Session 112, 28 November 2010
Kite: Switchblade 10
Wind: 25 knots, S
Location: Hampton
Time: 11:30 to 12:30
Max speed: 36.6 km/h
Distance: 10.7km
Max speed: 36.6 km/h
Distance: 10.7km
I found a knot in my lines while rigging. It took a while to get it out. Biting it gently and soaking it in saliva helped. Then when I finally got on the water, a screw mounting my left footpad came out again, so I returned to beach, got a screw driver and remounted the footpad. I had to shift it to new holes in the board to get the screw to hold.
Once out on the water, it was very gusty. I had plenty of power even with the kite powered down. Some good jumps, and some good sized waves standing up in the strong wind.
It was definitely not the day for a big kite. A couple of others on the beach launched 12s and had some difficulty controlling them. Stuart was on his 10 fully depowered and said later he could have used his new 7.
If in doubt, don't go out! Also, flying your kite directly overhead on the beach while trying to figure out whether there is too much wind and/or depower it is not a good idea - you might end up taking a quick trip over Beach Road.
If in doubt, don't go out! Also, flying your kite directly overhead on the beach while trying to figure out whether there is too much wind and/or depower it is not a good idea - you might end up taking a quick trip over Beach Road.
There was a large piece of floating timber in the water too. It pays to keep your eyes open.
Launching. Nice and green after all the rain. |