Relauching at Sauvies - Tips? Wrong kite type?

beej · Since 16 Jul 2010 180 Posts Stoked

Does anyone have any tips for a Sauvies relaunch? I am a beginner, and dropped my kite two times the other day. One of the two times the kite waited for me, the other time I had to self rescue. I have a 15M hifi which is a 5th line hybrid. I could get it on its leading edge via the 5th line, got it to the edge of the window but no launch. What could I do different in light wind? Would a different kite type be better?

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

Pray there is enough wind. The biggest issue with relaunching at SI, especially if it's light enough to fly a 15m is that there just isn't enough wind to get it off the water, especially if you end up with some water between the LE and your canopy.

If there is some wind and it just won't get where you need it you can try reaching up and pulling on the back line of the side you want to come up. DO NOT WRAP YOUR FINGERS IN THE LINE. Just grab it with your hand so you can immediately let go. A lot of the time that will get the kite to stand on its side and it will dump any water out of it to make it lighter. The kite will also move to the edge of the wind faster if it's resting on it's side than if it's LE down.

As always remember if you kite starts to backstall, sheet out. With the light wind at SI backstalling is always an option; especially with older bridled kites like my T2.

Thu and Fri were pretty crappy at SI though. I'm not surprised you had trouble.

kiterbiker · Since 12 Jun 2010 65 Posts

Dont crash your kite Wink

Yeah, its just plain hard to relaunch in light wind. I usually try to swim around to the side as bast I can, and usually end up grabbing the lines to maneuver the kite when its on the water to bring it around because usually pulling on the bar alone is not enough leverage to get the kite to move around to relaunch it. Eventually it goes back up....Usually....

beej · Since 16 Jul 2010 180 Posts Stoked

I was pulling on the outside line a bunch, and could get it to lift a little bit, but my guess is that I had water in the canopy at that point. How much of the outside line can I pull in safely?

Can't wait till I don't crash the kite so much!

I was successful at keeping it from doing a Hindenburg by keeping it to the left and right of 12 noon, but I suck bad enough that I don't always keep it the air when I eat it. Smile

frindly · Since 12 Aug 2008 21 Posts Portland

One of the basic things to remember in getting a kite to relaunch is to make sure its pumped up fully. A kite that's not rigid is much harder to get off the water. Make sure your kite has at least 9 psi before you finish pumping.

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

In addition to pulling the steering line, grab the front line opposite the steering line and pull - this helps get my kites on edge when there's no wind. If it won't take off at that point you need to swim.

Yeah, having air in your kite helps too! Smile

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

If you have the bar in your hands and you reach up above it as far as you can comfortably that should be more than enough. If it won't get up on edge with that then there probably isn't enough wind to relaunch it.

Wanna-Go · Since 14 Sep 2009 95 Posts Central, Wa

Get a Kahoona.