Another huge windy day at horrocks, gusting to 35 knots. Survived yesterdays winds on my 7, so headed out to the beach, on my own again. I launch off a carabiner and roof rack strap off the bull bar and brought the kite up across the wind. The kite was Really bouncing around as I set it. Fully powered up. I ran back to the bar to hook up and BAM, it was gone! The strap had snapped and the kite cart wheeled off down the beach grounding itself several hundred meters downwind.
Thank god, id waited for several walkers to pass by before launching as it could could have been really ugly. I always check my 2 safety's and line cutter before launching, but had never thought to check the strap. I will in future! It had torn through the cleat.
So feeling a little freaked out as a newby, I went out on the 2.6 windsurfer on a 4.5. My god, what a dog! It felt like going back to the windsurfer regatta days compared to my wam. So, tommorow, I will get back on the horse and have one more thing to check before lift off. Strong winds add another, maybe unseen dimensions to kiting. I did feel totally safe on the windsurfer, but also totally un-challenged.
Check your launch straps, self launchers! I would hate to see a bad accident, like I could have had.
Cheers
Hi Dave,
Was the strap a quality item in good condition or old and crusty?
Id like to know cause it sounds like a similar set up to how I sometimes self launch.
I cant imagine that the strap I use could snap without the kite being fully powered in the wind window (as opposed to depowered on the edge of the window where it should be during a tethered launch) but this is why Im asking!
That method of self launch is always riskier at upper limit of kite wind range (ie having kite launch itself before you get back to it and hooked in)
My solution to this is having a spare leash attatched to my launch point (tow bar) and hook it to my safety leash that is permantly attatched to my kite. I also have a sand peg (weakest link) and have previously attatched the kite to this (chicken loop) and conect safety leash to something else so either way the kite will flag onto the safety in case of unexpected launch.
Or you could actually learn to self launch properly without contraptions. If it means you not having an accident, why don't you seek an instructor to show you the proper way to do it. Tether and sand bags might seem good from others recomending their techniques, but learning to self launch/land correctly is a basic skill. There is no need for tethers or anchors, its quite easy to learn if you understand your kite and the window, also fully depower your kite every launch regardless. Do your checks and make sure you're squared away before you begin. With your skill level as a beginner anything over 25 and you are asking for trouble. I've been kiting 7 seasons now and can manage self land /launch in 30 on a 7m (which is my very cut off) Anything more, I play safe and get assisted.
Hey Rhinoman on the west coast we self launch and land in anything from 10 to 30+ knots. It's a case of having to if you're kiting remote spots without alot of crew around and something everyone kiting on the West Coast should/has to learn.
Fair call have to admit i didn't read through thread just picked up on your negative post calling the poster a nimrod and dimwit.
So how would you self launch in the winds we get in WA compared to QLD???
How about putting a bag of sand on the kite and launching like every one else would,and have self launched in wa a lot as I work all over this country,thanks to LNG projects !about to fly out of Darwin tonight ,place sand bag on leading edge so it comes away easier ,and if it goes wrong ,then deploy safety on chicken loop ,that way you won't have a kite travelling on its on for several 100 meters and no one in control of it ,and this is why I gave up teaching after 5 years because some people can't be told ,
agree with RPM. Side launched the other day, 6m in 35knts, and self landed. Once you get it down it's pretty straight forward and seems an essential skill for the times you're up or down the beach with only 3m of sand to land/relaunch from, with no-one around. It's also a good indicator about whether you've got the right kite for the conditions
Got a decent new strap, plus used pirrads idea of the safety leash as backup on the 5th. Felt very good and safe in 30+ knots today. Will learn the unassisted launch when I catch up with rpm in a few weeks.
Thanks for all the tips!
Hmmm personally for self launch, i like to attach my chicken loop to the car, pole or fence etc and then sit the kite out at the edge of the window for a self launch.
a beach self launch can be far more risky in terms of getting snags/twists in your lines, or even just being a knob and having set up your lines wrong.
When u sit your kite out at the edge you know 100% the bridle and lines are all good.
The mistake or only thing you chaps are maybe missing from the process to keep it 99.27% safe is to not just walk/run back to your bar,
Instead when you are walking back from your kite to your bar, you must keep your hand along the front lines, or at least the closest front line to the ground, and make sure you keep tension on it.
This way the kite cannot fall back in the wind window and also cannot bounce up in the air and get powered because the pressure on the lower front line is keeping the kite slightly powered into the ground.
Having said that, To be fair in 35 plus knots its all i bit hard and twitchy.
95% of the time i self launch and land (non assisted) but if the winds are gusty or over 30 knots then i look for someone to assist. If thats not an option i depower the kite when landing and take my time. When landing i always take a couple steps upwind from 3 o'oclock takes a bit of juice outta the kite.
There was an aussie made sand auger on the market that looked the goods for assisted launches.
Very Funny.............ta for that
I launch tethered 95% of the time it's safe as ,just make sure your tether line is rated 500-1000kg and use a carabina not a hook and most importantly depower the kite before you launch so your back lines are totally slack,this will stop the kite bouncing on the launch line.
Yep tethered launch is the way to solo launch in high winds for sure. It is not the tethering that was the problem here it was the strap failure.
I'm with plummet, strong rope and a S thingy or a good strong and large carabina. I really like the separate line idea, never thought of that and walking with a bit of stain on the bottom front line, all good ideas.
Weta when ya miles from nowhere and no one is around on our sparsely populated coast, tethering is important. That being said to the new fella, don't tether all the time, learn to self launch effectively to, I tethered once for 4 years straight, then had to self launch in a place I couldn't tether and well it was interesting to sat the least, mix it up, that's what I do anyhow.
Tethered launch is a joke, if you can't self launch in strong winds then you shouldn't be out there. Self launch is super easy/safe and should be taught properly at kite lessons. You can obviously re-launch your kite on the water, so on land should be easier, unless you are in a restricted area.
Good advice to make sure your tethered setup is up to the task. Will have a better look than normal at my kit after reading this.
I really hope I meet one of you pro kiters next time I'm landing in 35+ knots using a tether so you can demonstrate a safe self land so I can feel like a real kiter. Self launching is easy with some instruction but I cannot reliably/safely self land in 'blasting winds'-what the poster was talking about.
For mortal people, using an solid anchor and rope (I use 'blue screws' and old leash) makes a risky part of solo kiting 99.9% safe.
You don't need to be a pro kiter mate, just half a brain or an IDS system like the cabs or a fifth line or an oh **** line or an.........you want me to carry on about basic kiting skills everyone should know......???
Thanks for the tip Eppo not sure who is the new bloke you are referring to????
is it me or kiteiwi or westozzy or????
Been kiting for 4 years now so pretty confortable with my own self launch and land routine thanks. Mind you i have seen a few looks from crew nearby 
