Re: North Rebel 5th line - any issues?
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 11:07 am
I've been riding 5 line kites for years, they have advantages and disadvantages.
5th line wraps do happen, for me I've a lot of experience with 5 line kites so can get the kite back in the air by turning the kite and sliding the 5th line off buts not 100% guaranteed and will still require a trip back to the beach to re-rig. For a newbie it isn't an easy thing to do. I've never seen a kite cut in half by a 5th line wrap, in fact never seen any evidence online either so I'm not saying it doesn't happen but it's extremely rare - I've seen more kites split from just being crashed than 5th line wraps so I'd be more worried about that than cutting a kite in half with the 5th line!
Advantages.......
A dedicated safety line that flags the kite out without any spins or loops. Also means I can self land my kites precisely without the kite even hitting the floor, good for kiting on busy beaches Although you must be aware, recovering a kite flagged onto a 5th line can be extremely hard in high winds - but I'd rather be safe and it take a while to get the kite back than be attached to a spiralling kite or on a mini 5th line rare the kite still flies when released to safety
The main advantage of 5th lines is the feel - 4 line kites or bridled kites just do not have the solid feel of 5th line kites, the drive you get through the turns and the solid shape in gusts.
Personally I'd love to fly 4 lines, less to go wrong but yet to fly a 4 line kite that has the feel of a 5 line kite.
5th line wraps do happen, for me I've a lot of experience with 5 line kites so can get the kite back in the air by turning the kite and sliding the 5th line off buts not 100% guaranteed and will still require a trip back to the beach to re-rig. For a newbie it isn't an easy thing to do. I've never seen a kite cut in half by a 5th line wrap, in fact never seen any evidence online either so I'm not saying it doesn't happen but it's extremely rare - I've seen more kites split from just being crashed than 5th line wraps so I'd be more worried about that than cutting a kite in half with the 5th line!
Advantages.......
A dedicated safety line that flags the kite out without any spins or loops. Also means I can self land my kites precisely without the kite even hitting the floor, good for kiting on busy beaches Although you must be aware, recovering a kite flagged onto a 5th line can be extremely hard in high winds - but I'd rather be safe and it take a while to get the kite back than be attached to a spiralling kite or on a mini 5th line rare the kite still flies when released to safety
The main advantage of 5th lines is the feel - 4 line kites or bridled kites just do not have the solid feel of 5th line kites, the drive you get through the turns and the solid shape in gusts.
Personally I'd love to fly 4 lines, less to go wrong but yet to fly a 4 line kite that has the feel of a 5 line kite.