Date: Mon, 4 Apr 1994 02:13:39 -1000 From: jmac@world.std.com (Jack S Cunniff) Message-Id: Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA Subject: sand IN my flexi! There we were, out on the point. Tidal flats, fine, fine sand running out into the bay at Plymouth, Mass. 40 MPH steady wind. 8' flexifoil at one end of the lines, and 195 pounds of me at the other. I hadn't tried flying in this much steady wind before. Gusts, yes. My 10' flexi was crashed and ripped in 40mph gusts. The 8 is new to me, and was the perfect kite for the conditions. I got dragged, lifted, yanked, and basically had a lot of aerobic exercise. Had an absolute ball. Decided to share the fun with my girlfriend, who's 105 lbs. She flew the kite high and to the edges, got used to the wind, and then took it into the center of the wind, right through the high-pull area. She was doing okay, then all of a sudden she was overpowered, and while falling to the sand, she dropped the straps. The kite went with the wind, right into the surf. I sprinted after it, and the kite came out undamaged, but with pounds of fine, wet sand in the cells. After we recovered it, we put it in the Jeep and flew my 6' flexi for a while. Just couldn't get enough of that breeze. I can't imagine what flying a 10' flexifoil or other power kite would have been like. The kite's hanging in my cellar. I think I'll just let it dry out, de-clumping the sand to help it dry, and then just shake it through the mesh. Does anyone have any other recommendations? Should the lines be rinsed? (I was figuring on rinsing the kite after the sand is removed.) Any other similar tales to tell? Jack = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 5 Apr 1994 02:48:29 -1000 From: uspehmev@ibmmail.com Message-Id: Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University Subject: RE: Sand in my Flexi ----------------------- Mail item text follows --------------- I believe it would have been best to rinse the kite in fresh water right away to get the salt off but at this point I imagine it's already dry so the best you can do is rinse it after you get the sand out. I've never tried rinsing the lines but it's probably not a bad idea. I'm curious to know what beach you flying at in Plymouth since I have relatives there and we often bring our kites but usually end up flying them on the front lawn. I know there are a number of beaches around there, but which are good for kite flying? Good luck with your flexi, Mark (uspehmev@ibmmail.COM) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 5 Apr 1994 05:58:02 -1000 From: paul@hursley.ibm.com (Paul 'Raggs' Reed) Message-Id: <1994Apr5.155802.32567@hursley.ibm.com> Organization: IBM Information Network, Mail Exchange Development, North Harbour, Portsmouth, England Subject: Re: Sand in my Flexi In article , wrote: >out. I've never tried rinsing the lines but it's probably not a bad >idea. Try putting the lines in your washing machine on a rinse cycle. We do it with the sheets off the boat I race and they come out okay (I guess you will want to hank the line carefully before doing this so as to avoid tangles!). -- Paul 'Raggs' Reed Tel: +44 705 561 308 Email: gbibmnd4@ibmmail.com Fax: +44 705 201 848 "Truth must sometimes be a casualty of human destiny ..." = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 6 Apr 1994 01:15:33 -1000 From: jmac@world.std.com (Jack S Cunniff) Message-Id: Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA Subject: Re: Sand in my Flexi paul@hursley.ibm.com (Paul 'Raggs' Reed) writes: >In article , wrote: >>out. I've never tried rinsing the lines but it's probably not a bad >>idea. >Try putting the lines in your washing machine on a rinse cycle. We do it >with the sheets off the boat I race and they come out okay (I guess you will >want to hank the line carefully before doing this so as to avoid tangles!). >-- Eek! I don't think SO. I take care to take twists out of my lines regularly, but they still will occasionally knot together if I walk to the kite while still holding the straps. Putting lines in a washing machine even if they're tight on a winder makes me squeamish, so putting a hank in is even less likely. Thanks, but not this time, Jack = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 6 Apr 1994 17:46:02 -1000 From: kitebaron@aol.com (Kite Baron) Message-Id: <2nvvlq$b4m@search01.news.aol.com> Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Subject: Re: Sand in my Flexi In article , jmac@world.std.com (Jack S Cunniff) writes: Folks, if you're worried about salt in the lines, just soak them, loosely coiled, in a bucket or pan filled with clean, cold, water. Any amount of salt should disolve in a few minutes. Hang said coil out to air dry and then rewind onto your winder. No problem! Us "inland fliers" have to do this just to get the spring mud off the lines. If you want to gently slosh the water a little that's fine. Just don't put them in the washing machine. Flying clean..... Kite Baron --+--+--+--+--+--<> Paul Weisblatt = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =