merl wrote: ↑Tue Jul 30, 2019 3:47 pm
Another question : are there tips for ground handling. It is so light that it flaps around like mad on the beach - not as well behaved on the ground as I expected. I was sanding a wingtip. Do you weight it down on the trailing edge instead?
I use two way to start -
First
/my bar is trimed that unhooked kite is backstalled - i weight down bar - and just open the kite downwind - as bar is weighted - kite just sit down on trailing edge backstalled. then go to bar and hotstart. /downwind start/ No kite on earth pull less on hotstart than peak if you let bar all way.
Second way using in winter - in very strong wind - i weight down one folded tip - second tip is pointing direct downwind. then i unfold lines and start from 45 degree a.k.a Cobra start.
Weighted like this it should just lay on ground without any flapping. Its just peace of fabric after all/ Start very slowly be tensioning downwind tip of the kite
For landing - my preferred way is ground it - crash land it to one side so the kite is Grounded - means it loose it shape and lay flat on ground. This is followed by immediate slacking lines.
In very strong wind kite can be catched by wind again but without line tension it is just shapeless bedsheet that is moved by wind so you have no problem to catch it. /quick walk to kite or run will always do it/ Leave bar on ground - weight down kite /one folded tip/second one pointed downwind - do everything with kite on ground level or very near - that way it wont flap. Deal with bar and lines later when kite is secured.
All LEI style assisted laucnh and landing work. With launch there is one condition - helper must be out of way of starting kite /any contact - it loose shape and collapse/ He can hold it folded /like chunk of fabric/ and open kite to the tensioned lines at last moment then on release he must be clear out of kite way.