Light wind relaunching

Posted purely for the benefit of those that do like to kite in low winds.
Lets face it, if you kite in low winds, eventually you will crash your kite and will be faced with the challenge to get it flying again (or a big swim and the potential loss of gear).

While we were packing away the race buoys yesterday in Botany Bay, we noticed a kite down, it was an Ozone Zephyr, upwind of the course. We retrieved a couple of buoys to let the owner have a good go at relaunching, but he just seemed to have given up very quickly and was getting dragged slowly downwind. The wind was variable and we called off the last races due to riders not being able to stay upwind on the TT reaching course. Estimated the wind to be around 6/7-9/10 knots.

We motored over to the rider in the RIB and asked how he was doing, another rider was keeping an eye on his board and we said we would take care of the board. Zephyr guy says the kite won't relaunch, he has tried, no way to relaunch in such light winds. I advised him that the kite will relaunch and for him to pull in 4-5M of line on one side, wait till the kite started to slide across the water to the opposite side, and then to quickly let go of that line and quickly pull in a similar amount of line on the other side of the bar, leaving the bar completely sheeted out. Worked first go, zephyr ride grabbed the bar though and was pulling in on it and nearly caused the kite to fall back, we keep urging him to keep the bar pushed and and only keep tension on one rear line. Pulling on the bar only just enough to steer the kite up and out of the water. We then advised the rider to body drag back about 1klm to the beach, but went upwind and grabbed his board went back down wind and threw the board in front of him and he was able to ride back.

We then went back to get another buoy, we then noticed the other riders kite down and even further out from shore, probably about 1.5klm's. This was a 15M Epic "something". We motored back upwind to see the owner surrounded by jet ski's, who I hope were helping retrieve his board, not stealing it or hassling him? Again we were advised by the experienced rider that there was no way this kite would relaunch. We sat and looked at the kite for a moment, then urged the owner to try the above technique and that he should unclip his board from a self rescue leash/tether. He tried the technique, and bingo his kite relaunched straight away as well, and he also rode back and actually continued to ride for quite a while.

My small point and shoot camera died on a recent trip to Fiji so its an excuse to get something a little bigger and in a housing so we can make video's of low wind kite relaunching techniques. You definitely need to get the kite moving across the window, and if it will move by pulling in enough rear line this means there is still enough wind for the kite to fly, and that it most likely will relaunch.

There are some other more subtle techniques to add to the above, like pulling on the opposite front to the rear you are pulling (only works with kites that have 4 equal length flying lines). Swimming at the kite at certain stages in the relaunch sequence, etc.

Totally useless information for us wa midwesterners, but a must read for darwonians

In Sydney/Botany Bay if someone is really stuck out there observers should definitely contact the Kitepower shop, we will go get people, but it is always a case of Little Creatures or similar!!

Opposite front line works, but there is a technique as to when to apply pressure or pull on the opposite front line, the trick is to get the kite sliding across the window first using as much rear line pull as necessary, drop the line being pulled and pop some pressure onto the opposite REAR line, then when the kite starts to lift a wing tip, pull and release some of the opposite front line. Having some front line pulled in while you pull on opposite rears works too, and as the tip lifts you pull and release the opposite front to the rear and see saw the kite fully up in one tip, guiding it to the edge with careful pressure on the rear line, never pull in hard on the bar, this will just cause the kite to stall and drop backward, trailing edge, in the water.

Thanks really helpful. Does this still work when you are drifting with the kite in a strong current? ie apparent wind just drops to nothing? Is there anything else you can try?

Hi guys,

I was out the Zephyr. Many thanks Steve for coming over & giving me that tip. Also, big thanks to the guy that kept an eye on my board. You're right, it worked first time & I will be practicing that technique over & over again , closer to shore of course. I've never had any problem relaunching the 2013 Zephyr it is my favorite kite. It's been a fantastic combination over the last 7 months with my Shinn King George. To get even more value I bought a sector 60 V4 which gets you out in even lighter winds. Again, this combination is a lot of fun & an absolute blast. I can't gybe the board yet so the problem I had was when stopping I had to get off the board to turn it around. This sudden pause in the kites momentum caused it to stall. I should of kept the kite moving from left to right instead of having it sitting at 12. I didn't loose my board but had to let it go to relaunch. You can keep a twin tip planted to your feet when relaunching but a Sector 60 is too big & awkward. After this experience I will look at screwing a small D ring to the tip of my board & carrying an extra safety leash or lanyard.


This is all part of the learning curve. In light winds you have to be prepared for the worst. I made the decision to go out some distance because the tide was coming in, there's plenty of other kiters around, sun set was two hours away (wear a watch) & I have no problem self rescuing/swimming one or two km back to shore. Many thanks to Steve for posting this information. Great technique to learn for people considering investing in a light wind kite. The Zephyr is the real deal.

Incorrect Chris.

I fly many, many kites. I'm no team rider, I have no affiliation with any ******, no kickbacks and say it as I see it.

If I don't like them I tend not to say anything. (I have ridden far more kites than I have mentioned).

Except I did recently on one and got raped and gang banged from all sides.

The zephyr 2013 is the best piece of equipement have ever bought. The edge is the most incredible wing I have ever flown.

The new smaller kites are fine, but more so they suite where I'm at. I reckon I could be on a few others that do a similar thing to be quite honest. Just fun, easy and progressive for me. I have made that perfectly clear.

Except one slight thing. The new kites I'm on, opposed to the alternatives, is less an open C shape, and part from the swept tips, really reminds me of a good old fashioned C kite from yesteryear, and flies as such, with some modern improvements for the less able like myself.


Anyhow, great contribution from Steve, gonna give that a crack.

You meant to say the 7m didn't you?

MattyJ,
Normally I wouldn't get involved in this sort of low level computer keyboard warrior comment, but you are way out of line here.
I've only met Eppo a couple of times. On both occasions he has been full of stoke, happy to help others and kites to the limit. I have also PM'd him and he was willing to give me good solid advice on a couple of points that have worked out, got me out more and saved me some cash.
He's a teacher, and like any good teacher really enjoys passing on information to others. By adding his experiences to his posts he is adding credibility and context to his comments, and gives average riders like me the ability to gain insights that we would normally have to learn the hard way.
Comments like you have posted are just not warranted.
If you don't like his posts............don't read them, simple.


Simon

Hey Matty, like any good teacher Eppo is just ignoring your comments. I like many others value Eppo's comments, enough said.

Also Matty I am a high school tech teacher and have been in the boat building trade for a long time, a lot of my students have called me a dick but as long as they can use it in a well constructed sentence I am happy.