Forums > Kitesurfing   Newbies / Tips & Tricks

Launching with your safety tethered to something?

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Created by sotired > 9 months ago, 15 Mar 2019
sotired
WA, 597 posts
15 Mar 2019 8:37PM
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Hi, I'm relatively new to this stuff, and I was just thinking through how things work. This is just a hypothetical question.

What would happen if you launched your kite and had the safety line tethered to something as well as your harness via a second leash, such as a spike in the ground or other fixed point, or even a sandbag? What would that do? Would it flag out the kite if you got lofted?

In particular I am thinking about where a friend has helped me launch a kite and as the kite started flying it had too much power, so much so that it lifted me slightly. It launched pretty much the same as any other launch, its just that it was set for maximum power, which was obviously not the right thing to do. Not the smartest setup, but would a tethered safety line provide any protection if there was way too much power?

2stubborn2quit
WA, 169 posts
16 Mar 2019 8:39PM
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Noooooo.
Two tethers is just plain stupid.
Practise with a kite that is well within its wind range. It is so easy.
If you kite is over powered, don't blame the launch method, try looking around at the other guys of similar weight and put up that kite or one size smaller.
If you are a newbie don't just stick up your kite that is bigger than everyone else's because that's all you have.
Lastly if in doubt ask a bloke who is wearing a bucket hat and looks like they know what they are doing.
Don't ask:
People with crash helmets
Kiters with boardies over their wetties
Kiters with really bright coloured boots
Euros
Middle aged men with old crappy gear.

sotired
WA, 597 posts
16 Mar 2019 9:08PM
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Select to expand quote
2stubborn2quit said..
Noooooo.
Two tethers is just plain stupid.
Practise with a kite that is well within its wind range. It is so easy.
If you kite is over powered, don't blame the launch method, try looking around at the other guys of similar weight and put up that kite or one size smaller.
If you are a newbie don't just stick up your kite that is bigger than everyone else's because that's all you have.
Lastly if in doubt ask a bloke who is wearing a bucket hat and looks like they know what they are doing.
Don't ask:
People with crash helmets
Kiters with boardies over their wetties
Kiters with really bright coloured boots
Euros
Middle aged men with old crappy gear.


It was a hypothetical, as I am curious as to what it would do, although not enough to actually try it.

I am guessing that if the kite did loft you that a fixed tether would instantly flag out the kite even as you started to get pulled by it, which would avoid you getting lofted. I think that is how the mechanics would work.

I think I am the guy wearing the bucket hat, and if it wasn't for the way I can't put my board on my feet, or carry someone else's board while kiting, you would probably assume on sight that I know what I am doing Obviously not all the time.

The example I used was a bit of a weird one. The kite I had this happen to was meant to use a bar that had line lengths that were not equal on the front lines and the steering lines. When we launched it with a bar that has equal length lines it was like it was set to more than maximum power, because the front lines were 6 inches longer than the rear ones. Hence the excess power.

I am around 100kgs, so finding similar weight people at the beach can sometimes be a challenge. I tend to figure out what the lighter people are kiting with and base my estimate on that. So far, so good, other than the dodgy kite example.

maxpower1
WA, 12 posts
16 Mar 2019 11:59PM
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These days I only tend to see people come into problems launching is in light winds and the kite falls back on itself, a bit of gust comes in and drags them a few meters down the beach. In normal to stronger winds I always set a bit under powered for launching and adjust to suit once the kite is up. I think a mistake people can make is trying to get the kite high up too quick creating too much power. Back in the day when there was only c kites and not alot of depower we were taught to launch facing the water so at least if something goes wrong you don't end up smashing through bushes or power lines.

KIT33R
NSW, 1714 posts
17 Mar 2019 2:50PM
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A tethered launch should be an easy proceedure. Try this simple experiment first with an assistant close by should you need them.
Make sure no one is down wind of you.

When standing on the beach with your kite overhead gently lower it to the beach. Push the bar right out. The kite will touchdown, bounce once or twice and settle with the wingtip on the beach.
Let go of the bar.
The kite should happily sit there on its wingtip. You are the tether.
If the wind is too light it may roll back and end up straight down wind. If this happens just flag it onto a single line and set up again.

I use this technique quite often when I'm adjusting something and need 2 hands free.

raggedflyer
WA, 64 posts
17 Mar 2019 10:37PM
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Select to expand quote
sotired said..
What would happen if you launched your kite and had the safety line tethered to something as well as your harness via a second leash, such as a spike in the ground or other fixed point, or even a sandbag? What would that do? Would it flag out the kite if you got lofted?


Hypothetically, if you hooked your tethered chicken loop on first and removed this first tether, with your safety line tethered to something else it is possible the kite may flag out but you are still attached to the kite, you could be dragged or rag dolled and hurt before the kite flags out completely.

Select to expand quote
sotired said..
Not the smartest setup, but would a tethered safety line provide any protection if there was way too much power?


Agreed, not a good setup. Two tethers complicates it and having spikes, pegs or other objects adds a potential hazardous flying object in case of emergency.

The tether method I use is to hook my tether stainless steel quick clip through the large stainless steel ring on the end of the ozone safety line and through the chicken loop. If I need to, I can release the kite from the tether which will flag out on the tethered safety line. I'm safe.

The first thing I hook in when I come back to the tether point is my short safety leash to the small ring on the ozone safety line. I leave the tether stainless steel quick clip through the large ring. I hook onto the chicken loop and insert donkey stick. The kite is still tethered but now also connected to my harness. If I'm happy with everything I can remove the tether quick clip and launch the kite.

Find a safety system that provides you the best protection.



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