dave...... said..
As a person happy to launch someone-elses kite, Im amazed how many riders dont understand the basic physics of the wind window, or are in such a rush they check once and launch 3-4 times. The most dangerous place IS the beach, not the water.

dbabicwa said..


Nah mate, I don't think so. If helping someone you're taking a part of responsibility. Or you can easily say NO. Your choice, same as my choice who I will ask for help.

dave...... said..
As a person happy to launch someone-elses kite, Im amazed how many riders dont understand the basic physics of the wind window, or are in such a rush they check once and launch 3-4 times. The most dangerous place IS the beach, not the water.

dbabicwa said..



Thanks. The pic demonstrates how it looks like when you hold a kite straight in the air, vertically. Try to narrow the kite holding it on a tip.

If you tension a "longer" line ("longer" side of a "triangle"), the kite will push the helper on a left side because the air pressure will shift down causing uplift on the lower side.
If you tension a "shorter" line, the kite will bend above the holding point coz the pressure shifted on upper side. As seen many times.

Only when the lines are of equal length meaning the kite is slightly put under angle you can launch the kite. Agreed?

This pic has nothing to do with the lines but the distance. It is impossible to launch a kite from this pic...Only if you narrow the bar drastically you might (yes, from experience, read below). Basic geometry, not trigonometry or triple integrals.

I've actually did the above once by a mistake. One steering line was shorter by 30-40cm, yes 30-40! And ridden it for 1 hr. Every single turn was a almost a loop. Try it...


It's interesting how raising this question raised so many red thumbs. When someone can actually die or be badly injured it sounds like the pilot is to blame. For the helper holding a kite tip or tripping over.

HaydenDekker said..
.
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Your picture is wrong because no matter what the lines are always the same length and the kite will only ever move when the lines are under tension.
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dbabicwa said..



You are not taking into account the height distance between the upper tip on a 12m or bigger and the rider as per pic. It has nothing to do with the wind but how helper holds a kite - on a tip in the air. Only when the kite is in a CYAN position the lines are the same length.

But to get the same length:

- look what happens with RED and GREEN. The kite will almost always break on green point if you pull just a lower line or upper will push the helper away in RED direction.

And this my friend is not happening when you self launch of a beach coz no one is holding your kite. There is no break point.


2. Kite is held by the bottom - Yes, if there is a bottom! Again, only if your lines are equally tensioned.


Try to imagine a 3rd option in MAGENTA. This is impossible situation to tackle without pushing the helper to the left. It is his/her choice to hold a kite like that. So no, this is not your call.

I've seen this so many times that it's not funny...So go and red thumb it but at least think how you helping.


I urge you to try launching by holding a kite vertically and on a tip in the air with you at least 2.5m below the lower tip with 30m lines.




Last post, good bye.

DANEgerous said..



This ^

Spot On!

dbabicwa said..



You are not taking into account the height distance between the upper tip on a 12m or bigger and the rider as per pic. It has nothing to do with the wind but how helper holds a kite - on a tip in the air. Only when the kite is in a CYAN position the lines are the same length.

But to get the same length:

- look what happens with RED and GREEN. The kite will almost always break on green point if you pull just a lower line or upper will push the helper away in RED direction.

And this my friend is not happening when you self launch of a beach coz no one is holding your kite. There is no break point.


2. Kite is held by the bottom - Yes, if there is a bottom! Again, only if your lines are equally tensioned.


Try to imagine a 3rd option in MAGENTA. This is impossible situation to tackle without pushing the helper to the left. It is his/her choice to hold a kite like that. So no, this is not your call.

I've seen this so many times that it's not funny...So go and red thumb it but at least think how you helping.


I urge you to try launching by holding a kite vertically and on a tip in the air with you at least 2.5m below the lower tip with 30m lines.




Last post, good bye.