In the process of learning i've made a few mistakes and at the time they don't always make sense but after i pack up, i'll sit and think about it and make sure it doesnt happen again but today has me confused (and sore) and i'm not sure what i did wrong.

Fortunately there was no one else on this beach and the wind was cross onshore (but a bit swirly and gusty).

I set the kite up and walk the lines out with the bar reversed etc. My girlfriend lifts the kite, i start to move around to (what i think at the time) is the right spot to stand (im between the water and kite so it would be around 5pm in the wind window) and as soon as i go to launch the kite flies around rapidly (with no bar input) to about 10 taking me with it and i hit the sand. I knew fighting to regain control was pointless so the safety release was turned (core sensor bar) and im left licking my wounds.

My launches have been pretty good with my instructor / mate but i'm not sure what happened today. Needless to say i dont plan on a repeat! I did notice when packing up straight afterwards so sections of sand were blowing cross offshore but only some parts.

Hi Mat

Its a bit hard to say for sure (without being there and seeing it happen) what caused your kite to behave like that.

A couple of pointers for you: If you are in the metro area and you find a beach that looks good for kiting but there is no other kiters there then you should probably be asking yourself why not.
Did you double check your lines where set up properly? after connecting your lines to the kite you need to walk back to the bar so why not hold both the back lines in your hands as you walk down to pick up the bar and make sure they connect directly to the ends of the bar and are not tangled.
Before you "start to move around to (what i think at the time) is the right spot to stand" try standing next to the wing tip, figuring out exactly where the wind is coming from and then mark a line at 90 degrees to the wind in the sand and walk out in that direction.
Personally i strongly recommend against learners self launching. I think it is a better idea to have someone that has 1/2 an idea give you a launch. Its not hard to teach the GF how the lines should look when it is set up correctly (outside lines to the back inside lines to the front). That way she can cast a second set of eyes over your kite when she gives you a launch.
Lastly i would have a quick chat to your instructor and get him to quickly explain the wind window and the terminology to you again. From reading your post it comes across as tho you might have your wires slightly crossed on the wind window concept.

Huge props on having the wits about you to activate your QR tho!!! I have seen many "experienced" kiters come a cropa and not have the smarts to do that.

Cheers
Damo

I think having the kite at "5" was your issue as there is no "5 o'clock" in the wind window. To me sounds like you launched in the power zone or close to it, hence the quick take off. A launch at 9 or 3 should be slow and steady (not much wind filling the kite).

Cheers.

I always depower my kite for launching. If not enough after first try let some out and try again.

Terminal covered one of the key points that some don't follow:
"take the slack out of the lines and walk upwind until the canopy of the kite has no loose areas, but the whole canopy material has now tightened up. As soon as that happens, take one more step upwind and stop. You are now at the right place to launch the kite."

I have seen many attempting to launch standing too far downwind - kite canopy flogging a little and they give the thumbs up to launch. Result = the kite drifts back in the wind window and ends with mixed results, most not with the desired outcome. The kite will either fall back on to its wingtip or trailing edge and possibly roll backwards, panic sets in and a quick yank on the bar to try correct it ends in carnage.

Standing too far upwind of the kite on launch is just as dangerous. Result = the kite is launched in or close to the powerzone, depending on experience this could also have a bad outcome.

My advice is to always take your time before launching. Double check things like inflation pressure (too many under inflate). Make sure all lines are correctly attached (not crossed over each other or fed through the bridle, no knots in line). If you have pulleys on the bridle make sure they are functioning and free running. Once you have checked everything take your time to make sure you are positioned correctly in relation to the wind window (as described above) before giving the thumbs up to launch.

If your flying a core kite (you said core ESP bar), you might of by accident connected one of your steering lines to a different knot than the other one which would induce steering input with out doing so if you know what I mean.

Or got a line caught up in the mini loop hook ?

Thanks for the input lads!

I actually let go of the bar straight away as the kite whipped up and it still had enough power to drag 120kgs so thats when i pulled the QR. Eibwen, you might be spot on?

Either way i was thinking of hitting up AKS or another NOR school (are there any?) for another lesson just so its not in the back of my mind causing even that little bit of doubt next time i launch!

Yeah, just to say, as a relative newbie myself, it takes time to find the sweet spot on where/when to let go. Sometimes in light winds, you want the kite further downwind, other times, you want it at the edge of the window.

In my experience (and I'm not recommending here) but you know roughly when it's in the right space when the trailing edge of the kite goes taught (stops flapping) and the lines look nice and straight. Also your assistant may change their stance to help resist the newly powered up kite.

The worst thing is people pushing the kite into the wind window without my giving them the thumbs up!!! Just because THEY see the kite has stopped flapping, they release the kite or worse - push it into the power zone! I had to tell off two guys that did this over the weekend. It is very dangerous.

puppetonastring said...
And to all newbies - you MUST know & remember:
"the most dangerous place to fly your kite is on the beach"
Don't do it. It achieves nothing.

So do you suggest we launch at home? WT!?

I am only VERY new to the sport but felt like adding my 2 cents

cbulota said...
The safest way to perform an assisted launch is: Rigging the lines downwind and walk slowly upwind in a circle without touching the bar and keeping constant and minimum tension in the front lines from the chicken loop until the kite stops flapping and fills up with wind. Stop walking upwind, then grab the bar and seek for the sweet spot on the bar with the minimum amount of power and steering to feel the kite gently wanting to go up while the assistant is still holding the kite (and is not struggling to do so). Then and only then, give thumbs up and bring kite up slowly.

If the kite is overpowered and you and your assistant are getting dragged, quickly push the bar away and walk downwind and start over again slowly.

After a fair bit of time on a trainer, I had my first proper lesson last friday and this was exactly how my instructor taught me. Being the first time flying "proper" kites I was quite nervous, but using this technique I never once felt like I was not in control of the kite or the situation. From the moment you lay your lines out to when you get in the water, if you take your time and stick to this routine/method, as a beginner you will really limit any issues that can arise during launching. And of course don't launch until you are 100% ready to get in the water, if you want to fly on the beach, move downwind and put a trainer kite up

puppetonastring said...
And to all newbies - you MUST know & remember:
"the most dangerous place to fly your kite is on the beach"
Don't do it. It achieves nothing.

I could not agree more with this and think it can not be repeated enough. I have been watching so many kite sessions at local spots where even I as a complete noob have noticed a lot of very lucky near misses or worse that are the result of someone just not using common sense, being 100% ready to go before launch, being a hero and showing off to their girl/friends etc.

Your kite is designed for use on the water not land, if you want to fly on land get a trainer or similar

Lots of great info in this thread for sure, good work guys

Kazan said...

Warehouse13 said...

puppetonastring said...
And to all newbies - you MUST know & remember:
"the most dangerous place to fly your kite is on the beach"
Don't do it. It achieves nothing.

I could not agree more with this and think it can not be repeated enough. I have been watching so many kite sessions at local spots where even I as a complete noob have noticed a lot of very lucky near misses or worse that are the result of someone just not using common sense, being 100% ready to go before launch, being a hero and showing off to their girl/friends etc.

Your kite is designed for use on the water not land, if you want to fly on land get a trainer or similar

Lots of great info in this thread for sure, good work guys

I understand now where Puppet was coming from. But you've got to also remember that just being in the water is also not as safe if it's only three inches deep! A beginner needs to go way back - almost chest deep and simply practice kite surfing, unless you're practicing body dragging, self rescue or something.

My basic rule of thumb is, am I 400% confident this kite is rigged up correctly and am I in the right place at the right time? Yes, then launch kite. Else... do not launch! simple really.

Yeah agree 100% mate, as far as I am concerned, 3 inches of water is still on the beach, if you can still stand you are obviously not deep enough. Pretty sure that's where a little bit of common sense should come in though

As you said if you're not 400% happy with everything, don't launch, bit of commonsense goes a long way

Shes pretty good value really

I still dont know exactly what went wrong that day but launching / landing has been all good since!

The spot i kite has a self tether that one of the blokes taught me to use so thats been handy as well