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edt wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 13, 2018 3:19 pm

.....what is the international signal for abort the launch, something is wrong?

Based on the variety of responses, I guess there is no "international signal" for abort. Lots of good ideas though.

A clenched fist held out to the side. It is best to go over the basic hand signals before launching so that there is no confusion.

Clenched fist out to the side looks a lot like a thumbs up? Sure this is the best idea?

Toby wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 13, 2018 4:29 pm

easy: tap the head

and since you should have one hand on the Quick Release at launch and landing, immediately activate it with the other hand and walk towards your kite. Safe as can be.

While you are raising your arm to your head your thumb will be attached to your hand and before the hand hits your head, most of the people around here would have taken that as a thumb up signal and the kite would be launched. Maybe that works where you are, but not around here. The other suggestions I like a bit better.

RickI wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 14, 2018 2:40 am

A clenched fist held out to the side. It is best to go over the basic hand signals before launching so that there is no confusion.

Interesting. I have not heard of that one before. If it's indeed universal I'll start using it.

RickI wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 14, 2018 2:40 am

A clenched fist held out to the side. It is best to go over the basic hand signals before launching so that there is no confusion.

I pretty much always tell the launchers to wait for my thumbs up before releasing.

On my local beach thumbs down would be the signal. Sometimes followed by a tap on the head.
I would not let go of the bar and only slack the lines if I felt i had contact with the launcher. Depending on what the reasons for aborting are, things can go really wrong if the lines are slack and you are not holding the bar while the launcher lets go.

I always thought it was screaming, jumping up and down flailing your arms around like a drunk chicken. Always works for me....

sarc wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 14, 2018 6:30 am

I always thought it was screaming, jumping up and down flailing your arms around like a drunk chicken. Always works for me....

And being dragged face-first across the beach...

Kamikuza wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 14, 2018 6:35 am

And being dragged face-first across the beach...

Now that's proper international.

Thumbs down or cutting across the throat is usually what I use as I walk towards them.

edt wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 14, 2018 3:22 am

Toby wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 13, 2018 4:29 pm

easy: tap the head

and since you should have one hand on the Quick Release at launch and landing, immediately activate it with the other hand and walk towards your kite. Safe as can be.

While you are raising your arm to your head your thumb will be attached to your hand and before the hand hits your head, most of the people around here would have taken that as a thumb up signal and the kite would be launched. Maybe that works where you are, but not around here. The other suggestions I like a bit better.

Your people should be more caution then. No one should let gi that Quick...both parties need to check lines before ok and let go.
And my hand moves quickly to the head, no doubts.

Wherever I had to do it, it worked fine.