One of the questions that we are often asked is how to launch a 'Foil Kite' without assistance. You dont need assistance to launch a foil, in fact, it is sometimes made more difficult with help.
Most of my flying is done in an area that does not readily have a supply of sand, so part of my kiting kit is 3 or 4 sandbags, approx 1kg in weight. Often in books, they recomend that you place a pile of sand on the kite to hold it in place while preparing for launch, the sandbags are to replace this sand, when it is not part of your surroundings.
Doesnt matter if it is a dual line foil, or a quad, the method I will describe here is similar for all foils.
I will assume that you can set the kite up, so I will not go into that aspect here. I usually run my lines out prior to taking the kite out of its bag.
If the wind is light, and up to a fresh breeze, (using the Beaufort Scale) you place the kite on its back, with he leading edge facing down wind, i.e. towards the out side of the wind window.
Most of my flying is done in an area that does not readily have a supply of sand, so part of my kiting kit is 3 or 4 sandbags, approx 1kg in weight. Often in books, they recomend that you place a pile of sand on the kite to hold it in place while preparing for launch, the sandbags are to replace this sand, when it is not part of your surroundings.
Doesnt matter if it is a dual line foil, or a quad, the method I will describe here is similar for all foils.
I will assume that you can set the kite up, so I will not go into that aspect here. I usually run my lines out prior to taking the kite out of its bag.
If the wind is light, and up to a fresh breeze, (using the Beaufort Scale) you place the kite on its back, with he leading edge facing down wind, i.e. towards the out side of the wind window.
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Description
|
Wind Speed
(Knots) |
Wind Speed
(Km) |
Force
|
Land
|
Water
|
|
Calm
|
0 - 1
|
0 - 1
|
0
|
Smoke rises vertically
|
Water is like a mirror
|
|
Light Air
|
2 - 3
|
1 - 5
|
1
|
Smoke drifts and indicates direction
|
Small ripples on water
|
|
Light Breeze
|
4 - 6
|
6 - 11
|
2
|
Wind felt on face. Leaves move in trees
|
Small wavelets
|
|
Gentle Breeze
|
7 - 10
|
12 - 19
|
3
|
Small flags flap. Leaves move constantly
|
Large Wavelets
|
|
Moderate Breeze
|
11 - 16
|
20 - 28
|
4
|
Small Branches Move
|
Some crests at sea
|
|
Fresh Breeze
|
17 - 21
|
29 - 38
|
5
|
Bushes and small trees sway
|
Many crests at sea
|
|
Strong Breeze
|
22 - 27
|
39 - 49
|
6
|
Wind whistles. Most branches in trees move
|
Crests everywhere at sea
|
|
Near Gale
|
28 - 33
|
50 - 61
|
7
|
Whole Trees sway, hard to walk in wind
|
Much bigger waves
|
|
Gale
|
34 - 40
|
62 - 74
|
8
|
Twigs break in trees
|
Foam in well marked streaks. All boats head in
|
|
Strong Gale
|
41 - 47
|
75 - 88
|
9
|
Roofs of buildings become damaged
|
Low visability due to spray
|
|
Storm
|
48 - 55
|
89 - 102
|
10
|
Trees uprooted. Buildings become damaged
|
High seas over 8m (25ft)
|
|
Voilent Storm
|
56 - 63
|
103 - 117
|
11
|
Widespread damage to buildings
|
High seas over 10m(32ft)
|
|
Hurricane
|
Over 63
|
Over 117
|
12
|
Devistation
|
High seas over 14m (45ft)
|
You can gauge wind speed without fancy meters (anemometer), by looking at the signs around you. A scale for wind speed was developed by Admiral Francis Beaufort. 'The Beaufort Scale' (shown below) has been adapted for use on land as well as water, and uses a value called 'force' for qualifying the speed of the wind. To ensure accuracy when assessing wind speed, try to use the highest possible indicator, e.g. the upper most brances of a tree.
In stronger wind, the kite needs to be lay lengthways, in line with the direction of the wind, laying your kite in this way, will allow it to be launched into the edge of the wind window in stronger winds.
Now place the sandbags, or sand if you have some, on the trailing edge to hold it down while you attach the lines to the kite. Lark's head knots are most reliable.
Move to the ends of your lines, and walk backward to take up the slack.
Pull gently on the leading edge lines, this will cause this edge to sit up and inflate the foil. If you are flying in lighter winds, the wind will be at your back. With stronger winds, you will be slightly side on to the wind, this will have you ready to launch the kite toward the edge of the wind window.
Keep pulling gently on the leading edge lines, until the kite is fully inflated, then pull equally with both hands to lift the kite, and cause the sandbags to fall off. Steer the kite toward the zenith at the edge of the wind window.
Now place the sandbags, or sand if you have some, on the trailing edge to hold it down while you attach the lines to the kite. Lark's head knots are most reliable.
Move to the ends of your lines, and walk backward to take up the slack.
Pull gently on the leading edge lines, this will cause this edge to sit up and inflate the foil. If you are flying in lighter winds, the wind will be at your back. With stronger winds, you will be slightly side on to the wind, this will have you ready to launch the kite toward the edge of the wind window.
Keep pulling gently on the leading edge lines, until the kite is fully inflated, then pull equally with both hands to lift the kite, and cause the sandbags to fall off. Steer the kite toward the zenith at the edge of the wind window.
