As a beginner I notice that mastering the art of the deep water relaunch is paramount to being able to kite . I was out on a 14 m draft on the weekend, I crashed lost my board and crashed the kite ,when I tried to relaunch I found I couldn't get any purchase to stop the kite just dragging me down wind hence I couldn't get back to my board . I ended up having to pull the safety , swim to my board , then wind up my tangled lines and self rescue back to the beach. I realise that not dropping my kite in the first place is probably the way to go , but is there a technique for relaunch in that situation ?
Forget the board in the first instance. Your safety is primary. Focus on relaunch. That's the safest method to getting back to shore if you have a flying kite. Once relaunch body drag back to the board or back to shore and wait for the board to wash in.
Don't ditch your kite to save your board. That is putting you at more risk.
PS If your flying in light wind (i pressume it was light because your on a 14m) its harder to relaunch. Search some relaunchin tips.
If you can't relaunch on your port side (left) quickly swap lines by pulling the starboard steering line.
Because the kite is towards the wind window on the port side. When shifted to the starboard side, the kite will in effect "fill" with air, generating power and relaunching on the starboard side.
A more technicial way is to pull the 2 centre lines and the kite will fly upside down. The trick is to then flick the kite the correct way around, sort of like a half kite loop.
Plummet I agree with your comments , but at the time I was just thinking how can I produce more resistance against the kite to get it back into the air and since I couldn't touch the bottom I thought , get the board back on my feet to create more drag and get the kite to launch . But since I couldn't reach the board and couldn't launch the kite I made the decision to self rescue . Taking the 14 m out was a miscalculation on my part . I had a forecast for 10-15 knots but the reality was closer to 15-20 . But my question is . How do you relaunch a kite when you are swimming without board or bottom purchase ?
I think that its a high aspect kite and in light wind not an easy kite to launch I have an nrg 14 hard in light wind for water relaunch I try not to drop my kite but after time on kite gets bit easier with practise
15-20 should be easy to relaunch. I'm not familure with that kite. so search relaunch technicques with it.
relaunching without a board is the same technique. it just takes longer as you get dragged down wind faster. But unless there's not enough wind it will work.
High aspect kites (long and thin) are harder to relaunch. Perhaps practice relaunch in a shallow flat water spot.
In my spot I have the added bonus of myself and the kite getting smashed by waves while i'm trying to relaunch.
What that teaches you is to not drop it in the first place!. Pratice ways to keep the kite in the air while crashing. Focus on flying the kite to keep it in the air when you crash. many times I have looped my kite while under the water just to stop it from hitting the deck.
Select to expand quoteEfilnikufesin said...
Plummet I agree with your comments , but at the time I was just thinking how can I produce more resistance against the kite to get it back into the air and since I couldn't touch the bottom I thought , get the board back on my feet to create more drag and get the kite to launch . But since I couldn't reach the board and couldn't launch the kite I made the decision to self rescue . Taking the 14 m out was a miscalculation on my part . I had a forecast for 10-15 knots but the reality was closer to 15-20 . But my question is . How do you relaunch a kite when you are swimming without board or bottom purchase ?
Plummet's right in saying keep it in the air when you crash problem is it takes time to master, no different than when we first started and it was a challenge to keep the kite at 12 without looking at. It will come to you after a few more crashes
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With regards to the relaunch without the board in deeper water- I haven’t had to do too much different than in shallow water only it does take a bit longer to get the kite back in the air because you’re not grounded but that usually just means more upwind body dragging to get to your board. Maybe a bit more relaunch practice in shallow water and it’ll all come together in the deep. Good luck...
Good points from Plums here. However, the one thing that confuses me is which line should I pull to bring the kite back up, especially in light winds. I was in this situation once and pulled on one line but it made no difference. Pulled on the other line, same thing. There just wasn't enough wind to fill the kite. Mine too was a 14mt, but a Cab switchblade. I kept being dragged down wind back to the beach and quite frankly, that was a good move to save time. Once on the beach I parked the kite, swam out to get my board and self-relaunched to try it all over again. But if you're out at sea and there is no beach downwind?!
Select to expand quoteONYX said...
If you can't relaunch on your port side (left) quickly swap lines by pulling the starboard steering line.
Because the kite is towards the wind window on the port side. When shifted to the starboard side, the kite will in effect "fill" with air, generating power and relaunching on the starboard side.
A more technicial way is to pull the 2 centre lines and the kite will fly upside down. The trick is to then flick the kite the correct way around, sort of like a half kite loop.
Yeh always worked for me in light wind. Shouldnt think your 14m draft would have to many issues with relaunch. Havent flown one so cant really comment.
Select to expand quoteONYX said...
If you can't relaunch on your port side (left) quickly swap lines by pulling the starboard steering line.
Because the kite is towards the wind window on the port side. When shifted to the starboard side, the kite will in effect "fill" with air, generating power and relaunching on the starboard side.
A more technicial way is to pull the 2 centre lines and the kite will fly upside down. The trick is to then flick the kite the correct way around, sort of like a half kite loop.
Yeh always worked for me in light wind switching lines to fill the kite. Shouldnt think your 14m draft would have to many issues with relaunch. Havent flown one so cant really comment.
With the draft the back lines pull from the centre of the wing rather than from the back edge like the other kite I use ( switchy) which I think makes it more difficult to launch because it doesn't want to lay back and take off , and when you drop it downwind it can be very hard to get it to the edge of the window,add deep water to that mix and your in for a time . That's what I discovered anyway.
all good info here.
i think you would benefit from just a 30min session just on relaunching.
It is extra an important skill in the ocean with waves but even on flat water you will need it
Do it in the shallows without the board, but try to do it without touching the bottom so your feet are dragging behind you.
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if the draft has a low Y for where the center lines split, grab the opposite front-rear and play around.
sometimes a sawing motion will bring the kite to the edge of the window faster.
Efilniku...
Light wind relaunching has its own special technique - google it there is heaps of info on it. But in summary you have to pull ~2meters of one of the steering lines to get the kite to move in really light wind (remember your arm length is only ~500mm, so need four arm lengths.)
But i dont think your problem was light wind considering you say it was 15-20 knots and you had a 14 meter kite...thats almost overpowered.
Remember that the kite doesnt always respond straight away when its on the water...it might take 5 or 10 seconds to start moving, and up to 30 seconds to get from downwind to the edge of the wind window...just be patient.
again, maybe try being more brutal with the kite to see if it responds - pull 1 to 1.5 meters of one of the steering lines to see if it moves.
Sounds like your kite was directly downwind, a bit of a swim to either side will put you in a better position to relaunch your kite, basically your putting the kite to the relaunch position by re positioning yourself,this is easy in light to moderate winds, kites like the draft edge etc arnt auto relaunch like a park or catalyst, they take a bit more teasing to the edge of wind window , repeat your scenario in safer water to gain confidence, all part of the learning process, it'll only make your more confident of getting out of the same dilemma next time,
A few tips for light wind relaunch in deep water
( without board ).
Try laying back and frog kicking to create added tension whilst pulling in a steering line.
Try pulling one steering line until the kite begins to move across the window ( leading edge down ) once it has a bit of momentum release the line and pull the opposite the sudden change can cause the wingtip to grab the surface and assist in pivoting the opposite side up.
Swim or walk towards the kite and get it to roll slightly onto its back ( not completely ). This this causes the wingtips to have less c tontact witb the water and therefore less drag Then finess the steering line to relaunch the kite.
tl;dr so probably repeating... if you got a tough relaunch:
"Depower" the kite with the trim rope, push the bar out as much as you can
Reach up and pull the left steering leader line
Side stoke swim to the right (or pull right, swim left)
The Drafts reverse launch nicely too...
Also, if you have wide beach and an old kite. Try learning to self launch, land and relaunch in light winds. Try using a 7m or 8m in 12 to 15 knots.
This really sped up my leading on how to manipulate the kite on the sand, and applying this knowlege in the water.
Naish do a relaunch line that you can fit to the draft I can't remember the full details of it but it sounded pretty useful Im sure a quick google search would bring up the full details
Select to expand quoteJacobMatan said...
Naish do a relaunch line that you can fit to the draft I can't remember the full details of it but it sounded pretty useful Im sure a quick google search would bring up the full details
It's for light wind and lazy people LWR is what they call it
Two things to look at.
Sheet in and you will see the kite fall back then let the bar out and see it move foreword in the window, this is where you want it to pull you up wind, you can do this on the beach, but pick the right conditions! It is very easy to oversheet the kite as it is losing power after the sweet spot.
Lay back on the harness, as has been said, this will bring on the edge of the board.
I spent months walking up the beach, cant get me off the water now.
Stick with it and enjoy the early pain.
I'm reckoning you just needed more patience
keep your body upright in the water, act like a bit of a sea anchor.
then pull hard on the bar to bring the kite around, and WAIT. This might take awhile, and may not look like much is happening but it will. Especially in good wind, It'll take heaps longer in super light stuff but will happen.
Never ditch your kite to save your board. Learn to do a deep water self rescue PROPERLY , and write your name and contact no on the board.
Try and keep the kite dry, but you will crash it every year you do this. That's guaranteed!
Ah.. I remember relaunching a 15m 2005 fuel in low wind. Pulling on the centre lines hoping for a launch, the bloody thing always landed on it's back too..
You're not using a 05 fuel are you?
BTW the fix for me was to buy 08 T2's, maybe pick up an 08 kite? 
Select to expand quotekitebored said...
Ah.. I remember relaunching a 15m 2005 fuel in low wind. Pulling on the centre lines hoping for a launch, the bloody thing always landed on it's back too..
That's good! It's way easier to re-launch when the kite is lying on its back. Just yank hard the two centre lines and she should quickly launch dragging you down wind, but at least you've got the kite in the air. Now it's over to body dragging to retrieve the board.
Learned one thing ! If you are a beginner don't let a shop owner talk you into buying a naish draft ! NOT a beginners kite !!!!!!
Sounds like you might have been put on a bum steer!! Maybe go back to the shop and ask why they recommended it to you as a beginner, you might be lucky and get a good change over price on something beginner friendly considering the circumstances...
Which shop?
What's not beginner about it? Just a bow kite with bar pressure up the wazoo...
this is another reason, as a beginner, i will stick to my five line kites. that 5th line is a life saver for relaunch.
Select to expand quote said..
A more technicial way is to pull the 2 centre lines and the kite will fly upside down. The trick is to then flick the kite the correct way around, sort of like a half kite loop.
Wrong wrong wrong. No the more technical way is to pull the two back lines not the centre line ,,centre lines attach to the LE and it might be hard if you don't have a board to put some resistance on the kite in deep water ,try body dragging to one edge . use your hand as a rudder ,,,
