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Re-launching trailing edge down

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Created by OliviaMB > 9 months ago, 17 Feb 2021
OliviaMB
17 posts
17 Feb 2021 4:07PM
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I've seen a bunch of YouTube videos on this topic where they recommend swimming backwards against the kite to increase the tension on the lines, then reaching over the bar and sharply tugging the centre lines a few times. The kite either flips onto its leading edge in which can you can relaunch in the usual way, or if its windy enough, the kite lifts straight up through the power zone and back into the air. The first situation (flipping to the leading edge) seems safe enough. The second (lifting straight up through the power zone) seems a little risky! The videos make it look easy enough (they always do) but is this the right way for a beginner to be approaching this situation? Tips much appreciated :)

KiteBud
WA, 1515 posts
17 Feb 2021 4:21PM
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Hi OliviaMB,

The tip of swimming backwards and tugging the front lines is correct. However, I would not recommend pulling the front lines above the bar but only BELOW the bar. This is to reduce the risk of tangling your bar around the lines once you let go of the lines.

If the kite launches straight in the air through the power zone from the trailing edge, this is called a ''hot launch'' and it is very unlikely to happen in deep water as your kite and lines have to be nearly perfectly balanced and symmetric. It is however more likely to happen in shallow water or on the beach, which is where it's far more dangerous to do this.

If the kite ever ''hot launches'' in deep water it's very unlikely to cause you any harm as the wind is most likely light and you can't really get hurt in deep waters anyhow.

If your kite gets stuck on the trailing edge, you don't really get to choose if a kite is going to hot launch or not after pulling the front lines.

The key is to avoid this situation in the first place, because there is a very high risk of line/bridle tangle when trying to relaunch from the trailing edge, which could easily result in a self-rescue.

They main advice for light wind relaunching is to be patient and avoid pulling the bar. Unfortunately, every single single student (1000+ students) I have ever had, instinctively pulls the bar most of the way in or all the way when they crash the kite in the water. It takes a lot ''mental training'' to not pull the bar (or at least to pull it as little as possible) while trying to relaunch the kite.

Use the steering line and tease the kite up little by little. Sudden strong steering or sudden bar pulling movements will almost always back-stall the kite, especially in sub 18 knots winds and deep water.

Lastly, make sure you inflate your kite very well (to the point where it's very hard to fold in half). In light winds, a kite that is well inflated will relaunch a lot easier.

When the wind is too light for a session, practice your relaunching skills close to the beach in shallow waters. After a hundred hours or so of practice you should get pretty good at it.

hope this helps

Christian

Zigs
NSW, 67 posts
17 Feb 2021 10:01PM
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My kite almost always lands on its trailing edge, Have never had a problem with hot launching it. I just try to lean forwards so you skim ontop of the water without hitting the bottom to much. Usually I try to hold above the bar until the kite is at neutral , But as Christian was saying tangles might happen, always make sure your bar is free before pulling on the lines.
I have had my kite sink a fair bit though and it is a pain to try to relaunch

OliviaMB
17 posts
21 Feb 2021 4:07PM
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Select to expand quote
cbulota said..
Hi OliviaMB,

The tip of swimming backwards and tugging the front lines is correct. However, I would not recommend pulling the front lines above the bar but only BELOW the bar. This is to reduce the risk of tangling your bar around the lines once you let go of the lines.

If the kite launches straight in the air through the power zone from the trailing edge, this is called a ''hot launch'' and it is very unlikely to happen in deep water as your kite and lines have to be nearly perfectly balanced and symmetric. It is however more likely to happen in shallow water or on the beach, which is where it's far more dangerous to do this.

If the kite ever ''hot launches'' in deep water it's very unlikely to cause you any harm as the wind is most likely light and you can't really get hurt in deep waters anyhow.

If your kite gets stuck on the trailing edge, you don't really get to choose if a kite is going to hot launch or not after pulling the front lines.

The key is to avoid this situation in the first place, because there is a very high risk of line/bridle tangle when trying to relaunch from the trailing edge, which could easily result in a self-rescue.

They main advice for light wind relaunching is to be patient and avoid pulling the bar. Unfortunately, every single single student (1000+ students) I have ever had, instinctively pulls the bar most of the way in or all the way when they crash the kite in the water. It takes a lot ''mental training'' to not pull the bar (or at least to pull it as little as possible) while trying to relaunch the kite.

Use the steering line and tease the kite up little by little. Sudden strong steering or sudden bar pulling movements will almost always back-stall the kite, especially in sub 18 knots winds and deep water.

Lastly, make sure you inflate your kite very well (to the point where it's very hard to fold in half). In light winds, a kite that is well inflated will relaunch a lot easier.

When the wind is too light for a session, practice your relaunching skills close to the beach in shallow waters. After a hundred hours or so of practice you should get pretty good at it.

hope this helps

Christian


Thanks Christian, this was really helpful. It makes intuitive sense that hot launching in deep water would be safer so very glad to have that clarified. Tugging the lines below the bar is a great tip - I actually haven't seen that done in any of the videos but makes complete sense.

I am not too shabby now at relaunching in light winds if the kite is sitting on the leading edge and I can usually keep myself away from the bar (one benefit of crashing the kite 1000 times in beginner lessons is that you get heaps of relaunching practice!) but I was a bit nervous about the trailing edge, so I've really appreciated all this advice.

Gateman
QLD, 409 posts
25 Feb 2021 6:16AM
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Select to expand quote
Zigs said..
My kite almost always lands on its trailing edge, Have never had a problem with hot launching it. I just try to lean forwards so you skim ontop of the water without hitting the bottom to much. Usually I try to hold above the bar until the kite is at neutral , But as Christian was saying tangles might happen, always make sure your bar is free before pulling on the lines.
I have had my kite sink a fair bit though and it is a pain to try to relaunch


Hi Zigs
If your kite is "almost always" landing on the trailing edge, it's a good indication you are regularly back stalling the kite. Usually this means you are pulling in the bar too much, get in the habit of letting your bar all the way out if the kite starts drifting backwards, this will open up the kite and allow the wind to get in underneath which will bring your kite back up to the edge of the window. Sometimes a gentle tug on centre lines will make the difference between kite staying up instead of falling back into the water trailing edge down. I also recommend watching one of Christian's videos on tuning your bar, there is a good probability your centre lines are a lot longer than your steering lines. You could also pull in on the trim strap in very light wind to reduce back stalling issues. Hope this helps
GM



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"Re-launching trailing edge down" started by OliviaMB