Spinning on launch

From KiteWiki

Usually, spinning or turning just after launch is caused by unequal line lengths, or sometimes just lack of kiting experience. It is quite common if you have just bought a second hand kite which was not set up properly, or the lines had stretched without the previous owner really being aware why his kite no longer flew so well.

You can adjust for line differences at the handle end:

My tip is to get a kite stake and stake all of the lines together at the kite end (a big long screwdriver is ideal) through the line loops where they join onto the bridle leader lines. Make sure that the stake leans away from the handles so that you can pull quite hard on it without then rising up. Stuff the kite back in the bag and walk back to the handles and pull evenly on both handles.

Firstly, both handles should be at exactly the same angle, secondly, the tops and the bottoms of the handles should be neither leaning back or leaning forward when you sit the brake ends on the ground, apart from the bend in the handle.

If they don't line up, your lines have stretched unevenly. If they lean back (most likely) your power lines have stretched.

With the lines still staked, temporarily tie extra knots in the power and brake line leaders to even everything up (e.g. if they lean back by 100mm, tie a knot 100mm from the normal connection point and re-tie the lines at that point) and then let eveything loose and try launching again.

Ultimately it is better to equalise the lines by re-sleeving them.

--Badger 23:16, 16 April 2008 (BST)