I don't mind the odd drift launch when I'm at a lake, done it probably 15 times without incident. I setup my lines down wind as close to the water line as I possibly can. I then do a good old fashioned emu walk to clear any sticks between the lines and the water. Then a hook into the safety and walk out in a long loop towards the front of the kite where my board is waiting for me. Grab the kite in the right and have the bar and board in my left and start walking out into the water till I get at least two line lengths away from the trees. During the walk I keep an eye on the lines to make sure it hasn't picked up any crap on the way out. Let the kite go, wait for it to spin and launch. Works a treat, every time, except.. Today.

Trying out my new Blade fat lady for the first time, so I take it somewhere I know will have f*£k all wind so I can get used to the bar and kite. This kite is a monster 17m, so finding somewhere to rig her was a challenge. Anyway couldn't lay the lines out next to the shore like I usually do so had to go bush and clear the twigs as best I could. Set her up and headed out on to the lake, looked pretty good, couldn't see any tangles etc. let the kite go and get ready for some light wind awesomeness. The kite drifts back to its tether and there right in the middle of all the lines is a freakin tiny twig that had managed to hook every single line!

Those playing at home will of course realise that when you tie your lines into a knot it's perfect positioning for a replay of the video posted in the other thread about water launching. The stick effectively killed any chance I had of safely dealing with the stick as, even if I released the safety the lines where knotted at that point so it remains powered up. In this case it was only 5-9 knots of wind and I had a lot of space downwind but far out.. Even in 5 knots the kite was pulling pretty hard, so I was looking down the barrell of jettisoning my brand new baby, as I tried a self recovery of sorts to bring the bar up to the stick to get rid of it. I was happy to be a heavy kiter today!

I ended up getting her back in and rigging the lines across the water and launching her okay. My arms felt like lead but was glad to escape unscathed from another n00b kiting tragedy Hope this helps my fellow Noobs self drift launching around twigs.

TL/DR: Have someone with you when you drift launch to check there is no **** caught in your lines, or even better do an assisted launch.

I guess if I stood on the board and sat on the kite I could probably do that, otherwise it might be a handful?

Make a small anchor with a milk jug and sand, fill it with water, and sink it. Have another smaller jug floating so you can see it later. Attach your board to that first, then go get your kite set up. We only have enough hands and once the kite is up in the air you can walk or body drag back to where your board is. Simple velcro release on the rope/anchor and you are away.

How are you meant to keep holding kite whilst unrolling lines? I'm picturing bird nest material! I do need to learn this though!

terminal said...

blueseas said...
How are you meant to keep holding kite whilst unrolling lines? I'm picturing bird nest material! I do need to learn this though!

I have done it by clipping the kiteleash to the pump loop, then unwinding the lines as I walked.

They can still get loops in them that way or get snagged on something, but if the water is clean and the bottom sandy you can have a good chance of no problems.

I reckon that idea has merit. Once the lines are on the water they generally float and with a bit of wind if you are patient enough the lines should pay out behind the kite nicely. I'll give it a go next time I head to the lake.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

terminal said...

I have done it by clipping the kiteleash to the pump loop, then unwinding the lines as I walked.

They can still get loops in them that way or get snagged on something, but if the water is clean and the bottom sandy you can have a good chance of no problems.

Tried this technique out today and it worked a treat; set the kite up on shore and then wound the lines back on the bar. The guy that sells that turbo launcher has a good point about twisting your wrist as you wrap the lines so that they unlay right on the way out. Once i had wrapped within about six meters of the kite i put the rubber bands around the ends and then brought the bar around to one side of the kite and flipped that side of the kite over to try and minimize twist. With a 9 meter kite the 6 meter slack seemed to be mostly taken up once i had the bar in the middle.

Walked out about 50 meters from the launch area, put my TT underfoot. Flipped the kite back over in the opposite direction, i.e. so the kite doesnt do a full 360 and introduce a twist and hooked my safety onto the pump leash. The kite just sits nicely on the water while the bungy in the safety minimizes any undue strain on the pump loop stitching. It was great being able to pay the lines out nice and slowly making sure you don't introduce tangles. Once I let all the line out I lifted up the kite to quadripple check for snags. Was a bit awkward trying to unclip from the pump loop in 25kts with the kite cavitating in the wind but it all worked out in the end.. Next time I might even remember to hook in!

Dl33ta said...

terminal said...

I have done it by clipping the kiteleash to the pump loop, then unwinding the lines as I walked.

They can still get loops in them that way or get snagged on something, but if the water is clean and the bottom sandy you can have a good chance of no problems.

Tried this technique out today and it worked a treat; set the kite up on shore and then wound the lines back on the bar. The guy that sells that turbo launcher has a good point about twisting your wrist as you wrap the lines so that they unlay right on the way out. Once i had wrapped within about six meters of the kite i put the rubber bands around the ends and then brought the bar around to one side of the kite and flipped that side of the kite over to try and minimize twist. With a 9 meter kite the 6 meter slack seemed to be mostly taken up once i had the bar in the middle.

Walked out about 50 meters from the launch area, put my TT underfoot. Flipped the kite back over in the opposite direction, i.e. so the kite doesnt do a full 360 and introduce a twist and hooked my safety onto the pump leash. The kite just sits nicely on the water while the bungy in the safety minimizes any undue strain on the pump loop stitching. It was great being able to pay the lines out nice and slowly making sure you don't introduce tangles. Once I let all the line out I lifted up the kite to quadripple check for snags. Was a bit awkward trying to unclip from the pump loop in 25kts with the kite cavitating in the wind but it all worked out in the end.. Next time I might even remember to hook in!

Its not a bad idea to hook in as soon as you have finished winding the lines onto the bar. If you dont, its surprisingly easy for the bar to find a way to pass between lines while you are handling the kite and it, and you usually wont notice until the kite is in the air.