HOW TO LAUNCH YOUR KITE USING THE SOLO-STRAP
To maximise the safety of you and others on the beach it is important to follow a simple process when using your solo strap to assist you to launch your kite.
Step 1 – Anchor the Strap
ONLY ATTACH TO A SECURE ANCHOR
Find a suitable object that is robust and stable to secure your solo-strap to. Loop it around the anchor leaving the carabiner end free to attach to (or above) the chicken loop. Check that your chicken loop is secure before moving to Step 2.
Step 2 – Depower your kite lines fully and connect to the carabiner
IMAGINE THE ANCHOR IS YOUR BUDDY ON THE BEACH
Always check your lines are in the fully depowered position before connecting the carabiner to the kite. This will help to maximise the bungee effect tethering the kite in ghusty conditions and will importantly minimize tension on the object you are using for an anchor. Attach the Carabiner to your chicken loop. If you have the ‘Only On’ version of the strap you can also attach the safely clip to the safety ring on your kite lines.
Step 3 – Position the Kite at the edge of the wind window.
IMAGINE THE ANCHOR IS YOUR BUDDY ON THE BEACH
Always check your lines are correctly connected to the kite and free of any debris. The walk the kite to the edge of the wind window and place it into a launch position. Adjust the position up/downwind to ensure it is in the most stable, depowered position as if you had just landed it. Like launching a friends kite you should avoid putting the kite on its side until you feel you are at the edge of the window.
Step 4 – Release the kite but stand on the upwind side of for a short while to see all appears safe & secure.
YOUR KITE MIGHT RISE AND FALL A LITTLE OFF THE BEACH IF THE WIND IS VARIABLE
It’s common to see the kite take off a few feet and then relax back onto the sand in conditions that have variable wind and frequent ghusts. Being upwind of the kite means you are safe against it suddenly launching into the air and you can tap a line to send it back to the beach if you need to.
Step 5 – Walk quickly back to the anchor point to begin attaching your leash to the safety lines.
DO NOT DISCONNECT THE SOLO-STRAP FROM THE KITE UNTIL BOTH YOUR SAFETY LEASH AND CHICKEN LOOP ARE ATTACHED
Begin by stepping to the downwind side of the anchor point. Find your safety leash and attach it to the safety line ring of your kite.
Step 6 – Walk quickly back to the anchor point to begin attaching your leash to the safety lines.
DO NOT DISCONNECT THE SOLO-STRAP FROM THE KITE UNTIL BOTH YOUR SAFETY LEASH AND CHICKEN LOOP ARE ATTACHED
Begin by stepping to the downwind side of the anchor point. Find your safety leash and attach it to the safety line ring of your kite.
Step 7 – Once the safety is connected you ca lift up the chicken loop and attach that to your harness
KEEP AN EYE ON THE KITE DURING THE PROCESS AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE BEACH, ESPECIALLY BUGGIES!
Remember you keep the solo-strap carabiner connected to the chicken loop until you are full connected to your kite.
Step 8 – You are now ready to disconnect from the solo-strap carabiner
TAKE A SMALL STEP BACK WITH THE KITE TO REDUCE TENSION ON THE BUNGEE
Once the tension is out of the bungee you are ready to disconnect the carabiner and launch your kite. Have a great session.