Struggling To Relaunch

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Jukesy
Jukesy
VIC
127 posts
VIC, 127 posts
18 Jul 2015 1:27am
So I've just started going upwind in my past few sessions and I've found that most times I crash the kite it gets drenched in water.
This makes it really hard to relaunch and I end up just swimming back into shore, towing the kite.

Does anyone have any tips to avoid this or how to relaunch it when waters all over it?



Cheers, Ben
Plummet
Plummet
4862 posts
4862 posts
18 Jul 2015 5:36am
Practice not crashing the kite in the first place. In your lessons they may have said let go of the bar when you crash. That is means you are not doing the death grip and sending the kite into death loops. BUT if you keep your cool and concentrate on no flying the kite while you crash then you will be able to stop the kite crashing into the water 9 times out of 10.

If do need to relaunch fast. Try reaching up the leader line of the upwind wind tip and pulling hard. Then when you get the kite out of the water let go of the line and fly the with the bar as per normal.
Loftywinds
Loftywinds
QLD
2060 posts
QLD, 2060 posts
18 Jul 2015 9:49am
What sort of kite are you using Jukes? Good to see you're up and riding. Keep it up man. Well done.
not all kites are easy to relaunch especially foil kites And old ones.
Try to go a bit more upwind or downwind until you start to feel one of the tips starting to lift. Sometimes, just holding one of the steering lines up will eventually flip it up again. Practice, but it is harder in light winds too.
if the kite is water logged, try and pull both steering lines together to lift the back of the kite and drain most of the water off. You can even reverse launch a kite sometimes this way, and as soon as it's above water, let go gently or quickly of one of the steering lines and the kite can naturally spin itself upright.
Jukesy
Jukesy
VIC
127 posts
VIC, 127 posts
18 Jul 2015 2:01pm
When I crash I usually keep the kite out of the water but it's just sometimes when the wind drops off or whatever and the kite drops. I'm using a 2008 rebel and 2013 crossbow. I can relaunch it when waters not on it but when it gets covered in water and water sits in between the struts that's when I have trouble.

Just2807
Just2807
181 posts
181 posts
18 Jul 2015 7:42pm
Don't know about rebel but with crossbow, u just get it at the edge of wind window and pull "upper" steering line. It will practically selflaunch but sometimes needs "deeper" pool.
1 of your launching problems may be low wind/stretched lines. Be sure to tune the bar and use at least minimum wind recommendation for your kite as a beginner.
flyingcab
flyingcab
VIC
942 posts
VIC, 942 posts
19 Jul 2015 11:53am
What technique are you using?
If you are just pulling a steering line to relaunch the kite, yes this will work in normal wind, but there are 2 other techniques I use to help me in light winds. Both of these methods assume the kite is directly downwind of you, with the LE in the water.
1. this is the easier one, you pull the one steering line and the opposite centreline as well. This will help the kite roll over easily. Once its on its side, let go of the centreline and walk it to the edge of the wind window like usual.

2. If you can stand in the water this one is really good in super light winds, but you can easily invert the kite if you do it wrong.
let go of the bar, and keep one steering line in your hand. Standing up, quickly pull hard on the centrelines then walk towards your kite. What this will do is make the kite roll backwards as if it will invert, at this point you want to pull in the steering line and the kite will fold/roll over itself and go onto its side. From here you would have stopped walking, and you simply walk the kite to the edge of the window and relaunch as normal.

Once you have these techniques in your quiver you will have a much easier time kiting in light winds. The second technique is a bit risky, practice it a couple times and once you get it you will be fine, out of me and my friends I was the only one who pulled it too hard and actually inverted the kite.

I will try find some videos for you to help explain it better
flyingcab
flyingcab
VIC
942 posts
VIC, 942 posts
19 Jul 2015 12:00pm
If your rebel is 5 line, you can use that 5th line to help relanch as well, like in this video:


Edit: found a much better vid of what I was talking about. has the 5th line, the centre line pulling one etc.. hope this helps Ben


Also another thing I remembered, if you are in deep water and can't touch the bottom, keep your board on your feet to help create drag and increase the tension in your lines, if you lose your board you will have to tread water against the kite.
weebitbreezy
weebitbreezy
635 posts
635 posts
20 Jul 2015 8:18pm
Out of interest, are you only having problems when the wind drops or more often? From my experience the Rebels aren't the easiest kites to relaunch when the wind is very light.
Jukesy
Jukesy
VIC
127 posts
VIC, 127 posts
21 Jul 2015 12:13am
Not really, it's mostly when it goes down and had water on it. I
Cannot relaunch it and resort to swimming it back in.
Sammyjay
Sammyjay
VIC
180 posts
VIC, 180 posts
21 Jul 2015 9:57pm
Jukesy,

How well inflated is your kite? I don't know what the 2008 Rebel is like but i have a 2012 12m and a 2014 9m and both re launch in the water really easy, as others have said, in lighter winds they can be a pain and take a little longer. Otherwise any decent wind and the kites ready to jump up.

Almost all my water re launches are done by the first method in those videos, pulling on one steering line to catch the wind, the kite then walks along the water to the edge of the wind window and then comes up.

As Just2807 said maybe have a look at your lines and trim the accordingly. Keep at it, perhaps instead of walking in next time you crash the kite, spend the time to move the kite along the water and really practice those water relaunches, they're a critical ability you should master.
dafunk
dafunk
QLD
561 posts
QLD, 561 posts
22 Jul 2015 10:55pm
Im guessing light winds?
If it has 5 lines , pull 5th till it rolls , then steer .
If 4 lines , if it wont launch 1 way go the other .
or direct it deeper to window ,then try again;-]
reverse launch last.
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