Difficulty relaunching larger kite/lighter wind

farwellbooth · Since 28 Oct 2008 26 Posts Seattle

I'm a bit of a newbie and had to self rescue for the first time today/Sunday TWICE on my 13.5. I was plenty powered up with the kite in the air however once I crashed it was very challenging relaunching. With the kite downwind on its leading edge, pulling on a back leader line woudn't do much. The bigger kite doesn't want to roll on its side like my smaller kites. After floating further from the red buoy than I like to be, I rescued. I've never had this problem with my smaller 7.5 and 10.5. If anything, those suckers like to hot launch on occasion, which is fine. These are all Naish Cults.

The second time I lost my board and with the kite stuck on its LE, I was being pulled down wind away from it. I engaged the quick release and flagged the kite with one center line and was able to swim up wind and get it. But very close to not getting it...

Lessons learned, don't crash my big kite and don't lose my board! Any tips appreciated.

C Johnson · Since 17 Apr 2009 854 Posts Seattle Opinionated

I had to self rescue twice this weekend as well.

For me it seemed like there wasn't any wind close to the waters surface.

I had a few crashes where I was just barely able to get the kite relaunched and it would slowly rise up until it got to about 15ft above the water and then it would power up and rise up to zenith.

I actually had to ditch my kite this afternoon because the wind was just totally dead at the surface even though I was well powered and had just finished doing a nice floaty 20ft ish jump right before i crashed.

thankfully a nice family in a boat came and picked me up and took be back to get my kite.

on a related subject I realized today that I am totally used to having lots of bouyancy because I normally ride in saltwater with a 5mil wetsuit. but this weekend I was in a shorty and I definitely learned today that a shorty and a shorts harness is no where near enough flotation to be trying to swim across a river. I think I'm going to start looking at impact vests for next time I ride the gorge

pauls · Since 20 Jun 2005 564 Posts Northern Portugal Addicted

pdxmonkeyboy · Sun Jul 26, 09 9:53 pm

Its because you are flying naish. Seriously though, when its light wind you are going to have to relaunch from the very edge of the window. It can help to swim perpendicular to the kite to orient it at the side of the window. Also, don't be afraid to pull in a couple arms lengths of line to get it to start to tip on its edge. You just have to be VERY delicate in order to prevent the kite from rolling on its back or flopping back down in the water.

So swim, yard lots of line and get it standing on edge, finesse it to stay standing on its edge and wait for a puff....LAUNCH and get the hell to dry land!!

Nak · Sun Jul 26, 09 9:54 pm

LE side down in the water. If you have a stopper, make sure it's all the way out. Grab both rear lines and pull them in, 3 feet or so may be needed. The kite should reverse relaunch straight up. Once it's high enough let go of one line. The kite will spin rapidly. When it's pointing up, let go of everything. The kite should shoot straight up if there's enough wind for it to fly. Then just grab the bar. This takes some practice... Don't try it the first time unless you're in the water! You might get yarded a time or two till you get the hang of it.

$ociopath · Since 28 Nov 2007 523 Posts Twilight Zone Addicted

i don't fly naish or bridles but you might try pulling both front lines while pulling one side of the bar. if your bar has o-shit loops pull both of those to do a reverse relaunch-kite flies backwards about 15 feet then release and pull on one side of bar-point your board downwind and you will be back on the water. That or find some shallow water on a light wind day and see what works for your kite.

C Johnson · Since 17 Apr 2009 854 Posts Seattle Opinionated

the wind was so light on the surface at times I could not reverse launch a 12m foil.

that's friggen light!!!

If i could get it relaunched I would be fully powered as soon as the kite was up in the air.

I'm sticking with my original statement that the wind at the surface today was very very light! like 0-8mph light

krazedkiter · Since 08 Jun 2009 183 Posts Florida Stoked

Man I hate when that happens. You always get stuck in the worst situations also. Its like it only happens when you start to drift to the worst ever imaginable obstacle. Its the most helpless feeling.

Fistrs, no matter how helpless or confident you feel. If you get too close to disaster, suck it up and do your kite retrieval and yes you will spend a bit to walk back (sometimes for hours), untangle your line/kite, and set up all over again. Just do it!

On another note, try putting your board on your feet and put them out like your about to water start. Straighten them out with board completely perpindicular to the kite. Depower kite COMPLETELY. Let the kite drift to the EDGE of the window. Give it a few tugs to help it out.

Hope this helps. There are also some really good suggestions on other posts here.

shred_da_gorge · Mon Jul 27, 09 9:22 pm

If you're kiting from the sandbar in Hood River, don't go too far to the other side, especially late in the day/eve. It amazes me how many people go almost to the river bank before turning. Granted the waves can be enticing there - I've been suckered myself - but the wind tends to shift more southerly as the sun sets, and the bluff just blocks more and more of it. Basically the wind band gets narrower and concentrates in the channel (with the exception of the band behind Wells Island). Stay away from the Washington side unless you know the wind is strong west.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3754 Posts PDX-LA Videographer

Keeping the board on your feet while relaunching will help as well. Not if the wind's super-light, but at least then the current adds a bit of resistance.

C Johnson · Since 17 Apr 2009 854 Posts Seattle Opinionated

yeah I got suckered into that spot close to the washington side on sunday.

wind was feeling really good then I loaded up to jump and when I landed/crashed my kite fell out of the sky. when it hit the water there was nothing there to relaunch it.

that's what I get for showing off in front of a boat full of girls. lol

luckily that boat came and saved me Cool

too bad I realized after I stepped on board that all those girls were waaaay younger then i thought Shocked

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

scottman · Since 08 Jun 2007 150 Posts hillsboro Stoked

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGcYINoxI_0

j-rod · Since 04 Aug 2008 4 Posts Seattle New Member

I assume they are 09 Cults. I have the 15.5 that I rigged a 5th line on specifically for light wind relaunch. Naish wont advise you to do this as the kite can roll if you pull too much on the 5th during relaunch. But if you're careful, it works perfectly. It's definitely saved many light wind summer sessions here in Seattle.

Since it sounds like you're new tho you may not even have much exp. with riding/relaunching with a 5th, but still definitely an option I'd consider.

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

this is one of the times I like a retractable leash you can clip on your board and then concentrate on the relaunch. being able to swim hard and have both hands free without loseing your board then as soon as the kite relaunches you can unclip the board.