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Tether launch BWS noise kite?

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 12:14 am
by tswierkocki
Anyone tether launching a 6m BWS noise in high wind? Does it sit well on the wing tip?

My old Waroo's and Kahoona's were very stable when tether launched but my 7m C4 is a little sketchy tether launching on a heavy wind day.

I'm looking for a good wave kite that is easy to self launch and land in a grass field with no one around to help.

Re: Tether launch BWS noise kite?

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 2:42 am
by Jbrook
My friend self launches his 6 and 8 no problem. Now self launching a 6 in 30 knots or more is another story hehe.

Re: Tether launch BWS noise kite?

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 7:34 pm
by mdmaui
Yes dude. Our friend on lanai just tethers and tosses a 5m bw from straight downwind blowing 30. It was kind of eye-opening to see really.

Re: Tether launch BWS noise kite?

Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 2:07 am
by Westozzy
The more C shape kites will always behave a little more erratically when tethered launch. Unless they have pulleys and bridles of course. :D

Re: Tether launch BWS noise kite?

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 6:33 am
by trxdude
Is "tether launching" the same as drift launching? Guessing just let the kite stroll downwind on it's leading edge while it opens up and drifts to the edge of the window, do a quick roll with gentle backline tug, release the bar ( with stopper ball all the way out) , and send the kite up and off the wind, while praying you don't go with it? Thinking you might want to keep the bar within slight elbow flexion reach, even if you could sheet to full arm extension or longer.

Would love to see that in 30 kt., in fact, I'd love to see 30 kt. in general, that's double our decent San Diego days, a true Gail as it were, even if a moderate one.

Thinking Garth Brooks Rodeo... "ain't no woman, flesh and blood, it's damned old rodeo, I mean, it's that damned old Gail.

Not really a country guy, but love the analogy.

Re: Tether launch BWS noise kite?

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 7:28 am
by Dirk
Tether launch is when you attach a rope with a snap hook to a fixed object like a pole. Attach the QR to the snap hook, bar maximum depowered, walk to your kite and put it up and into the wind like a launch assistant would do, walk back, hook in, launch.

Landing the kite works the same.

Re: Tether launch BWS noise kite?

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 7:32 am
by trxdude
Got ya, sorry for the confusion, I've don't that off the hitch of my car a few times. Well, at least I got to ramble out lout for a minute. Will do my research on self launching techniques in high winds, not sure if drift launching would be on that list.

Re: Tether launch BWS noise kite?

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 2:04 am
by juandesooka
I have done tethered launch with all BWS sizes, it works ok. Not as stable as the other kites I've used (Ocean Rodeo rise, Cabrinha switchblade), jumped around a little, but worked. I had to put a sandbag on wing tip to keep it down -- and in one launch, found it wouldn't go with too much weight on wingtip. Removed it, kite jumped around a little, but didn't launch until instructed.

I did have one scary moment though, trying this with my 6m in gusty 30kts on a super narrow sketchy launch site. While setting up, I didn't notice the wind had shifted nearly 90 degrees, from NE to SE, so it was accidentally super hot. When I turned the kite over to set it up the kite on the carabiner, it put me on the ground so fast I didn't know what hit me....like getting punched in the face, when you don't even see it coming, suddenly you're just down seeing stars. I was very glad to be wearing a helmet that day. A sore hip and hurt pride only. And more respect for small kites in high wind = big power.

Yes, doable, but be careful. :oops: