So I finally launched my kite Sunday. I had my leash this time, so I had a little more confidence.

The reports said the wind was 12mph and another said 10 knots. I know it was plenty of wind to fly my trainer kite with ease and no real pull in the power zone. My stepson actually flew my trainer for the first time and after 5 min he looked like a pro. Kids i guess...

My wife helped me with the launch...she was so patient :D I had to do a lot of adjusting. I was flying my 12 meter best Nemesis and had it set up on the rear bridle as BC-for milking low-wind conditions and good for beginners. At first I had it hooked to the longest knot on the pigtails as well as trimmed to the front lines in completely....first flight and all. So this set up had it so the kite was basically all front lines any turning input would've been unimaginable. It didn't fly. I guess there are times when flying it like this is possible-really high winds.

So I finally got it going with the trim strap all the way out and attached to the 2nd or 3rd knot on the pigtails (there's 6). It took me a while to remember that I have that extra dimension of control with this kite (moving the bar back and forward). I was just holding it at full power. Once I figured that out and let the bar back toward the kite a bit, the wind took it, I felt that pull on my harness, and I suddenly had control of it...awesome.

I think the wind was too low because a few times the kite just fell from the edge of the window into the power zone and sat quite happily on it's trailing edge or folded. Man, as I watched it travel from a sideways postion at the edge of the windown into a LE down position in the power zone, I prepared myself for a trip into the dunes while trying to fly back to the window, but it never came. It just sat down. This happened a couple of times and some times it folded. My wife would go get it and flip it over. It kinda freaked her out a couple of times when it filled with air and she would take running, but it was good, because she would put it into a position where I had control again. I think this drifting from the edge of the window thing was due to lack of wind and maybe me pulling too much on the bar causing it to stall.

I did at one time get up to about 11 o'clock, but it just felt like it didn't have enough pull to keep it in the air to make it across. I think the manual recommends 12-28 knots.

So I was very pleased anyway. I was kinda hoping the wind would be a little under powered, as I just wanted to really fill the kite with air and kinda get a feel for it. Great fun. Going from the trainer to this is like going from an automatic to a manual, I would say.

So I figured once I'm able to keep it up and go all of the window with it, I'll go have some fun body dragging and water launching, then some up wind body dragging. Love it.

Just wanted to post about it because I was chuffed :D

Nice different beasts, aren't they? Just go easy on the bar - take the power through your harness ...

nice you're taking it slow - just like pilots - experience it counted as hours under kites and each different type and LEI's have some nuances.

Once you are ready to waterstart with a board make sure you are in the wind range specified - I wasted an entire year trying to kite in sub 15mph winds when I needed 15-20 as a beginner. After some time I could expand that down to 13 and up to 30 if needed.

Yep what blue said - don't waste time in "low" wind but be damned good with your safety procedure ... just ask my left wrist

That's great!! I was wondering when you were gonna try it. The wind was way to low for that kite to perform. Looks like its gonna be around 15-20 this weekend so if you want , let me know and we can meet up. I got a few other kites you can try out.

Quote:

Originally posted by van That's great!! I was wondering when you were gonna try it. The wind was way to low for that kite to perform. Looks like its gonna be around 15-20 this weekend so if you want , let me know and we can meet up. I got a few other kites you can try out.

Man, that sucks. I'm working this weekend. I will definitely take you up on the offer in the near future though, if that's ok?

It was so cool to have something so big up in the air.

Quote:

Originally posted by van That's great!! I was wondering when you were gonna try it. The wind was way to low for that kite to perform. Looks like its gonna be around 15-20 this weekend so if you want , let me know and we can meet up. I got a few other kites you can try out.

Man, that sucks. I'm working this weekend. I will definitely take you up on the offer in the near future though, if that's ok?

It was so cool to have something so big up in the air.