The following is quoted from a different posting in this list:
7. CONSIDER LAUNCHING UNHOOKED from your bar for rapid release & kite leash activation if things go wrong. Consider hooking into your QR fixed harness line only once you are near the water & your kite is well low over the water in order to grab your board. Connect to your chicken loop offshore.
Given the current standard equipment, I am wondering whether this really works.
Recently, in Hurghada I tried to do this. Overall conditions were good, almost sideshore winds, 3-4 bft, with gusts up to 5 bft. My starting position was on the beach and my partner was in the water. I was flying a Takoon Scoop 14.3. Immediately, after the unhooked launch the kite gained some height, about 2 to 3 meters, and it started pulling me downwind. It pulled me over the sand and, being busy with not falling down, I could not prevent the kite from rising more and consequently pulling even harder. By that time I was already in the water where things became more relaxed. I controlled the kite in the zenith position, hooked in. Nothing special from this point of time. Well, except for the fact that I was missing my board which I obviously left on the beach.
To summarize, due to the fact that I was starting in the right direction, the situation was not dangerous at any point of time. However, I had the feeling that starting unhooked caused the kite to be more powered. Consequently, I was pulled in the downwind direction.
Here comes my question: How many of youare practicing this technique? And finally, if this only works in light wind conditions, does it make sense at all?
Cheers, Stefan