Fifth line by Wipika, called CLS, is superb in use.

Launching, landing, water re-launch and the extra de-power you get by hauling a yard of fifth in is all awasome. Not to be missed and I would never be without it.

Ok, if you have a kite that re-launches easier than most and you are more skilled than most, It still takes effort. With the fifth from Wipika it takes less effort and that is a safety bonus.

noop..

dont need it....

Always, 5thE North
ideal safety !

DIY 5th lines for me. Purely as a relaunch aid so far though......haven't set them up for use as a safety at this point. They make relaunch *so* much easier in light wind

I have three Wooks, 16.5, 12 and 9.
I have equipped all three with a 5th line which is also used as the safety line.
It is not used to depower the kite, I also don't want that as the flying character of the kite will not become better with tension on the line.
But the line is helpful for starting and landing the kite alone, helpful if you get in a situation where there is so little wind for a moment that the kite almost drops backward down (you can pull a bit at the line to get it up again).
And of course, the relaunch is done in seconds.
I dont't want to miss it.

Peter

played around with it on a 22.3

found it helped stability (stopped jellyfishing)

was better for safety to self land

giant pain in the ass for line tangles

and totally uncool if kite flipped inside out
or in surf

took it off (training wheels)
single line relaunch much simpler
THANKS TOBY!

looking towards Takoon
more of what I want from a system
no bar dead kite
easy relaunch
come back to USA takoon

I tried the fifth element from North and found it quite convenient. However, a day later a friend of mine tried it also and got the fifth line twisted around his kite in big waves...very dangerous. Two other friends experienced the same problem. However, this seems only to happen if the kite is on the water. In the air the fifth element will prevent the kite from twisting. Another issue is if you get your lines tangeled. What a mess to get it right again. As a result I prefer other security systems (eg RECON) as I am horrified by getting the fifth element round my kite in waves.