HOW TO SELF-LAND A KITE USING THE SOLO STRAP
Having your kite Solo Strap ready and waiting on the beach provides an immediate, safe and secure anchor to self-land your kite anytime, without any additional human support. Your kite buddy on the beach.
Step 1 – Depower your kite and walk to your solo-strap
ONLY DEPOWER YOUR KITE ENOUGH FOR THE PREVAILING WIND CONDITIONS
Depower the kite enough so that it doesn’t drop out of the sky but enough to allow you to land it softly at the edge of the wind window. Don’t land the kite onto the ground until you have reached the Solo Strap beach anchor (to avoid having to drag your kite along the sand to reach it).
Step 2 – Grab the straps carabiner and attach it to your chicken loop.
DO NOT UNHOOK YET! REMAIN CONNECTED TO BOTH YOUR KITE AND THE ANCHOR POINT.
Once the carabiner and chicken loop are attached you can disconnect your kites safety leash. This means you will be totally free from the kite once you unhook your harness from the chicken loop. If using the ‘Only One’ version of the solo strap you can then also connect the ‘Leia Leash’ safety clip to the safety ring on your kite lines.
Step 3 – Walk towards the kite to stretch out the bungee element of the strap.
THIS IS IMPORTANT SO THAT WHEN YOU DISCONNECT THE KITE WILL REMAIN IN A STABLE POSITION
Once the solo-strap becomes taught (just like it was before you disconnected from it when launching), you are then free to disconnect your chicken loop from your harnesses spreader bar hook. At this point, you should be totally free from any connection to the kite. The kite should now remain in a stable depowered position at the edge of the wind window.
Step 4 – Walk to the kite and then place your kites leading edge down into the wind.
YOU CAN PLACE SOME SAND ON THE KITE TO TEMPORARILY ADD STABILITY IN STRONGER GUSTY WINDS. YOU COULD ALSO JUST PICK UP THE KITE IMMEDIATELY AND WALK BACK TO YOUR BAR AND LAND IT THERE.
Once the kite is safely anchored on the sand, disconnect your lines and it’s time to pack up. Perhaps leave your solo-strap in place if there are other friends about and you want to show them how easy and safe it is to use this device.