Hi,
Just wondering if anyones got any tips on how to re-launch my kite. It's a C kite (4 lines straight to all four corners - no bridles or middle line)

I crashed it on the water yesterday in the position shown in the first photo and then it rolled over as shown in the second picture. For the life of me couldn't get it flip over. I've been told I'm meant to pull the bar back over my head as far as I can and then quickly run/swim forwards to quickly to make all the lines go slack and the kite will flip over. No matter how hard I tried the lines were just constantly taught and pulling meaning the kite just wouldn't move out of that position. Anyone got any pointers??

And yes, there is a crack and a bit of sand in my camera lens.....

Thanks
Cameron

in the first pic the kite is TE down (trailing edge down) to relaunch from this position LET THE BAR OUT, if that doesent work grab hold of the two front lines (preferably the trim strap) above the bar and give it a quick tug and it will shoot up in the air.

dont do this in strong wind though however it is unlikley the kite will land like this in strong wind.

In the second pic the kite is LE down and from here if theres enough wind then you should be able to pull one of the rear lines and then get the kite to turn over and launch.
if the wind is light then grab the trim strap and swim towards the kite until ins on its back. It should look like the letter U. from here gently pull a rear line and up it will pop.

Have you had lessons ? because relaunching is a vital par of kitesurfing and if you cant do it then you will get in the shit pretty quikley.
I'd recommend you spend the next session in shallow water and practice relaunching.

jamie

jamie501 wrote:In the second pic the kite is LE down and from here if theres enough wind then you should be able to pull one of the rear lines and then get the kite to turn over and launch.
if the wind is light then grab the trim strap and swim towards the kite until ins on its back. It should look like the letter U. from here gently pull a rear line and up it will pop............

Just a little thing to add to Jamie’s post. Once the kite is on its back in the U shape position, you may need to walk to the edge of the wind window whilst gently giving the top steering line a pull to bring the kite back to its original launching position.

I think thats right.......It is a lot easier to demonstrate on the beach than explaining on the forum

Buy a bow/hybrid. It'll relaunch easier

This is what it says in the IKO book:

1 Reduce the power by using the poer strap and push the bar away from your body. Do not untwist the lines when the kite is upside down in the water. Reverse the kite while slacking the lines by swimming energetically to the kite until it turns.

2 The kite should go more to one side: pull the bar on the same side and swim in the opposite direction.

3 Keep pulling on one side of the bar (line closer to the water) until the kite moves close to the edge of the window (as it would be to launch on land) and pull on the upper line to launch.

There! Now wasn't that clear. It's a bit of black magic really.