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

That method of self launch is always riskier at upper limit of kite wind range (ie having kite launch itself before you get back to it and hooked in)
My solution to this is having a spare leash attatched to my launch point (tow bar) and hook it to my safety leash that is permantly attatched to my kite. I also have a sand peg (weakest link) and have previously attatched the kite to this (chicken loop) and conect safety leash to something else so either way the kite will flag onto the safety in case of unexpected launch.

pirrad said...


That method of self launch is always riskier at upper limit of kite wind range (ie having kite launch itself before you get back to it and hooked in)
My solution to this is having a spare leash attatched to my launch point (tow bar) and hook it to my safety leash that is permantly attatched to my kite. I also have a sand peg (weakest link) and have previously attatched the kite to this (chicken loop) and conect safety leash to something else so either way the kite will flag onto the safety in case of unexpected launch.

Thanks pirrad, I think the double safety on the launch strap is a really good idea, particularly when it is honking, but I'm not so sure about the sand anchor. The thought of my kite bowling down the beach with that attached to it is really scary. But maybe I have misunderstood how you have used it.
Appreciate your feedback.

Good one nimrod another dimwit

Hey Rhinoman on the west coast we self launch and land in anything from 10 to 30+ knots. It's a case of having to if you're kiting remote spots without alot of crew around and something everyone kiting on the West Coast should/has to learn.

Fair call have to admit i didn't read through thread just picked up on your negative post calling the poster a nimrod and dimwit.

So how would you self launch in the winds we get in WA compared to QLD???

RPM said...
Or you could actually learn to self launch properly without contraptions.

Thats bad advice. teathered launch IS the safetest solo launch method in blasting winds.

Get yourself a grunty teather! mine is a several tone rope with stainless S ring. it wont break.

But i do agree you need to know how to drag launch. its the last thing i would want to do in 30+ knots of want

Dave Whettingsteel said...

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

Also check that your hand brake is engaged.

gordknot said...
agree with RPM. Side launched the other day, 6m in 35knts, and self landed. Once you get it down it's pretty straight forward and seems an essential skill for the times you're up or down the beach with only 3m of sand to land/relaunch from, with no-one around. It's also a good indicator about whether you've got the right kite for the conditions

Agree with RPM and Gordknot.

In light winds 20knots.

I like to hot launch for the fun of it, but that's silly and risky.

95% of the time i self launch and land (non assisted) but if the winds are gusty or over 30 knots then i look for someone to assist. If thats not an option i depower the kite when landing and take my time. When landing i always take a couple steps upwind from 3 o'oclock takes a bit of juice outta the kite.

There was an aussie made sand auger on the market that looked the goods for assisted launches.

Thanks coastflyer thats the one and you can get a kite ring kit for it.

Nimrod said...

rhinoman said...
Good one nimrod another dimwit

Your the dimwit pal!

According to legend Nimrod was the grandson of Noah and the founder of Babylon. A highly skilled hunter.

The name was applied to the very succesful marine recon aircraft for the RAF built by the Hawker Siddeley Group.

Learnt something today havn't ya D!ckhead.

Very Funny.............ta for that

vwpete said...

Nimrod said...

rhinoman said...
Good one nimrod another dimwit

Your the dimwit pal!

According to legend Nimrod was the grandson of Noah and the founder of Babylon. A highly skilled hunter.

The name was applied to the very succesful marine recon aircraft for the RAF built by the Hawker Siddeley Group.

Learnt something today havn't ya D!ckhead.

hmmm well yes nimrod was good, but in the end from the 1970's onwards 2 massive nimrod projects failed, in the most fantastic ways, ended up being cancelled. costing the uk billions, and also leaving the uk to buy USA planes. So the word "nimrod" at least in the UK, has meant at least since the 1980's for most

Nimrod = "complete F$%K up!"

Ok then I'm happy to down grade from very successfull to just successfull.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Siddeley_Nimrod

Just one of many web sites all saying the same thing. Nimrods had over 40 years of operational service and of the 5 variants only 2 not successfull. This was because of budget issues in avionics fitouts rather than any problem with the aircraft itself.

I see the point your trying to make but its lost in Bullsh!t.

Yep tethered launch is the way to solo launch in high winds for sure. It is not the tethering that was the problem here it was the strap failure.

I'm with plummet, strong rope and a S thingy or a good strong and large carabina. I really like the separate line idea, never thought of that and walking with a bit of stain on the bottom front line, all good ideas.

Weta when ya miles from nowhere and no one is around on our sparsely populated coast, tethering is important. That being said to the new fella, don't tether all the time, learn to self launch effectively to, I tethered once for 4 years straight, then had to self launch in a place I couldn't tether and well it was interesting to sat the least, mix it up, that's what I do anyhow.

Good advice to make sure your tethered setup is up to the task. Will have a better look than normal at my kit after reading this.

I really hope I meet one of you pro kiters next time I'm landing in 35+ knots using a tether so you can demonstrate a safe self land so I can feel like a real kiter. Self launching is easy with some instruction but I cannot reliably/safely self land in 'blasting winds'-what the poster was talking about.

For mortal people, using an solid anchor and rope (I use 'blue screws' and old leash) makes a risky part of solo kiting 99.9% safe.

Thanks for the tip Eppo not sure who is the new bloke you are referring to????

is it me or kiteiwi or westozzy or????

Been kiting for 4 years now so pretty confortable with my own self launch and land routine thanks. Mind you i have seen a few looks from crew nearby