Had my first shot at trying to self launch my 8m Catalyst today in 23-26kt cross-shore wind, with mixed success.
I attempted the Cabrinha method, where the lines are laid out upwind, the kite moved on top of the lines, connected, then the kite is moved further upwind and to the ocean-side of the lines, turned to face 45 degrees away from the wind. Supposedly then the 'downwind' trailing edge will catch some wind. The lines will then be sticking straight out the back of the kite, going downwind before they loop back around the kite, then upwind to the control bar.
The next step calls for the launcher to connect to the bar as per usual and walk upwind. This then is supposed to rotate the kite to catch more wind, then it is meant to pivot up onto its tip and launch like a water relaunch.
The video on the Ozone website from 2008 shows something similar, but much more vague.
So that's what I tried. In reality, when I turned the kite 45 degrees away from the wind in order for the trailing edge to catch wind, the centre strut got blown over the downwind trailing edge, pinning it down, and it didn't really catch anything. It kind of did a contortionist thing and didn't want to play nice. Trying to pivot the kite by tensioning the lines only further pretzeled the kite. I got a bit too scared by that point to push it any further because I didn't want it to suddenly hot-launch. It just looked way too weird and unsettling.
The videos are not particularly clear on where exactly you should be for the launch. Is it telling me to be directly upwind from the kite when I tension the lines and pivot the kite? If that's the case, isn't the kite going to launch from the power zone?
Is there any easier way to self-launch? I know about the sandbag/sandscrew method (have not tried it yet), but I was wondering if there was any other method or if I should stick with practicing the Cabrinha method. The beach I normally go to has a fairly narrow launch zone, even at low tide (if that makes a difference).
Easiest way I've found to self launch is to set up the lines so the bar is downwind of the kite, hook in and step backwards to tension the lines. Slowly move in a sweeping motion (an arc)to the side of the kite but keeping some tension on the lines. As you slowly move upwind of the kite and pull the far wingtip towards you, the kite will fill with wind and slide downwind a bit before rolling onto the side and launching. If the wind isn't too strong the kite will sit on the side for a moment and you can check if your lines are clear before launching.
Thats BurkeyBoy, I will give it a shot tomorrow morning.
When you say 'pull the far wingtip towards you', could you elaborate a little further? Is it something I actively have to do, or will this happen just by keeping the lines tensioned and walking in an arc?
Also, I have never lain out lines downwind from the kite, but I understand that I have to reverse the bar position when laying out the lines then remember to reverse it back again for launch?
The Cabrinha video clearly states it considers this a manouvre for advanced kiters - not beginners or intermediates. So their video is not going into detail for beginners to use the method.
Once a kiter gets the hang of it and has done it a few times, its not difficult to do - if it all goes well. There are many things that can and do go wrong though, and that is where the problem lies with inexperienced people using the method.
Not pumping the kite up enough, sand jamming a pulley, a line snagging on something small jutting out of the sand, wrong connection of lines, bridle snagging on a wingtip, gust moving the kite before you are ready, having your bar the wrong way up, not tensioning the lines right, being at the wrong angle to the wind - are just some of the things a beginner can do wrong.
It also tends to wear the leading edge of your kite and may cause punctures as the kite slides on the beach.
I think its better to use the anchor launch method with a heavy bag full of sand - especially as your beach sounds like you dont have a safe distance clear downwind.
practice in light wind .self launch and land .
as terminal says so much can happen
make sure its 100%
Or just lay the lines across the wind - avoids dragging them across the sand and lessens the chance of snagging on something.
Also, just before you are ready to launch turn the kite so that the tip furthest away from you is already catching the wind. Then quickly walk up to the bar and hook in. This makes launching much easier as the kite is pretty much already filling with wind. One little pull on the far rear line, few steps upwind and you are pretty much done.
My C4 also occasionally does the pretzel thing (even when pumped up to recommended 8psi). This only really happens in lighter wind. One step towards the kite allows it to open up and it launches just fine.
Another thing to note is that with the C4 (I think Cat would be similar) I can walk upwind of the kite bit more as it never launches with that much power. Edges on the other hand take off with lots of pull so I avoid going for too much of a hot launch.
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The problem I see with people setting up their bar and lines upwind is that they NEVER walk back downwind far enough before attempting to launch, nek minute, the person launching their kite gets smahed to the ground by a powered up kite, with the kiter either being lofted or dragged down the beach.
Setting up your bar downwind and slowly walking upwind with tension in your lines (as Steve has described) is the only way to go, especially when you are self launching.
Very, very true! It's hard to believe some instructors still teach the upwind rigging method to complete beginners without even considering the downwind method and the safety advantages.
Always self-launch with lines downwind to avoid the power zone. Hands on the safety, not touching the bar until the kite has lifted from the leading edge and is now resting on the wing tip and tangle free. A lot of people self-launch with the bar fully pulled in while the kite is not even in a position to launch, that and the safety is rarely activated or not activated quick enough when things go wrong. So, Hands on the safety and at the first sign of trouble, PULL IT!
Can't wait to give all these great tips a go... now I just need wind 
If the beach is quite narrow and I cant do a full arc without either wading into the water or walking up onto the dune vegetation, which would be preferable from a safety standpoint (not from an environmental standpoint... people seem to get a little hurt when they see others walking on dune vegetation)?
I know that launching towards the water is normally the method in case you get dragged, but the issue of lines tangling in the plants might warrant wading into the water? If I get far enough into the water for the launch it wouldn't really matter if I did end up getting dragged if something goes wrong (as long as I stop before making landfall) 
