Phantom 12m with Naish Smartloop bar First Flight

For your launches, you stated that you sanded the downwind tip. This would not be the best. What you will want to do is sand the UPWIND tip of the kite as it lays out on the ground (Upwind tip would be the one that is closest to you, downwind tip would be the one that is laying furthest from you).

As for launching tips, one thing that I have found to help is to sand the upwind tip fairly good, make sure that no wind can get under the kite or it will start flapping around. Also, fold over the upwind tip so that the sand is on the backside of the kite. That way when you pull to launch, the tip will flip over, dumping the sand off easily. This helps keep the kite from sliding back towards the center of the window when you launch.

Place a couple of handfuls of sand along the trailing edge of the kite to help keep the kite from flapping. Then fold over the downwind tip about a foot or so, lay the rod sleeve so that it is laying about 50% on and off of the trailing edge of the kite and sand that tip heavily. When your ready to launch, stand off wind at the appx angle for the current winds, give a good tug on the downwind tip so that the heavily sanded tip pops up in the air, step back quickly as the kite snaps up to the C-shape and the upwind tip will pop over, dumping the remaining sand as the kite heads towards the edge of the window.

It is very important to get the kite as full as possible before launching. The Phantoms & Scorpions are much less forgiving when they are not full than the Venom's, Bomba's, Synergy's etc.. In light winds you can do a hot launch through the center of the window, this helps when there is very light wind and it is difficult to get the kite to fill. Use caution whenever doing a hot launch and remember where your safety's are.

Try a couple different techniques until you find one that works best for your area/style.

Be safe, practice and you'll find that the PL's are super easy to self launch and land.

P.S. If you find the kite has crashed and bowtied, pull both lines on the same side of the kite so it flags out flat. Work it a little and the wind should untwist the kite back to normal. Then let the line out and the kite should taco. Tug hard on the front lines and it should pop open and then fly it hard off of the water.

Quote:

Originally posted by awindofchange For your launches, you stated that you sanded the downwind tip. This would not be the best. What you will want to do is sand the UPWIND tip of the kite as it lays out on the ground (Upwind tip would be the one that is closest to you, downwind tip would be the one that is laying furthest from you). As for launching tips, one thing that I have found to help is to sand the upwind tip fairly good, make sure that no wind can get under the kite or it will start flapping around. Also, fold over the upwind tip so that the sand is on the backside of the kite. That way when you pull to launch, the tip will flip over, dumping the sand off easily. This helps keep the kite from sliding back towards the center of the window when you launch. Place a couple of handfuls of sand along the trailing edge of the kite to help keep the kite from flapping. Then fold over the downwind tip about a foot or so, lay the rod sleeve so that it is laying about 50% on and off of the trailing edge of the kite and sand that tip heavily. When your ready to launch, stand off wind at the appx angle for the current winds, give a good tug on the downwind tip so that the heavily sanded tip pops up in the air, step back quickly as the kite snaps up to the C-shape and the upwind tip will pop over, dumping the remaining sand as the kite heads towards the edge of the window. It is very important to get the kite as full as possible before launching. The Phantoms & Scorpions are much less forgiving when they are not full than the Venom's, Bomba's, Synergy's etc.. In light winds you can do a hot launch through the center of the window, this helps when there is very light wind and it is difficult to get the kite to fill. Use caution whenever doing a hot launch and remember where your safety's are. Try a couple different techniques until you find one that works best for your area/style. Be safe, practice and you'll find that the PL's are super easy to self launch and land. P.S. If you find the kite has crashed and bowtied, pull both lines on the same side of the kite so it flags out flat. Work it a little and the wind should untwist the kite back to normal. Then let the line out and the kite should taco. Tug hard on the front lines and it should pop open and then fly it hard off of the water.

Wow thanks for the tips! I actually meant to say I weighted the upwind tip not the downwind. my mistake. Also, I was using 10lb neoprene ankle weights since I was in a grassy field so there was no sand available to try and weight the kite down. next time I'll try a weight on the upwind tip and then maybe a couple on the trailing edge.

the one thing I'm still unsure how to do is when the downwind lines end up under the kite how do you get the lines back on top of the kite again? this is the part that I think I would have big problems with in the water unless there is some kind of trick to it.

on a different note. does anybody know of a good/cheap battery operated blower I could use for easier/faster pre-inflation in light winds?

here's a pic. Note the tab at the left end of the zipper. It is like a velcro clip to hold the lines on top of the sail while it sits on the ground. When you launch, the lines pull free out of the clip.