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

Had a edgy one at Pinaroo today with my 6M cat, managed to get out for an hour round mid-day. Storm sessions are always a bit funny, just like to add my gratitude towards windsurfers who are good sports for assisting with launch and landing quite happily, there was no other kiters that went out (rightly so as when coming out was fully depowered but overpowered, 95kgs) so always glad to have them around and amicable at that. Self launch and landing in those high gusty winds would be dangerous especially when the beach is 5M wide due to the powerful waves and nasty cross shore winds.

Well anyhow wind is up this week so time to man up and come out of hibernation!