Quote:
Originally Posted by davewolfs
Any comments on #2? I was curious to get the high level overview of how one re-launches their kite while in the water.
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As Todd says, it depends. Type of kite is a big factor. Conventionally, with both C and flat kites you pull in and hold on a back leader line on the side you want to relaunch to and wait until the kite moves to the side of the wind window, rolls up into a "c" shape on the water and eventually relaunches. In practice you may need to coax the kite in a variety of ways into this position particularly if the wind is marginal. With some flat kites if the kite is resting downwind leading edge down you can pull in on both front leader lines and the kite will reverse launch straight upward off the water. There are a lot of variables in this, adequate wind speed, lack of tangles, waves, proper leading edge inflation. If there is particularly light wind, you may not successfully relaunch the kite, etc.. On the other hand, some kites will almost auto relaunch in sufficient wind, whether you want them to or not. Practicing water relaunching is an essential step in building this basic skill. It all starts with quality lessons though. btw, make sure your instructor will demonstrate and allow you to practice self-rescue. There are a variety of ways of doing this and some risk depending on wind and wave conditions. Still, it is something all kiters should know various means of doing and in particular the risks (tangles, wave loading of the kite and leaving too much power in the kite by improper line winding, slippage while winding, etc.) and ways of trying to manage them.