Came accross this while on youtube looking for ideas and different way's people self launch and land, as I was having a bit of trouble self landing my Turbo Diesel the other day in strong gusty winds. check it out.... would be interested in some of your thoughts. www.thekitebuddy.com/
cheers
Rob
Cheaper method and potentially safer method is to use a weighted bag (kitebag) filled with sand and climbing clip. The device looks good, but i could see that if was not fastened correctly you would have an out of control kite, plus a medevil clubing device attached.
Might be one of those things that would work fine until you really need it I reckon. Then it would be potentially deadly. IWB's suggestion of something more like a sand bag is kinda safer as its just as helpful if it shifts a bit and not as deadly. But..... In strong gusty winds (like you describe).... kites don't just sit there, they jump around and when not being steered its foreseeable that they may launch, fly across the window or tangle on a wing tip or obstacle, loop. In this case, it would want to be a ridiculously big sand bag to not move. Wouldn't have minded seeing some major white caps in the pic to be a little more convincing.
Not suggesting either of these ideas below are totally safe, but i'd rather:
1. Flag the kite to one line and walk up that one line, wrapping it around the bar if necessary until i secure the kite. (untangle lines later)
OR probably less safe...
2. crash the kite into the shore break so it gets drenched, flag to one line then run and grab it...
Probably not a great idea to mention these ideas on a public forum, but I personally would use these (almost last resort) methods before buying an anchoring device. Maybe its a power thing and i just trust myself more than the anchor..
I can't imagine a situation where I'd prefer to use this to launch rather than self launching.
PS. having a actual friend is always preferable.
do they do an electric model that drills itself into the ground? Looks like too much hard work otherwise.
y dont u park it at 45 degrees then pull the 2 middle lines in then yank the top middle line to pull the kite around? when u self land
thats what i do on my switch blade
I've seen the ones you mention on ebay before, cheaper than that site to.
Personally I don't think I would trust it in gusty strong winds mate, perhaps a steady 15-18 knots would be OK.
Saying that, I would trust it more than this other design.http://cgi.ebay.com.au/kitesurfing-kiteboarding-kite-self-launch-anchor-waroo_W0QQitemZ200266878367QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item200266878367&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177
Just looks like a tent peg for camping in sandy areas, just secured a rope to the end with a clip. Now that's a dodgey setup, more surprising is the fact Best are kind of promoting it.
I would do what undagekiter suggested and when the wind gets up or is gusty flag it's. No big deal really as long as lines don't tangle I guess
Cheaper local alternative:
www.rapidanchor.com/
About AU$60 and holds 520KG's so it won't be coming loose unless you get a 100 knot gust, and if that happens, I'd be happy to see both my kite and the anchor disappear with me nowhere near it.
I have been using the rapid anchor (wombat) gadget for a couple of months now. And I can say for me it works perfectly. I have a 12m naish and the kite just sits there at the edge hardly moving at all, especially when the winds are quite strong. The only time the kite tends to move about I find is when the winds are weak. But that`s okay cause it`s pretty safe. The reason why I use it is firstly I can put the kite up on it`s side as if it`s ready to fly and inspect the kite, lines for damage, twists etc. Also it saves the wear on the kite from dragging, esecially when there`s dry sea weed on the beach and shells.Even launching the kite using the folded wing tip method wears out the kite. I`ve even tested it taking the kite across the window and up to 12o`clock quite fast and it doesn`t shift.
I think that if I was in a situation when the winds start to get too strong and gusty I`d connect my safety leash to the anchor and then pull the chicken loop safety. That way, as soon as I pull the safety I can run up to the kite while it`s still anchored to somethig. I`m sure there must be other methods that work.
Self Launching - dead easy (at least with a bow kite - I tend to run around a fair bit to keep the wear on the LE to a minimum & can often launch with virtually no movement, it just rocks up as I move back)
Self Landing - its a bit of a bugger isn't it.
Ive used the 45Deg, Dive & pull the front lines, but it is a bit hit and miss.
I mostly work the kite down and back until it will park on the beach and then pull the top front line (down wards & you need a couple of arms lengths) . At the same time I run up wind. This mostly works unless its really blowing, then it is always interesting & one way or another I end up flagging to the safety.
(Yes I do try to get someone to land if I can - mainly to keep the wear down.)
I'm keen to try the new Cabrinha IDS thingy. Something that can reliably & safely self land sounds pretty good to me (some say other kites have an equivalent to the Cabrinha thing, but I don't know what they are.
Anyone have much experience self landing these?
Hi Bigsy
Try this, I am a kitesurf instructor and it works with beginners even, most of the time without fail. things can always go wrong in extreme conditions, but there is an easy way to protect yourself from potential problems Particularly with your kite.
The easiest way to self launch is to lay your lines out down wind (always remember red on right behind the kite ie down wind, but still in left when flying). Hook up safety line to leash, but do not hook in (can if you are confident, but don't advise it in higher winds). pick up chicken loop, don't touch the bar, walk backwards and out and around the kite keeping the centre lines tight at all times. The kite will slowly spin downwind as you walk up wind until it pops up in the edge of the window. If all the lines look good and no bridle lines are caught, hook in and launch. Remember when it first enters the edge of the window and prepares to roll to launch position this is when it can go wrong if the wing tip pigtail is caught the wingtip may be folded if you are not hooked in, let go and go to safety and reset lines. This is the safest method and once you are used to it, very easy to do.
The safest way (not the neatest) to self land the kite is to lower your kite to the edge of the window so your safety (flagging) line is the upper centre line and pull the release. Alternatively you can let the kite touch the ground at the edge of the window and release the bar pull the upper front line confidently until the kite drops onto its LE. Doesn't work with all brand, but it will with the Turbo 2 & 3 using the last method. You do need to fully committ to pulling the top front line until the kite is on its LE. It may even drop down wind before doing this, but it will do it as long as you keep pulling the upper centre line. Something to practise in light wind until you get the hang of it, making sure no one is down wind when you try it of course.
any questions, PM me or give us a call, always happy to help out with FREE advice.
Have Fun!
George
