guys,

There is some pretty "interesting" ideas in amongst that lot, some which I wouldn't even imagine, let alone try.

There is one simple, practically fool-proof method as follows:-

1. Lay your kite downwind facing the wind direction, attach lines upwind.

2. turn your kite about 40 degree away from the direction of the wind and place a small amount of sand on the leading edge (about two handfuls)

3. The lines from the wingtip which is now more downwind should be carefully pulled under the more upwind wingtip so the lines come out about a metre forward of the from the tip under leading edge .

4. Run your lines and bar out to the side of the kite ie similar to a normal edge of wind window solo launch.

5. Position yourself so the kite is slightly further back in the window from Neutral and attach your safety leash, then trim loop.

6. Pull on the bar. As the lines under the leading edge are pulled first that wingtip fills with wind and rolls the kite up on it's side and lifts off, no hot launch, no hasssles. Just make sure you dont put more than two handfuls of sand on the leading edge.

There is no abrasion from the sand using this method, no hard pull from the kite and you are in control the whole time. I usually kkep a finger on the trigger release whilst doing this as a matter of habit, in case something should go wrong, but I have had a 100% success rate to date.

Please do not hot launch any kite in more than 8 knots!

Good winds,

Not a bad list Galah but launching unhooked is kind of a thing of the past and most people launch in the most ideal spot but there is not always plenty of room at all locations.

Practice and patience.