Well, I could not resist. The self-launching threads inspired me to ask and to be honest, I am struggling sometimes self-landing my kite in moderate to strong winds.

Here is my technique and please "refine" where possible:

* Kite is at 11 or 1
* Pull depower trim strap (or line) all the way. Full depower kite as much as possible, but still stay hooked to it
* Lower kite along edge of wind-window to 10 or 2 and here comes the tricky bit,
* Quickly pull (or yank) centre line (left line if landing on your left, right line if landing on your right)
* Leading edge should be "dipped" down so that the wind lowers the kite quickly to parking position.
* Wing tip of kite should not touch the ground (or not directly vertical, the leading edge should be the thing that touches the ground first - ideally).
* Kite should be parked
* Progress to unhook and go from there

Yeah so the quick action bit trying to "dip the leading edge" down into the wind is the bit that I sometimes nail and other times I have to quickly let go of all lines and re-attempt self landing.

Any tips on how to refine those steps?

Kazan - review this forum post, should answer most of your questions.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Safe-self-landing-explained-video/

nikmcc said..

If you land your kite by releasing the safety, where is the safest spot to have the kite before you release it? 12 o'clock or at the edge of the window?

And then, once it lands, do you just walk up the centre lines and secure the kite?

Hopefully with time into the sport, you will never have to release the safety unless it's for an emergency.

But if you did, yes that's the "easiest" way to self-land a kite. Release the QR and walk up to the lines, which is effectively a self-rescue on land so to speak.

It doesn't really matter what part of the wind window you release your kite from the outcome is the same, flags to one line and drops to the beach.

samokta said..

Release with the kite on its wingtip at the edge of the window. Dont disconnect your safety leech and walk up the center lines till you get to the center line closest to you. Give that a quick pull and it will safely land itself.......Pull the safety at twelve your kite will fall out of the sky like the MH370 and likely damage it.

cool thanks,
Yeah I was thinking that the kite falling from 12 to hard sand would not be very good for it.

If I release the QR at the edge, is it likely to then blow across the ground downwind, or will it usually stay put?


sorry for the silly questions , but Im yet to learn the finer points on how kites behave

The best bet is to get a nice clear spot on the beach and just release it from different points in the wind window to see how it reacts for yourself

From your perpective if you rest the kite on the right wingtip you should be yanking the left centre line. Trying to get a little infront of the kite (upwind) whilst yanking the centre line will assist in bringing the leading edge forward and to the ground.

nikmcc said..

Kazan said..

nikmcc said..

If you land your kite by releasing the safety, where is the safest spot to have the kite before you release it? 12 o'clock or at the edge of the window?

And then, once it lands, do you just walk up the centre lines and secure the kite?

Hopefully with time into the sport, you will never have to release the safety unless it's for an emergency.

But if you did, yes that's the "easiest" way to self-land a kite. Release the QR and walk up to the lines, which is effectively a self-rescue on land so to speak.

Thanks
Yeah, not planning to to do it, but as I currently have zero experience outside of lessons I figure its best to know before I head out alone in case there is noone on the beach when I plan to land...

But where should the kite be before releasing the QR?

I think it would be a good idea for newbs to practice releasing to their safety in light winds, so they know first hand how their kite will react when its needed.
I un-hook when self landing, so if it goes tits up - kite flags to safety.