Had an ace kite day today. I accomplished 3 new things which I'm very excited about :

1. First time buggying on a beach
2. First time traction flying my PL Synergy 15m
3. First time to get over 30mph

I've had an eye on winds for the last few weeks because I've been itching to get out to a beach to really experience some decent buggy action. Problem is I live miles from a beach, most of my buggying is in a tiny inland field with horrible wind. So this morning I saw we had a rare easterly here in the UK, so at 6am decided I would make the drive to the beach. 3 hours drive no less. I got there to find only one other flyer there, another beginner like myself, but on a board not buggy.

The winds were perfect onshore, around 16-18mph. Perfect for me, not too scary.

Ideal opportunity to try my 15m Synergy which has only been in the air once since I bought it 6 months ago. I flew it once, last year, static in very low and turbulent winds. I got yarded, and ended up in the emergency room with a broken thumb.

Fast forward to today. When I launched it (which is a snip these days) I couldn't believe how little pull it had when depowered and I let go of the bar to let it do it's autozenith thing. I was expecting it to be a bit lively, but no it just sat there waiting for me.

I hopped on my buggy and off I went. Wooosh! Wow. It was fast. Surprising how much rolling resistance grass adds when compared with hard pack sand! Truth be told, I was absolutely pooping myself, not having really practiced slowing down or stopping yet I kept the kite fairly high and my speed down, until I started to get used to the new speeds I was experiencing. And the wide open beach.

After a few runs I started to feel a bit more confident, so I dropped the kite to the buggy zone and pulled the bar in a little more. Phenomenal!!! The kite was just so stable once it got moving! And so much depower! I can finally see what all the fuss is about the Peter Lynn arcs. I almost gave up on them after buying my Peak last year (which is also an awesome kite!) but I'm glad I didn't unload the arcs. It was just so well behaved. Yeah the perfectly smooth wind helped, but now I can see that I had no reason to fear these kites.

Somebody referred to my Synergy as a "gentle giant". I agree now. It will no longer be banished to the bottom of my kite pile, with a "too scary" label. I think I'd happily put it up in a little more wind too.

My buggy was a bit of a different story. A bit unstable and not much support, and I couldn't hold down anywhere near the power that the kite would have delivered, it was getting pulled sideways easily. I haven't got a big beach cruiser (yet ) just a little PL with barrow tyres. But, it was OK, did the job for the day.

By the time I'd done a few miles I was feeling really comfortable. I pushed it as far as I was comfortable with in the little buggy, and went 32.4mph!!!! I didn't think I'd be going over 30 anytime soon!

I don't have a GPS unit, but I did have the app running on my phone, so couldn't resist posting this...



My wife thinks I'm doolally for driving 6 hours to "fly a kite". But we all know it was well worth it. I'll sleep well tonight.

PS. One of my favourite parts of the day was lunchtime. I just let go of the bar and let the kite sit overhead while I sat in the buggy to eat. Quality.

another happy customer....good deal, tell your wife your going again tomorrow

hey Paul, good write up, I can feel your excitement. I kept thinking i have to email to see if your lines and bar set up are all okay - sounds like it's working fine.
Not sure what angle you were running to the wind but sometimes when I'm pulling the bar in and getting a lot more side power slide I'll de-power the kite a bit and even though there is be a bit less grunt I can work the kite a bit more and gain a bit more speed without burning it off with side pull and the kite sits forward a bit more. When the kite is juiced they fly pretty fast keeping the bar out once you are up to speed - keep the stories coming! Congrats on the new PB
Mark

Great write up!!!

All your friends will say, "you know 32 mph isn't that fast..." and you can remind them "it feels supersonic when your butt is 4 inches off the ground!..." ... though since you're British, I suppose you're more likely to say "... 10 cm..."

Mablethorpe is popeyethewelder's proving ground. You're doolally for being out of bed at 6am. You're obviously very pleased and the trip has rewarded you. Bet you had a 'mission accomplished' smile driving home?

What were the wind speeds?

cool man glad you got some action. now you'll go all the time. V13 next !

Man that is awesome!!
Sounds like a day to be proud of for sure, congrats!!

Way to go! 32 mph is really fast. I get scared if I go 20 on a bicycle....

Oh well, I guess I'm too late to ask you to sell me that synergy... :evil:

That synergy is loyal to the queen.

Edit: What I meant was it sounds like the kite is working well for Paul and would not be sold and shipped overseas anytime soon. Sorry, didn't mean to offend anyone if I did.

Hi Paul! Nice to read you have overcome your fear for the Synergy 15m and had a blast!
Remember to bring a GoPro next time, so we can share your fun.

:-)

Well done Paul, all that frustrating flying in #@%$#!e wind did teach you something..... and when the wind is clean it becomes sooooooo easy!

I was wrong about the good nights sleep. Spent most of it scheming about my next beach trip!

Mark - I was running pretty much 90 degrees, I couldn't bear off as that would have meant being in the drink one direction, or the softer sand the other! I'll have to try depowering and working the kite more. I was pretty much parS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-n ride yesterday.

Phree - I did get the V13 out with a view to comparing it back to back with the Synergy. As it sounds like they may be way too similar in terms of the wind they cover. But the tide had come in too much so I only had soft sand left and my little wheels didn't like that. I did fly the V13 static though, and had some big scuds and small jumps. It struck me straight away that the kite just "felt" so much smaller. I think it felt nicer than the Synergy but I've got a soft spot for the Venom as I bought it from new. And it pretty much is still new as I only flew it a few times, but that's all gonna change now!

Cheeze - Watch this space. Once I get a chance to fly those arcs back to back I may well get rid of one in order to fund a higher wind kite. Not sure whether it will be the Venom or the Syn though. Some people will no doubt say the Synergy is best, others will say the Venom. I'll have to see which one I prefer!

Wacky - No cameras yet I'm afraid.

Has anyone used those cheap GoPro knockoffs, the DH version? The SJ4000 I think. Any good?

Yeah E it's a different story in clean wind. All those hours of getting the crap kicked out of me in the field has paid off though

Quote: Originally posted by robinsonpr

So this morning I saw we had a rare easterly here in the UK,

I sat at work feeling sorry for myself knowing there was an easterly. But luckily it waited till I got home and I was able to get the buggy out.
I've just fitted a wider axle to my PL bug, it gives you so much more confidence to power up. That and having big foots to get you over the soft sand.

Hey smoo where do you fly? I see it says you are Norfolk based. I was thinking of upgrading my existing buggy if a wide axle comes up, but then the axle plus some new BF wheels starts getting pricey...

Quote: Originally posted by robinsonpr

Hey smoo where do you fly? I see it says you are Norfolk based. I was thinking of upgrading my existing buggy if a wide axle comes up, but then the axle plus some new BF wheels starts getting pricey...

I buggy from Caister on Sea, but only because its on my doorstep. It has to be dead onshore wind to be any good, and low tide and then its only a narrow stretch of hard sand. Still its a lot closer to Stevenage than Mabo. And now its summer there's all the holiday makers to contend with. Check out my posts on kitecrowd or the Sand Yetis.
Keep an eye on the 2nd hand market for buggy parts, you may get lucky. There is a facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/kitebuggysale/

I go to Wells next the sea a few times a year. Shame you're not allowed to buggy at Wells or Holkalm, they would be epic at low tide!

I've been watching that Facebook group, I do really fancy a new buggy now, the next step up from what I've got.

I am so pleased to here you have gotten back on the Synergy horse! See how much different an animal arcs are in motion!

The thing I love about the kite is how it is so gentle and well behaved. Give it a good spank overhead and it allows you .2 seconds to try and cancel the move or pull in the bar and get ready for the blast! Screw up and as long as you didn't let go in a dive the kite will hit the windows edge and take care of itself.

My buggy is sure to have an even more slippy back end than yours. I have learned to embrace it! When running down the beach diving the Syn and pulling in on the bar creates an amazing power surge. You go skidding off leaving a HOOJ rooster tail behind!

Be very proud of 32mph. That is a very respectable speed! :wee:

Thanks Blade! :D