From:	hpeeters@vub.ac.be (Herman Peeters)
Subject: Flexi and other foils: solo launch & solo packing
Date:	Thu, 23 May 1996 01:03:44 -1000
Organization: Brussels Free University Computer Centre
Message-ID: <hpeeters-2305961203440001@rcmc1.vub.ac.be>

>         With a bit of luck :-) the wind will not move the kite
>         while it is sideways like this, giving you time to get
>         back to the handles.

Since a few weeks, I've been using a launch aiding gadget I saw or read
about on the net somewhere.
I suggest that you try it, if you don't have it already. It will
considerably reduce your trip between the handles and the kite (that's
often being blown out of its launch position on windy days).

This system actually consists of two small lightweight plastic sticks
(about 10 cm, 4 inches) with two holes drilled in each stick. You attach
the 'system' between the flying lines and the foil.
This is how it looks like when flying, the sticks are parallel to the line
and cause no problems The picture shows one line, two small ropes attach
each stick to its line. The tension in the flying line pulls the sticks
parallel:


----------line---------------------------------------------------> to foil
                                       |           |
                                       |           |
                     ----------------------------------
                    |   stick          0           0   |
                     ----------------------------------


And this is how it looks like when the kite is held to the ground:

                                        -
                                       | |
                                       | |
----------line-------------------------|0|-----------------------> to foil
                                   \   | |
                                     \ | |
                                      -|0|
                                       | |
                                       | |
                                       | |
                                  ---- | |-----
                                       | |   ground
                                       | |
                                       | |
                                       | |
                                        -
The two sticks are keeping the kite parked on the ground. This way you can
park your flexi perpendicular to the wind and go have a beer before you
walk to the handles. A gentle pull and the two sticks come out of the
sand.
It's also easy to setup a Sput or Peel: get the foil out of the bag, put
the sticks in the ground with a separation of 1.5 meter or so (depending
on the size of the foil), unroll the kite and let it fill with a little
air so you can set it up nicely in an arc (half inflated). No messing with
piles of sand on the trailing edge (yuck). This way paragliders prepare
for take-off.

Credit to the guy I stole this idea from.

And now Herm's second trick (also not mine) for repacking in windy conditions:

Often buggyers end their session with thrash packing the foil and dumping
it in the trunk, stating: I'll untangle it tonight in my garage, because
there's no way to fold it by myself in these conditions.
Wrong.
You lay the kite down parallel to the wind and keep the upwind tip in your
hands, throw the bridle lines on the fabric, bridle ends tied together and
layed on the ground just beside the kite near the center. Then either
start folding a few cells at a time till you reach the center, or fold the
tip till the center and continue with that section untill it's small
enough. Then continue with the other tip, hereby keeping the kite in the
same wind direction. It won't fly away or get unfolded that way.
The resulting sausage is plied to a smaller pack, starting from the
trailing edge (to let air escape). The bridle ends nicely stick out, ready
for a new setup tomorrow.

That's it (beat into my head by a paragliding instructor 7 years ago). No
tangles anymore.



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