does any1 have any tips on how to relaunch the rebel 9/7 metres..... I tried to helpsome1 else out getting theirs back in the airbut couldn't get it up at all with any consistency

well when it's lying on its back directly downwind of you in the water, the front lines are slack and the steering lines are tight,

you pull one of the steering lines and instead of cathing the wind in it, the entire kite just rotates abit. the kite tips don't flex to grab the wind, the whole kite just turns, so the kite actually floats a little to the opposite side of the window (opposite to the back line your pulling).but it doesn't float very far to the opposite side, its still basically stuck there upside down... when it eventually relaunched it was more luck than technique , following it luffing straight off the water with many many yanks of either steering line randomly to try and get it to somehow " swing" into the air.

*edited*
I just had a look throught the review post... so what I was doing was pretty much what you do, assuming your safety leash is hooked onto the 5th line.. couple more questions.... how much of the back line in the smaller kite sizes do you need to pull in ie is the second knot enough.... and then when it gets out near the edge of the window do you hold that in until it gets airborne or do you release it at some stage and grab the other side to get it out of the water, cheers

Ok what i have found.

When its on its back it is one big huge fat pain in the arse to get up, especially if the 5th is limp. In that case all i can suggest is swim on in.

If the fifth is tight tho its possible to do. Grab that cleat thingo and pull towards you. Keep tension on it the whole time. Then grab a back line, pull it in until it starts heading to the edge.

As the kite twists around release some pressure on the cleat and if all is well up she goes.

I have found this method works sort of 70% of the time. Sometimes you just gotta pull push and hope for the best.
Alternativly dont drop it on its back, sle/hybrid/bows especially the rebel just aint into being throw on their back.

Yeah space boy maybe your right, i was on a bridled kite last year and could relaunch it just about whatever position it was in, unless of course it was a crumpled bow tied mess.
The rebel is a different story tho, back down probably 30% of the time your swimmin.

are you on messanger
poor.relative @ hotmail.com

This probably sounds really technical and confusing but the Rebel is very easy to water relaunch when you know the unorthodox and rebellious technique! I've never had mine invert before.

push the bar out

try not to let it flip onto its back like C-kites - try to keep the kite on its leading edge.

if the kite is dead downwind of you on its leading edge (not on its back) pick a side for it to launch and grab one of the back lines and slowly pull it towards you. if you do it too fast it flips over and tries to go up like a hot launch downwind of you. - its just TOO easy to water relaunch.

if the kite is on its leading edge and not on its back in the water BUT to one side (not directly downwind) grab one of the back lines slowly and help it go to the best side for water relaunch. KEEP THE BAR OUT AND PUSHED FORWARD. When it sails to the edget then take the bar. This is the safest way of water relaunching.

If the kite does flip on its back grab a bit of the 5th line hold it and launch it like a C-kite by using a little bit of back line.

From my experience ALL kites SUCK when it comes to Water relaunching in really REALLy light winds they will ALL do dumb things. So if you are still a beginner and struggling in light winds keep this in mind. In stronger winds it's easier.


This has been asked before and im constantly getting asked about this:

Water relaunching the Rebel

It water relaunches VERY easy in fact way too easy sometimes! It's easy when you know the right technique!

I found keeping the kite directly downwind of you with leading edge down on the water...DONT bother trying to flip it on its back like C-kites. Just push that bar out and pull on one of the back lines and you can even hot launch it. If it falls to one side of the window when it hits the water you can pull the bar in and steer it up into the air.

If its on its back just use your 5th line and launch it like a C-kite. There are so many options.

Wish it was as easy and quick as you all make it out to be. It always lands fully on its back for me, not much I can do to stop it while I'm head first in the drink! Might try using it as a suicide.

Also, does anyone have trouble reaching the depower/power?? Anyway I can bring it closer to me so I can use it will riding and not have to stop?????

... a few people post without reading the full text...
im being specific about the kite landing on it's back, ie, you pull a side line when it's in the water and on it's back ( upside down canopy in the water ) and nothing happens, thanks for the info I'll have to do more trying... sound like a suicide will be the solution, is dan on the rebels or the vegas?

Hmmm never ever had trouble with the Rebel launching unless it was in really light wind ...wind that doesn't even get you moving and you shouldn't be using it! I found all kites do wierd things during these conditions. I've had the 5th line wrap around it once...wasn't a drama.