RACING TIPS and TRICKS

[ricki]

At the last Jupiter competition I think we had four tangles just in one day with a lot fewer guys on the water. The same thing happened at Kite4Girls.

Kite line tangles can be unique and need to be managed individually. Still, when accidents have happened in the past one rider often dropped his bar prior to stopping kite movement and communicating with the other kiter. This has resulted in one kiter holding on to two kites, e.g. Silkie. With 40 to 70 kites with a 20 ft. spacing, tangles may not be that remote a possibility.

Perhaps it might be sufficient to say be aware of the possibility and what your kite is near at all times. Make sure your kite is clear from others before downstroking to waterstart. It is possible to touch another set of lines and back out rapidly avoiding a tangle.

If you tangle with another rider try to halt your kite motion with control without unduly throwing the other guy off, establish communication and work things out from there in a careful fashion.

Other ideas? Kent and Gebi, you guys untangled a fairly complicated snarl in stronger winds on the way to Bimini. What thoughts do you have?