Kiteforum.com

On 2003-01-06 09:42, gaffer wrote:
just to dispel the myth that some people seem to believe....

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LAUNCH A RAM AIR FROM THE DOWN WIND POSITION.

It is very easy (sometimes easier) to launch from the side of the window, I have done this with blades, arcs and flysurfers.

How do you get the kite out there ?
It most often lands downwind, either front or TE down - can you tilt it up on the side, and have it float/glide out to the side ?
In really strong winds it could be desireable.

Hi,
Re.:flysurfer sidelaunching:
I have been using flysurfers for nearly two years now but I feel very,very uncomfortable to side-launch them solo without assistance in such strong wind that downwind launching does not seem appropriate any more(after having a bad dragging experience) Does anybody have an advice how to do this safely? (perhaps 100% preinflation might be the key to get immediate steering control after liftoff??) Besides,it is not easy to find competent sidelaunch assistance for foils in strong winds specially among LEI-flyers,because there is some experience needed.
regards jörg

I've been dragged once too many times while launching my Flysurfer downwind. This is how I side launch in 20knots plus.

1] Carefully untangle the bridle and double check it; spend a good 20 minutes making sure your lines and bridle are ok.

2] Carefully preinflate - it's not easy at 20k plus! Don't drop the kite or let it flap away!

3] Try to enlist the help of 2 or 3 other people to hold the kite in the right position. Guys flying inflatables have a lote more time on their hands at setup so try to enlist their help.

4] If you can't find a few other guys to help you, sandbag the lower tip. It's difficult to find a balance between too much sand (deflates the tip) and not enough (kite blows away).

5] CAREFULLY pull the upper tip upwards. The kite will want to spiral uncontrollably due to the deflated lower tip (from sandbagging)... FIGHT IT!

6] Give up in disgust, realise you've made a boo boo in buying a ram air, sell it off 2nd hand as a doona, and buy an inflatable.

For a good instruction on how to side-launch, read this instruction from Marc Munzer:
http://www.foilfest.com/article2/index.html

There is also a video there on "how to":
http://www.foilfest.com/article2/SideLaunch_384.WMV

there may be some confusion here between launching and re-launching

launching is the first launch on the beach when you start your session, this is easy to do from the side of the window

re-launching is done when you drop the kite during a session, this you must do from the downwind position with a flysurfer, but it is not dangerous as you should be in the water and away from hard objects, the kite does relaunch through the powerzone but apart from the occansional teabagging there is nothing to be scared of.

hope this clears things up a bit

Sean

okay, here goes my twopenneth!!!

I have only flown LEI's disregarding an hysterical couple of hours flying the wife's Flexi Super10 in force 8 wind using 20m wipi lines on a bar, what a scream, I didn't realise you could get air off sucha small kite!!!!

Anyway,

I've killed two LEI's both were old and tired but ultimately I think I was responsible for their death.

The first was a wipi classic 5m the polypropylene type, bloody strong but starting to delaminate. I was flying it in 30mph winds with gusts pushing 35-45mph. I weigh 100kg give or take in my gear so I understand where you come from Jason. Also I used to pride myself on overcoming handling issues with brute strength.

On this day I was skimming at mega speed (trying to go upwind- no chance at that speed!) on a straight onshore day. Kite was way low and touched the water. I sank into the water and then the kite relaunched, fully powered at the bottom of the window, I fought it and then kerang!

I ended up releasing the safety and watching the kite snap lines and run away. After fetching it, I noted in the main the connection lines had snapped my flight lines were fine. Unfortunately I ripped the bottom corner out of the kite. DOA at repair shop.

I also managed to bend my 55cm F-one bar like a bannana, still waiting to see what F-One are doing about that. (anyone else killed a bar?)

Second LEI I killed was delaminating and ready to die, again big wind day and I was having a fantastic time getting teabagged all over the shop. Finally it ripped along one of the struts. DOA at the repair shop.

My point to this monologue would be thus.

Everything can be broken no matter how well built it is. I have now learnt that relying on my strength is NOT how to kitesurf, I am becoming a better kitesurfer by using brain and feel rather than brute force.

I agree we need strong kites and gear, but also we have to accept that all equipment has limits, perhaps the manufacturers can be more helpful in this field giving us some indication of failure levels. (I know this is kind of how long is a piece of string but they could be a little more specific than at present.)

Twopenneth? Ha more like a good £20 worth sorry it ended up being so long but I wanted to explain my views.

Anyone who has killed a bar please give me a shout I'd like to hear about it.

I posted the last message but for some reason it came up as anonymous.????

sorry, but I thought I'd own up to the post, I don't like people poasting without logging on I think you should always put a name to your words.

I killed a bar, it was a cheap aluminum bar, the ones you can buy in france for around 100 francs or so(13euros?), i was using it under extreme forces with my waterfoil 5.7, while we were boatjumping(see these videos to understand what i am saying:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kitesurfm ... 20Jumping/, by the way, these are really old)
i had a fixed loop with both ends nudged towards the center of the bar, and there was a friend holding on to me so that we both jumped at the same time, this put extreme pressure on the bar(add to that the bar had 5 rivets in it, one in the center, which ultimately must have really weakened my bar). Thank god i wasn't hurt cause i went up and landed right behind the boat, the bar snapped in two.
Cheers,
Andres

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Andres_Santacruz on 2003-01-06 22:25 ]</font>

thank you for the input.

Anyone else?

I can't be the only one who has had this problem.

"A softkite that exploded because of a bridle failure is the most fucking bullshit I have ever heard. "
M.M.
_________________

Paraflysurf
M.Müller/Aviation Engineer
Switzerland

http://www.paraflysurf.ch
mm@paraflysurf.ch
0041/79/4522713

The above comment is indicative of the irrational zealotry of the ram air brigade.

Jason's questions about his Flysurfers where obviously genuine and he was seeking real information.

It is regrettable that ram air proponents like M. Muller have to resort to abuse and profanity to defend their product.