The other day my kite fell out of the sky hindenburg styles, and in the process it rolled itself forwards (or maybe backwards) thru the lines.

I relaunched it with no dramas and the front lines were now crossed with the back ones on each side.

I returned to shore, landed the kite, disconnected the lines, uncrossed, reattached etc...

Is there a way to untangle this in the air wihout having to land and disconnect the lines?

The short answer is no.

The only way to untangle back lines crossed between the front lines without landing the kite is to disconnect from the chicken loop (unhook) AND disconnect the safety leash... you then must pass the bar over or under the front lines (depending which way they are crossed) passed the centre line split. This is much easier done with type of bars and lines that have a centre line split ''V'' closer to the bar (i.e. Ozone, Slingshot) but much harder when the centre line split is further from the bar (most kite brands).

You technically could do this with the kite down in the water, but it's very difficult (especially in strong winds) and you run the obvious risk of loosing your kite or tangling the lines further, so I wouldn't recommend this.

The quickest ''safe'' way would be to fly back to the shore and have someone hold your kite at the edge of the window, then disconnect chicken loop and leash, pass your bar through the centre lines and sort out the tangles without disconnecting the lines or landing the kite, then have the assistant release your kite once the lines are clear.

Takes a bit of experience but if you get a chance to watch an experienced instructor untangle lines without disconnecting the lines, you can learn a lot of useful tips that will save you lots of time.

"inverting" the kite. Yup been there.

It is possible but probably traumatic to try to fix it by unhooking while on the water. Far, far, FAR easier to do what cbulota said and fly yourself in, land and sort your world out.

happened to me a few days ago. wind wasn't too strong, so in a lull i disconnected the leash, unhooked and passed the bar up through where the lines split Y.
was uneventful and affective. BUT would not be trying this in the mid to upper wind range of the kite.
you have to have it planned out first - then do it quickly.
also you must realise if things don't go to plan you will be swimming after the kite.

expecting some flack from the fun police, but at the time there was no pull in the kite.

suniboy21 said..

Best way to avoid lines going super slack is to be quick to yank the kite to one side, once you feel its about to stall and fall out of the sky. Try pulling the tightest steering line to try and direct the kite towards the edge of the window.

Try trimming your kite as well and maybe shortening your centre lines a notch or 2 maybe

Prevention is better than a cure!

Thanks for the tips

NickT said..

kitcho207 said..
also you must realise if things don't go to plan you will be swimming after the kite.

thats why you move your leash first.

cool. cheers. will do that next time.

make sure you depower, have done it several times with the unhooking aspect, drop the bar so it is not powered and hold by the chicken loop, pass through sort out then hook in the chicken loop (safety will be wrapped) CAREFULLY take off safety and unwrapp then reconnect.

nikmcc said...

SaltySinus said..

Yes, all you need to do is a jump that sends you first under, then down wind, then above and then behind the kite... like a kid on a swing that goes the full 360!

...

I did try that, but did a full 360 jump thru the lines in the wrong direction! ;)






Thanks for the replies. Looks like landing is the best option...

Cheers

Farrr out! That's a long time floating in the air waiting for answers mate. ;-)

I haven't read everyone's reply, but...... If it's a 5 line then your ****ed.
It used to happen to me on my 5 line. I tried a few thing like taking the line off at the bar and un-tangling, but not only is it ridiculously hard to un-tangle unless it's 5kts and flat water, if it is gusty, the lines are impossible to hold in wet hands.
Like all people, I learnt the hard way, when the wind shifted dramatically, and pulled my kite into middle window. The rest is history, a big gulp of sea water and a sore wrist. Could have been worse.
Once those lines are twisted you have F#@k all control. Quick release and fix on shore.

For all the advantages and pros of the 5th, I guess this is one of the cons.

Oh yeah but if big man does I hope he remembers some of us ride suicide so hemay want to consider this small detail in the do-it-like-me vid.

cbulota said...

Gustyas said...
Oh yeah but if big man does I hope he remembers some of us ride suicide so hemay want to consider this small detail in the do-it-like-me vid.

I'm sorry if my videos don't apply to you, I didn't think kiters of such a high level like yourself were still after instructional advice.

nice reply. All kidding aside I have to admit I would really be keen on an instructional vid for a 5-liner-post-hindenburging how-to without the need to pull the safety and re-set the lines. If there indeed is any. Cheers