Use the sandbag anchor launch, with a very strong bag with a lot (and I mean a lot) of sand in it. If you can drag it, the kite can drag it harder.

landing:
put the kite down on its wingtip on the edge of the window. when it's stable, keeping the lines taut, walk around upwind. the kite will roll on its back. make sure there's nothing on the ground under the kite that will pierce the canopy. effectively the same as punching out, but less dramatic.

walk up the centre lines to the kite. your choice whether to unclip first; the merits either way are obvious.

very simple, but worth getting someone to show you. self-landing can turn ugly if you fk it up and the kite loops.

launching:
also simple, but get someone to show you. there are ways to do it, and ways to not.

have the kite depowered enough so it doesn't smack you but still flies.

gday best advise is to give it a big miss.keep doing assisted launching and landing until you have clocked up afew more hours.i only started doing unassisted launchs and landing after id been kiting for a good year,and felt that i was confident with my kite in different wind conditions and sites,get farmiliar with your safety system.all the best.

If, as a beginner, you try the spin launch as in that Cabrinha video, you may get away with it - you may not.

There are many things that can go wrong when a beginner is trying this - so many that it would be difficult to make a video that covered them all.

You may not have the perfect conditions as in the video.

You might make a mistake in connecting the lines or forget to check all the pulleys are free and the bridle is not tangled.

A pulley can jam due to sand or any tiny thing on the beach that can jam a pulley, like a very tiny piece of seaweed.

The bridles might snag as you turn the kite, which can make the kite loop with a lot of power. That can happen real fast as the kite fills with wind.

You might get confused as to which side of the bar to pull to correct the kite if it lifts off too fast, or over-correct.


Its best to get assisted launches until you are familiar with your kite and launching and landing.

If you are then self-launching, I think it is best to start on the anchor method. You can even fly the kite into the air to check it while it is still attached to the anchor. Again, you need to learn how to do it right and what can go wrong and what to do when things go wrong. The anchor method can be reversed at any point.

With the spin launch, if it goes wrong you have to recognise that very fast and be capable of Q/R very fast. Beginners tend not to be thinking that way.

The landing part of the video should be OK, as long as you keep a tight grip of both front lines as you make your way to the kite and make sure that from your hands to the kite, both front lines are always equal length.

TimboNbailey said...

Hey guys thanks for all the replies /links / and advice so far ..i have been.using the anchor method with.no.dramas and.think i will get a bit/lot more experience before trying to self launch upwind as realising how dangerous this cam be with all the research I've been doing....thanks

Good on you for being prepared to take on the extra hassle to be safe.

The anchor launch is also easier on your kite, so you can save money by using it.

AndyEliotH said...
save carrying a bag around get a big blue sand screw, there about 30 bucs at BCF so then u just put a carabina on the end and screw it up, shred came in and do the same as u do with ur bag.

These http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/products/Bluescrew-Sand-Anchor-Large-2-Pack.aspx?pid=131536&menuFrom=21212#Description

I checked out the blue screw at bcf....has anyone used this? Is it strong enough to do the job?
Cheers

wow the Wombat looks like its got the goods..
Thanks

Kazan said...
This thread should be called 'Self launch for gooses that should know better".

pmsl...Kazan I spose you have a willing person to launch and land you every time you kite??? Lucky for some hey??
Seems you have nothing positive to add...Thanks anyway

When self landing a kite at some stage of the ( after landed ) and safely secured down point don't you rely on some luck that a gust doesn't scoop the kite up?
Even walking up the lines with fifth line,etc,secured in your hand.
I would imagine that once landed if you secured to anchor point then followed the same steps up the lines would be safer.

Just Sayin