if you in a tangle completely ditch the kite you might very well be leaving someone else with a problem.
I'd say it is still important to have some kind of mechanism for retaining your kite.

If there are tangles at every turn I think the arrangers have been irresponsible.

edit: I see that there are ways of attaching leash to a ohshit handle, which would be weird when you loop the kite..
either way. Might be a good start

According to this, you can be disqualified for not having a flagout system.

Thanks everyone for the really great feedback. WE really appreciate everything people have to say.
We are working on something for the 2013 Bar.
I am hoping to have some more info in the next few weeks.
B

The class rules are actualy kind of ambiguos on the flaging leash thing.

C.3.1 SAFETY AND LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT
(a) A detachable kite leash shall be used. The Notice of Race and the Sailing instructions may change this rule.

C.8.2 LINES SAFETY SYSTEMS
Lines shall have a depowering device.
C.8.3 BAR SAFETY SYSTEMS
Bars shall have a quick-release system

The class rules also aply to non coarse race competitions so they are writen to allow leashing for wake style competition. Unless changed by the NOR or SI's a detachable leash to the chicken loop should be all that is needed for the rules to be satisfied. Unless they have a case interprestation of line safety systems that makes it clear that a flaging system is required. A simple push out on the bar system like cab's is a depowering device. Hell any bar you can move is a depowering device.

I think that would just show that the kiters have little experience in an pack, and none on a course flying a kite.