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Self landing in heavy strong wind

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 8:25 pm
by peterheirman
Landing your own kite in low to mid range winds is feasible: many vids and documentation.
But on those days of low and mid range winds there are plenty of people on the beach to help.

The real problem is self landing in heavy strong gusty winds.
For example you started out with 20-22 knots on a 9m kite (cold winter day) and the wind picks up to 30-32 knots. The other kiters started with a 7m so they keep on going and don't care about you.

With a 9m kite in 30-32 knots those self landing techniques become very dangerous and impossible.
Just try to remove your chicken loop from your harness hook at 30knots with a 9m kite: you won't be able to keep it in your hand. Or if you use two hands then it is likely the kite to start moving sideways in gusty winds and will fly through the wind window with even more power.

So how do you land when you are overpowered ?

In the past I used to land the kite in the water when I was in knee to hip deep water, undo the chicken loop and move towards the kite as fast as possible. And pray.

Re: Self landing in heavy strong wind

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 8:49 pm
by Jono 111
I'm not trying to be facetious, but the North 5th line always makes it a doddle.

If anything goes wrong, you release to the 5th and the kite is dead, no power, no risks. They happen to be great kites too...I've been caught out with a big kite (14) on a number pf occassions when the front moves in and the wind ramps from 16 kt to 30-35 kt....the reach back in is never easy, but knowing that as soon as you get in, you can eject to full safety immediately is massively helpful.

I almost always kite alone, to me, having this security counts for a LOT.

Re: Self landing in heavy strong wind

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 8:58 pm
by Laughingman
peterheirman wrote:Landing your own kite in low to mid range winds is feasible: many vids and documentation.
But on those days of low and mid range winds there are plenty of people on the beach to help.

The real problem is self landing in heavy strong gusty winds.
For example you started out with 20-22 knots on a 9m kite (cold winter day) and the wind picks up to 30-32 knots. The other kiters started with a 7m so they keep on going and don't care about you.

With a 9m kite in 30-32 knots those self landing techniques become very dangerous and impossible.
Just try to remove your chicken loop from your harness hook at 30knots with a 9m kite: you won't be able to keep it in your hand. Or if you use two hands then it is likely the kite to start moving sideways in gusty winds and will fly through the wind window with even more power.

So how do you land when you are overpowered ?

In the past I used to land the kite in the water when I was in knee to hip deep water, undo the chicken loop and move towards the kite as fast as possible. And pray.
With any somewhat modern kite....You should release to the safety line (flag line) and self rescue, by first wrapping the flag line around the back of the bar (figure 8 like) and then wrapping the rest of the lines with the whats left of the flag line on the bar as you normally would. Once you get to the kite grab it and tie off your lines with a 1/4 hitch. Alternatively you could walk up the flag line to the kite but if things go wrong, you could be in big trouble considering you could get tangled in the line with a kite that is out of control.

Re: Self landing in heavy strong wind

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:27 pm
by frankm1960
If you have a 4 line kite use a "stake" ... start reading this link and go from there... viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2377613

Now if you had a 5line kite you probably wouldn't be asking this question :)

Re: Self landing in heavy strong wind

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:35 pm
by SupaEZ
Jono 111 wrote:I'm not trying to be facetious, but the North 5th line always makes it a doddle.

If anything goes wrong, you release to the 5th and the kite is dead, no power, no risks. They happen to be great kites too...I've been caught out with a big kite (14) on a number pf occassions when the front moves in and the wind ramps from 16 kt to 30-35 kt....the reach back in is never easy, but knowing that as soon as you get in, you can eject to full safety immediately is massively helpful.

I almost always kite alone, to me, having this security counts for a LOT.
+5 TH.....on what you said

Re: Self landing in heavy strong wind

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:42 pm
by vkngktr
Lots of talk about self landings. Another case for having an OSR on 4 line kites. I know I know; 5th line. Thats great if you like the kites that come with 5th lines.

Re: Self landing in heavy strong wind

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:54 pm
by dyyylan
step 1 hit your quick release

step 2 walk up the flag out line to the kite

step 3 grab the kite

Re: Self landing in heavy strong wind

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:16 am
by bnthere
this is getting tedious. i second every statement about disabling the kite and pulling it in / walking up to it. it can be difficult in super high winds with a big canopy, if i feel like i might not be able to hold a single flying line if the kite flips into the air then i wrap the bar as i approach the kite, same as during a deep water "self rescue" bar warp.

i would again state that any single inside line works best (5th line included but not necessary) single outside line works but not as well on some shaped kites as others, especially in high winds, and the double centerline systems i don't trust but i guess thats arguable.

this is what the leash system is there for.

Re: Self landing in heavy strong wind

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 3:50 am
by OzBungy
If you think that self landing on the beach is going to be a problem then ride well out to sea and self-land into the water and release to the leash.

Don't try and come to the beach in the middle of a squall. That's just creating a more dangerous situation.

For normal strong conditions, you self land in super strong winds the same way you land in any other winds ... you just have to be a bit more careful and ready to bail if things get a bit hairy.

This means that the usual thing of handling the centre/front lines needs to be done with a lot more care.

The most likely difficulty is the kite can levitate. Very strong winds and sand dunes/cliffs contribute to this.

It can happen with every kind of safety system. Some safety systems will have the flagged out kite spinning as well.

The usual way of dealing with that is to :
- keep your body, bar and leash low on the ground to reduce the air getting under the kite.
- wait it out. The kite usually rolls over and flops onto the ground.
- work your way to a single front line and tweak it to roll the kite over and land it.

When all else fails, having made sure the downwind zone is safe and clear, release the kite. Do it with the kite on the water so it drags along rather than flies in a big arc through the air.

The other potential big problem is getting yourself or your gear tangled in the lines. That's what your hook knife is for. When a tangle occurs and there is a chance the kite will power up, cut the lines.

Stakes are fine if you can get to them and manage them in the conditions. Just imagine yourself trying to ride back to your exact starting point, getting to your stake, hooking in and self landing, all while a 50 knot gust us lifting you off your feet.

Re: Self landing in heavy strong wind

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 5:04 am
by BWD
worth mentioning you can add a 5th line to almost any kite out there.
Not always a slick, trimmable one, but certainly an effective, leashable kill-switch type.
Often a good idea to do so in fact, if you are testing a new bridle,bridle mod, or repair.