ive only really been kiting for half a season and because i only have an 8m until recently i havent really had much chance to get out on the water in the last few months.

but lately it seems im having trouble with my launches. the kite filles up with air and goes tight from the wind but when i give the thumbs up my kite has a tendency to fall down wind into the power zone. my kite has a small leak in it but nothing serious i can use the kite for a few hours before it starts causing problems but do i need to just simply stand further upwind with respect to the kite for a smoother launch or is this leak a real issue that i need to address? i just got a 12m and had a similiar situation on the weekend im afraid if i dont figure this one out soon im likely to injure myself

I see this happen almost every time i go kiteing .My theory is it is better to be a little up wind than to far down wind and have your kite bounce into the power zone .what i would do is get into the position you normaly launch in and then take an extra step into the wind and bring the kite up slowly .should do the trick (IMO )

Saw something similar to this on the weekend at Pinnaroo Pt (may or may not be the same incident). Problem seemed to be caused by line/bar twist (not sure, but they took a long time to get it right). Anyway when the kite originally launched it scooted down the beach and collided with a hobby cat. The critical point this made was ensuring a clear launch area downwind - particurlarly if not confident.

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Originally posted by poor relative

check your lines. Back lines may be too short.

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but couldnt this be adjusted for by depowering/powering the kite unless they were way too short. an wouldnt it be worse for the back lines to be too long though

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Originally posted by rogue

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Originally posted by poor relative

check your lines. Back lines may be too short.

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but couldnt this be adjusted for by depowering/powering the kite unless they were way too short. an wouldnt it be worse for the back lines to be too long though

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No, Your kite should launch with no tenstion at all on the backlines.

Launching with to short backlines will either result in kite falling back into the window, in **** wind.

or

Hot uncontrollable launch pulling you downwind fast, in strong/good winds.

You have to think about how the tension on the lines is effecting the shape of your kite. Tight back lines will tighten the leach of the kite. pulling the whole trailing edge down and together, effectivily increasing the profile of the kite. The kite is now not acting as a sail but more like a bed sheet pulling straight downwind with no lift (what keeps the kite in the air, and at the edge of the wind window. What you want to do is allow equal tension on both lines and letting the kite naturaly take its own shape, while still maintaining enough tension on the backlines to stop the kite tilting down.

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Originally posted by rogue

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Originally posted by cardigirl

Saw something similar to this on the weekend at Pinnaroo Pt (may or may not be the same incident). Problem seemed to be caused by line/bar twist (not sure, but they took a long time to get it right). Anyway when the kite originally launched it scooted down the beach and collided with a hobby cat. The critical point this made was ensuring a clear launch area downwind - particurlarly if not confident.

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nah wasnt me ive never been to pinnaroo pt. but i learnt to ensure a clear launch area downwind when i helped some one else launch and the kite fell down wind and almost took out a couple of tourists

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You are right Rogue, always shorten your fronts a little by pulling on the depower strap before launching.
Forget about all this other rear lines front lines stuff, you should know by now and it sounds like you do, how to rig and set your lines up.
When launching, if you simply look at your kite and watch what it is doing, you will see it telling you where you need to be in the wind window (relative to it).
If the upper wing tip is lunging forwards, then move back, in the opposite direction.
If the upper wing tip is lunging back (towards the centre of the wind window) then move forwards.
When you are in the right spot, the upper tip stays still, the whole sail is tight and the upper wing tip pointing straight up.
Same goes for self launching or assisted launching.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve McCormack
www.kitepower.com.au