[ricki]

I solo launched C kites for years without incident in moderate to light winds. In higher winds the damn kite could dig itself out from the anchoring sand and launch. Or, even better, the lines could loop and snag on themselves in strong wind.

I have had only one problem that I described with flat kites. Not sure if this is a problem with all flat kites either. Augering into the hard stuff at high speed can suck big time though. I am prone to solo launch flat kites if there is sufficient room on the beach with other kites coming and going. In the future, I am going to try real hard to have assisted launches. Things won't go to crap all the time, just every once in a while perhaps to get a rise out of us.

If your kite will stay put despite gusts and not clothesline anyone walking down the beach, tethered solo launch may still be a reasonable risk.