Hi All,
Was just rethinking a deep water self rescue I did a few months back, and would like others ideas on how best to flip a big kite from floating on the leading edge to being on its back ready to sail it in to shore.

I had a lot of trouble doing this, with a 12m 4 line bridled low aspect kite (not my kite so not that familiar with it), I just couldnt seem to flip it over. Got there in the end I think by pulling on the right steering line while holding the left wing tip, but it was pretty ugly, as I was buggered, and especially as the lines had got a wee bit tight and tangled by then

Since then I have been trying to visualise other ways to achieve it, with better safety and more likely to pull you shorewards.

Any input?

Hi Knickers

One way of flipping a kite over onto its back is to grab the very end of one wing tip and fold it back under its self. Then work the fold in the LE towards the middle of LE and by the time you get 1/3 of the way there the air pressure in the LE will "unfold" the rest of the kite leaving it sitting on its back ( sorry i know this might not be the best way to explain it but i know what i mean )

i think i have a photo sequence kicking around somewhere in an old instructor manual so if the above dribble doesn't make sense let me know and i will try and dig it up.

12m, try it on an 18+m c kite.

Actually that's not fair. The kites were crap so we got plenty of practise self rescuing.

I think for the bigger kites best bet was deflate the leading edge about 25% (still stiff but foldable) fold the tips together then pick up one side leading edge and the wind should fill the sail and roll it over for you.

If there is really not enough wind to turn it over you are better off deflating the leading edge, roll up the kite and paddle it back in like a surf board (struts still inflated)