Never thought it would happen to me. Famous last words.
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2003 9:34 am
Hi all.
Just got back from a weekend away and Man i shat a brick when this happended. All you guys self launching, watch you asses as i been self launching for a while now and thought it wouldnt happen to me. There I am, arrived at the spot, and a great place it was so I was eager to get set up and get out there.
I lay my kite out in the self launch position, line already been cleared, and the bar directly behind the kite so that when I picked it up, I could see them totally clear of twists and tangles. Then my friend needed a launch, so I helped him up. Sent him on his way happily and approached my bar again. Walked it up to the spot I was going to launch from, checked the lines again, and then clippend the leash on, then the trim loop and yanked her up. the second she was off the floor I knew she was messed up and not right.
Before I had the chance to reach for the Wichard QR with 2 big balls on, I was a few foot in the air travelling towards a hotel wall at great effin speed. There was NOTHING, I could have done, I was graspin for the QR with all my heart anbd I couldnt find a ball to pull to save my life. Panic stepped in for a visit as my body hit the ground and the kite - where the hell as the kite, I couldnt see it and it was still attached and i was being dragged towards the wall now, still I couldnt find the QR it was wedged up and to the right of my spreader, against my body and as it was flat against me, the balls were wedged, couldnt get em. Luckily, I mwean very Luckily, there were some people who ran to my assistance, the kite had landed on the other side of the hotel, lines across the roof, which was why I'd stopped moving and as soon as the line tension was gone, I could get the QR.
Thanks to those who ran to help - I owe you one.
When I checked the lines to see what caused it in the first place, I noticed that on the left side, the lines had been allowed to twist around eachother on one side of the kite and there was a knot / ball of small knots up near the kite end that i couldnt see from the bar. the wind had twisted it up, you know when your in the self launch positiion and that tip is flappin away ? wel its sending the lines into a rotational movement on one line more than the other, which makes it wrap around the other.
DONT SELF LAUNCH IN High winds- Unless absolutly necesarry. next time if I do it, I will shake like a leaf, but i aint doin it no more.
No damage done to anyone in terms of health. No injuries thank god, but More thought has to go into QR's, they aint so quick.
I remember Jo mac's post not 2 weekes ago on the same thread, he was spot on, there was nothing that I could have done to stop.
Rethinking my QR and options now. If there was a way of having another release closer to the trim strap or cleat, I could have got out of it.
got to think more or if anyone has already thought of a solution, please share!
Glad to still be here and healthy.
R.
Just got back from a weekend away and Man i shat a brick when this happended. All you guys self launching, watch you asses as i been self launching for a while now and thought it wouldnt happen to me. There I am, arrived at the spot, and a great place it was so I was eager to get set up and get out there.
I lay my kite out in the self launch position, line already been cleared, and the bar directly behind the kite so that when I picked it up, I could see them totally clear of twists and tangles. Then my friend needed a launch, so I helped him up. Sent him on his way happily and approached my bar again. Walked it up to the spot I was going to launch from, checked the lines again, and then clippend the leash on, then the trim loop and yanked her up. the second she was off the floor I knew she was messed up and not right.
Before I had the chance to reach for the Wichard QR with 2 big balls on, I was a few foot in the air travelling towards a hotel wall at great effin speed. There was NOTHING, I could have done, I was graspin for the QR with all my heart anbd I couldnt find a ball to pull to save my life. Panic stepped in for a visit as my body hit the ground and the kite - where the hell as the kite, I couldnt see it and it was still attached and i was being dragged towards the wall now, still I couldnt find the QR it was wedged up and to the right of my spreader, against my body and as it was flat against me, the balls were wedged, couldnt get em. Luckily, I mwean very Luckily, there were some people who ran to my assistance, the kite had landed on the other side of the hotel, lines across the roof, which was why I'd stopped moving and as soon as the line tension was gone, I could get the QR.
Thanks to those who ran to help - I owe you one.
When I checked the lines to see what caused it in the first place, I noticed that on the left side, the lines had been allowed to twist around eachother on one side of the kite and there was a knot / ball of small knots up near the kite end that i couldnt see from the bar. the wind had twisted it up, you know when your in the self launch positiion and that tip is flappin away ? wel its sending the lines into a rotational movement on one line more than the other, which makes it wrap around the other.
DONT SELF LAUNCH IN High winds- Unless absolutly necesarry. next time if I do it, I will shake like a leaf, but i aint doin it no more.
No damage done to anyone in terms of health. No injuries thank god, but More thought has to go into QR's, they aint so quick.
I remember Jo mac's post not 2 weekes ago on the same thread, he was spot on, there was nothing that I could have done to stop.
Rethinking my QR and options now. If there was a way of having another release closer to the trim strap or cleat, I could have got out of it.
got to think more or if anyone has already thought of a solution, please share!
Glad to still be here and healthy.
R.