as I wait patiently at the emergency ward to get a few stitches thought I might as well post a safety tip...
found out today that the 5th line length shouldn't float the kite when its released to it.
better to have it sit upside down on the water for it to relaunch safer without it doing odd crazy loop stuff when going to grab the bar .. the bar ripped out of my hand with the qr gorging my palm in the process....looks like miss palmer aint going to be getting much action over the next couple of weeks. lol.
anyhow moral is adjust my 5th line so kites lays on water in the future...would have launched better ...faster...easier even in the gusty sw crap as it was today.
btw ..is there any realy good painkilling drugs I should ask for...stuff you take but can't drive after.... 
Thanks for the tip. Ask for the little "blue" pill, the triage nurse should be able to give you one for the pain. Being a clutz I have had many Blue pills in the Emergency room at the hospital.
Bummer about your hand!
Check with your manufacturer the stopper ball lengths. You really need to limit how far the bar slides away along the 5th line.
If there's no speced lengths, set it up your self in light wind 
1)Flag your kite to 5th. Make sure the kite is settled directly down wind in a 'U' position. Anchore your 5th line.
2)Adjust the stopper ball so the top middle strut of the kite is parrallel with the ground.
This will work for a more traditional shape C kite.
Been wondering about 5th line stopper length lately too.
I followed the rule from my old 4 line setup by putting the stopper at least half the length of the kite size along the 5th line (ie 7m-ish for my 13m). Is it neccessary to follow the 1/2 kite rule for 5th line?
GetFunky,
I got out my lines last to have a look. My naish shift system has doesn't have a moveable stopper, there is a knot that stops the bar 4m (14m kite) from the fully power position.I assume that it is not kite specfic. I'd love to know how this length has been chosen???
i cant quite remember but i think it needs to be longer then the wingspan of the kite.. on the shift system its set up so that it lets the bar out JUST far enough to make it fall into its u shape, any shorter and it would still be semi powered and out of control
just take 5th line off.
more lines = more **** to deal with.
just ride 4 so much less effort.
I agree, use suicide leash until 20 knots. Under 20knots the 5th relaunch takes a little skill. But you need to practice in lighter wind to get it sussed for the stronger days.
In what you concider stronger wind, use 5th line. When using suicide leash in stronger winds your kite will crash hard and eventually break. and that will suck.
Here's a safe suicide leash option. If your in the sh-t! open the loop and it will auto land on the 5th. (Cwamit the release pin has soft edges)
