In the process of learning i've made a few mistakes and at the time they don't always make sense but after i pack up, i'll sit and think about it and make sure it doesnt happen again but today has me confused (and sore) and i'm not sure what i did wrong.
Fortunately there was no one else on this beach and the wind was cross onshore (but a bit swirly and gusty).
I set the kite up and walk the lines out with the bar reversed etc. My girlfriend lifts the kite, i start to move around to (what i think at the time) is the right spot to stand (im between the water and kite so it would be around 5pm in the wind window) and as soon as i go to launch the kite flies around rapidly (with no bar input) to about 10 taking me with it and i hit the sand. I knew fighting to regain control was pointless so the safety release was turned (core sensor bar) and im left licking my wounds.
My launches have been pretty good with my instructor / mate but i'm not sure what happened today. Needless to say i dont plan on a repeat! I did notice when packing up straight afterwards so sections of sand were blowing cross offshore but only some parts.
Mate don't feel too bad. I've had a few similar near disasters launching and landing.
I think part of it is getting a feel for when the wind is ****ty, ie gusty changing direction etc
You learn to wait for the moment when you are really comfortable the wind is ok before letting your help let the kite go. Then it is ok.
I feel for you, having up a screw up when asking the gf for help is not good. It makes her feel like she has not been up to it.
The learning is hard, it's better to learn to self launch off of a bull bar, post whatever than your best mate
Hi Mat
Its a bit hard to say for sure (without being there and seeing it happen) what caused your kite to behave like that.
A couple of pointers for you: If you are in the metro area and you find a beach that looks good for kiting but there is no other kiters there then you should probably be asking yourself why not.
Did you double check your lines where set up properly? after connecting your lines to the kite you need to walk back to the bar so why not hold both the back lines in your hands as you walk down to pick up the bar and make sure they connect directly to the ends of the bar and are not tangled.
Before you "start to move around to (what i think at the time) is the right spot to stand" try standing next to the wing tip, figuring out exactly where the wind is coming from and then mark a line at 90 degrees to the wind in the sand and walk out in that direction.
Personally i strongly recommend against learners self launching. I think it is a better idea to have someone that has 1/2 an idea give you a launch. Its not hard to teach the GF how the lines should look when it is set up correctly (outside lines to the back inside lines to the front). That way she can cast a second set of eyes over your kite when she gives you a launch.
Lastly i would have a quick chat to your instructor and get him to quickly explain the wind window and the terminology to you again. From reading your post it comes across as tho you might have your wires slightly crossed on the wind window concept.
Huge props on having the wits about you to activate your QR tho!!! I have seen many "experienced" kiters come a cropa and not have the smarts to do that.
Cheers
Damo
Cheers lads,
I've genuinely been thinking about it, googling and re-watching progression all night and this morning so i pulled the kite out and had a look at all the rigging.
One bridle had a knot in it which affected the pulley and another line (same bridle) was free. Maybe it happened yesterday but i suspect i ****** up at this stage when setting up. It looked ok from a distance of 2 or 3 feet but up close i might have seen it.
Beach is a fav of mine about 2 hours out of perth, no one ever around.
Line in the sand is a great tip Damo! Pulling the QR was really a no brainer. Within the first second or 2 i knew i would be in serious trouble if i tried to fight it so that was easy enough. My second instructor was great but the first bloke i think missed teaching me a few things.
I think having the kite at "5" was your issue as there is no "5 o'clock" in the wind window. To me sounds like you launched in the power zone or close to it, hence the quick take off. A launch at 9 or 3 should be slow and steady (not much wind filling the kite).
Cheers.
Im no expert but the most important thing is the set up.
If your gear is not right and/or your lines are tangled your going to get flogged.
The modern kite is a very safe and predictable. Wind is also important. Not enough and the kite will not fly. Too much and it will power up outside of the power zone. Gusts,lulls etc are not good. It goes without saying that location is important. Powerlines, high hills, trees, buildings, etc are bad. Plan your escape.
When launching with a friend once your angle to the wind is right the kite should fly itself at the 3/9 position. Its then a case of raising the kite to 10/12 outside of the power zone like you were taught in lessons. You need to get the kite flying and in control asap.
If you are too far back the kite will stall and float back, too far forward and the kite will power up so getting the angle right is important.
Hope this helps but do be disheartend first few times is always the worst. Be Safe
There are many other things to get right and things you have to do if you are using someone who doesn't know how to launch a kite to help you so dont think that this video is supposed to be a complete answer.
You need to get someone who knows what they are doing to teach you how to avoid all the things that can go wrong with a launch.
Put the video on HD. The main thing this video shows is how to start downwind of the kite, take the slack out of the lines and walk upwind until the canopy of the kite has no loose areas, but the whole canopy material has now tightened up. As soon as that happens, take one more step upwind and stop. You are now at the right place to launch the kite.
Terminal covered one of the key points that some don't follow:
"take the slack out of the lines and walk upwind until the canopy of the kite has no loose areas, but the whole canopy material has now tightened up. As soon as that happens, take one more step upwind and stop. You are now at the right place to launch the kite."
I have seen many attempting to launch standing too far downwind - kite canopy flogging a little and they give the thumbs up to launch. Result = the kite drifts back in the wind window and ends with mixed results, most not with the desired outcome. The kite will either fall back on to its wingtip or trailing edge and possibly roll backwards, panic sets in and a quick yank on the bar to try correct it ends in carnage.
Standing too far upwind of the kite on launch is just as dangerous. Result = the kite is launched in or close to the powerzone, depending on experience this could also have a bad outcome.
My advice is to always take your time before launching. Double check things like inflation pressure (too many under inflate). Make sure all lines are correctly attached (not crossed over each other or fed through the bridle, no knots in line). If you have pulleys on the bridle make sure they are functioning and free running. Once you have checked everything take your time to make sure you are positioned correctly in relation to the wind window (as described above) before giving the thumbs up to launch.
If your flying a core kite (you said core ESP bar), you might of by accident connected one of your steering lines to a different knot than the other one which would induce steering input with out doing so if you know what I mean.
Or got a line caught up in the mini loop hook ?
Thanks for the input lads!
I actually let go of the bar straight away as the kite whipped up and it still had enough power to drag 120kgs so thats when i pulled the QR. Eibwen, you might be spot on?
Either way i was thinking of hitting up AKS or another NOR school (are there any?) for another lesson just so its not in the back of my mind causing even that little bit of doubt next time i launch!
Yeah, just to say, as a relative newbie myself, it takes time to find the sweet spot on where/when to let go. Sometimes in light winds, you want the kite further downwind, other times, you want it at the edge of the window.
In my experience (and I'm not recommending here) but you know roughly when it's in the right space when the trailing edge of the kite goes taught (stops flapping) and the lines look nice and straight. Also your assistant may change their stance to help resist the newly powered up kite.
Make sure you stand in the right spot as per all the above. Launch the kite on the beach the same as you relaunch in the water - bar pushed all the way out & just pull gently on one steering line. It will just float up into the air. Only grab the bar once it's at 45 degrees.
The worst thing is people pushing the kite into the wind window without my giving them the thumbs up!!! Just because THEY see the kite has stopped flapping, they release the kite or worse - push it into the power zone! I had to tell off two guys that did this over the weekend. It is very dangerous.
Hey MDS,
there's some good advice on here already.
In short, ensure your trusty helper understands that she/he should only let go of the kite when you give her/him the thumb(s) up, and also ensure she/he understands the signal from you that would mean 'put it down, there is something wrong'.
You understand where you are in relation to the kite that means you're down wind of the kite and also up wind. My advice is to get your lines taught earlier as you're moving round to the launch position. That way your kite has shape and you'll know when you're about right as the rear of the kite will stop flapping and become taught also, i.e. it's catching the wind and is getting ready to fly.
You should dial in the power by moving round slowly so that when you give the thumbs up, it should gently rise, rather than be some sort of rapid launch into the power zone.
Just practice champ and try and get a kiteboard vs. the ms. to launch you if you can, at least until you get experienced enough you can compensate for any none perfect support.
Good luck.
I am only VERY new to the sport but felt like adding my 2 cents
Hey MDS, you have a good girlfriend to come out and help, thats luv for ya, (i need one) anyhoo next time she helps, if theres room for her to move, get her to move upwind or downwind until she can feel that the kite will just sit or bob on its wing tip with little support from her (not totally letting go though) this is the spot to launch, (also the spot to self launch tethered if needs be.) Go girlfriend!
Shes pretty good value really
I still dont know exactly what went wrong that day but launching / landing has been all good since!
The spot i kite has a self tether that one of the blokes taught me to use so thats been handy as well
Tethered launches can be very handy, i use it all the time, many people dont agree, but if your kite is comfortably sitting or bobbing happily on its wingtip, then you can walk back to your bar take your time connecting and preparing for launch, BUT DO KNOW WHERE AND HOW TO USE YOUR SAFETY. Its tricky in higher winds to pull the chicky loop off the tether and move on to your harness hook, but that process is not changing any dynamics of the lines or kite (minimal movement) so kite is still in position for launch. continue launch as described above. It hasnt been all perfect for me after learning a valuable lesson when i pulled the bar in a little because the kite lifted off the ground and then just sat there about 2 metres off the ground, so i thought i could encourage the kite to rise up to 12 oclock, but neh neh, i was rag dolled into some bushes where people did number 2s pooh! "As above DO NOT TOUCH THE BAR EXCEPT FOR STEERING! My 2c worth.