The problem with an unattended kite (tethered Launch) is that the kite will move forward in a gust as it re-positions itself in the new upwind neutral zone. When the gust is past, the kite needs to move back downwind to the old neutral position. If the wingtip bites in the sand, the kite will roll facing the kite up into the wind window. It will naturally lift off and screech across the wind window ... unattended!
Don't tether launch. In almost 20 years of kiting, I have never had to tether launch and I have kited almost every kitable beach in Oz and many in Hawaii, NZ, Indo, Thailand and many more. Just don't do it, not worth it.
DM
Nah mate not that old skool; just the drag self launch.
I launch perpendicular to the kite rather than upwind unless it's light winds.
Wow, such hate for tethering? I tether launch and land 99.9% of sessions (over period of 8 or 9 years). It has only gone wrong ONCE and that was because I was like an excited toddler wanting to get o the water and didn't pay attention to the lines before letting go of kite. No harm or damage in that instance luckily and purely down to innattention on my part.
I couldn't believe how easy it is to do when first shown. I launch and land against a tall sand dune (gusty holey wind) and on a regularly weedy beach, the kite does move back and forth but never shoots right across window.
I don't think it should be discounted as such a terrible idea. It allows you to be totally independant, launch yourself when you're happy with everything and involves zero dragging of kite across sand/shells. I keep my kite for several seasons and this method of landing and launching has proven to be kind on the gear. The only damage I have ever done to any of my kites is after a gust picked up the kite after a self landing in strong winds (beach goers set up next to my tether) and some pin hole damage sustained-the tree lost several branches!
Anyway, just another point of view.
Nope I agree with you. Been tethering for a lot longer than even your 8/9 years. I'm not sure why the tethering rebukes but hey each to their own.
What do people use as their anchor point then,? I seen people use the sand screw jobs and also sand dune fencing uprights what's the goods
I have been tether launching and landing also for at least 9 yrs. Use a cork screw beach thingy I got from an outdoor shop. I've owned about six different brands of kite and all have been good with this method. Yes sometimes they can bounce around a bit. But not uncontrollably. ( in my experience). In all that time I have only had 2 incidents. First one I was rushing and didn't notice that my outer line was wrapped around the bar and the kite launched itself and landed on the opposite side. No much of a deal. An secondly rushing again landing, hooked up to the tether and accidently kicked my safety. The kite just flipped over a couple of times and lay there. Not bad going in my opinion. Considering I see kiting incidents heaps when I am out there. I wouldn't tether launch in light winds, but then again I don't bother kiting in light winds.
I guess this is what happens if you have a really long tether strap, and hook in to chicken loop and tether at the same time and fly the kite to Zenith :