Experience a failure of the white centre line that attaches at the intersection of the front lines, (at chrome ring) on my new North Bar. It appears that the line was not sewn at the factory and was only holding together by the single splice of the line. Please check this line to ensure it is sewn together at the splice point. Lucky I was'nt off shore during race training when it happened. GB
... they don't fly to well do they! I snapped the 5th line right at the connection point on the kites nose line and when the kite sits down about 45 degrees downwind of you, WTF do you do then???? Mind you, only done one since using Norths 5 line setups from 2005 onwards!
cheers,
Robbie
Safety (only fully safe 100% depower system is 5 line)
Performance
North's system is not 5 line at the bar so not as complicated as the old 5 line systems
I own 2 cabrinha kites and i just bought a 2011 rebel,i can say that the rebels depower is so much better the the cabs,today a line got tangled round my bar and the kite started spinning while out to sea,pulled my release but the kite still had pull in it. last week i had to pull the release on the rebel and just sat on its back...100% depower..
having used both 5 and 4 line kites over 13 years of kiting i personally think 5 line bars are safer.kites become uncontrollable when they start to spiral . which although not impossible is alot less likely when you have a 5 line safety system.
Puetz has said that if the fifth line goes the kite won't fly properly if at all. This tells me that the fifth on the rebel at least does more than just sits there until you need it when the shyte hits the fan.
It actually must play a part in the overall mechanics of how the kite flies-I don't know enough yet having only flown my rebel twice, but someone in the know might like to comment.
I surmise it plays a part in keeping the canopy so damn fixed, rigid and awesome in the air apart from the actual kite shape and the use of tense D2 in the panels that flutter and shudder in other kites i have flown say for instance the kahoona.
and ok... I like pyjamas too.
Norths fly using a Tensioned fith line. This holds the centre of the leading edge and minimises the need for multiple attachment points for bridles that essentially do the same thing. The difference is North kites have less give in the centre of the canopy providing a direct feel. If a North kite is flying like crap it is usually the line lengths of the front and tensioned 5th.
