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If I have any sort of awkward relaunch I instinctively pull in some trim in order to make the kite keener to fly. Sometimes the launch can be expedited by a judicious center line pull etc. Even if I am going for a reverse launch I pull in some trim, yes it means you have to pull in more leader to get the kite to fly backwards but once the kite is spun and leaders released the kite will climb better perhaps with less power.

I mentioned this to an experienced kiter who has recently started hydrofoiling and getting more relaunch practice than normal and he gave me a very sideways look but he fly's much more modern kites than I. Therefore, I am curious to know if others tinker with trim settings for awkward relaunches and if anybody has different recommendations.

I don't know about pulling trim for a reverse launch, but it can definitely help for a light wind hot launch. Here's a video on this:

I am doing the same thing, trim the kite to max for relaunch.
Also: with the click-bar its can be a little bit of a hassle because it won't trim if there is no tension on the back lines.

I mostly ride without a trim strap, but often pull the front lines in order to get the kite moving forward.

Relaunch is fairly kite specific and some do it better than others. Some take more wind than others.

Generally with almost any LEI, pulling one rear line and the opposite front line is the easiest way to get the kite to roll up onto a wingtip for traditional relaunch.

Once an LEI was up on a wingtip, I would generally be playing the one rear line and the front lines (hand directly on the trim strap/depower line) to convince it to fly.

In relation to what OP brings up. I would often pull in a bit of trim strap at an LEI's very low end, not so much for relaunch but to help it stall less at the edges of the window to keep it flying. Once properly powered let the strap back out to get the kites full power and then pull in again as wind gets up into the kites top end.

SMJ wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 12, 2021 1:41 pm

I don't know about pulling trim for a reverse launch, but it can definitely help for a light wind hot launch. Here's a video on this:

Reverse launch demo in video is in standing depth - which is relatively easy. The only time I've reverse launched in wind too light for a regular launch is by drifting in until I can stand up. Without my feet on the ground I find I can't get enough resistance to pull the kite hard enough to reverse launch it, and just get pulled downwind instead. (And where I often foil the beach is really steep, so I can't simply drift in and stand up to reverse launch - the kite would be halfway across the beach.) Any advice on that?

My LEIs are not suited to reverse launch and l would not even try to reverse launch them in deep water. Even if I am standing it takes less energy and less risk to just roll them on their back and do the opposite front and rear line control, or just rear if powered. With my LEI kites reverse launching is more of a party piece than every day useful technique. Never had the chance to try it with light low aspect LEI kite with suitable tips and low LÊ water contact.

Thanks for the video SMJ I liked it and it covers some important points, but for any newbie looking I would also say don't forget your lines will be crossed when the kite is downwind LE down so bear that in mind when you watch the explanation with the model.

Thanks for your reply Jumptheshark, we seem to have a similar view. I often don't use any form of trim strap for my kites that have a small length of sheeting range. Also have a similar approach across the kite wind range.

One point to watch for is your bar being the wrong way round as the kite relaunches, done it loads myself and winced a few times as others have done the same thing,
this is where having a bar which is brightly coloured on one side, normally the left side,
not just the foam floater but the whole left hand side - bar- bar end and floater, and made so bright you can see it without looking directly at it, duotone, and a few others offer this sort of stand out easy to spot bar option,
still I see bars with both side black, its a safety concern and may even rupture a kite as its slammed into the surface, black bars with tiny red dots or ridges that "alert" you your hands to a reversed bar are just not good enough.
Just ask your self have you ever grabbed the wrong end after a multiple bar spin, or reverse relaunch, I used to do it often, but then changed my bars.
(I only hydrofoil now and bar spinning is many times more the normal practice than when Twin Tipping)

nice video. but +1 on reverse launch not applicable to really light wind. opposite front line or you swim. front/rear line ballet also needed to keep kite from falling on its back . downlooping also key to keep kite flying .