Flying in the rain

[Toyguy]

Since it's starting to look like the only flying time I will get is when it's raining , what's the story on flying in the wet? I know not to fly in thunderstorms, but what about everyday rain showers? Bad for the kite or lines in any way? I can imagine the lines might stretch a lot more, but other than that they look like theyd be pretty immune to water damage, as long as they were dried properly. Any insights will be welcome.

Thanks!

Dave

[RobB]

Hey Dave,

I don't know about the lines, but when the sail gets wet, it makes the kite heavier, and sluggish. I'm sure you can still have fun zipping around, but tricks are very difficult. I dip my kites accidentally once in a while into the water, and once they're wet, they drive like a school bus. I've experienced this with Prism and New Tech kites. I'm sure some of the more exotic sail materials wouldn't absorb water, and would work better for wet flying.

~Rob.

[Spence Watson]

I love wet flying. The rain has never stopped me from flying. I just make sure that every once and a while while I's in the air, to shake it off a bit. My revs have never been a problem with water, but I've never flown my Quantum Prism in water, but I can't imagine that it would really absorb much water.

With the lines. I've never had a problem. I've never gotten my lines soaking wet, but they seemed not to have a problem in the rain.

[Jim Foster]

Just be sure you dry the sails out before leaving them rolled up in the bag for any length of time. The thread takes the longest to dry. That's the only problem.

Water shouldn't harm good lines.

Jim

[ant man]

both the kite and lines can take water no problem just remember to let your sails dry befor you put them away like jim said and if you hit salt water rinse them off good at the end of the day flying in the rein is real fun

[Toyguy]

Excellent! Thanks everyone. I also sail boats so I'm up to speed on drying the sail and lines there. I just wanted to confirm my ideas with those with more experience on kites.

We actually had a decent day here in Vermont yesterday, and I flew my Prism Hypnotist successfully for the first time. I got in a lot of practice on the basics - launching, landing, figure 8s, circles and squares. I even managed, albeit accidentally, the occasional side slide and fade. I can see now how things will eventually work, which is a big help.

It's been so rainy here this summer, though, I figured I'd better get prepared for some wet flying

Dave

[johnnmitchell]

Since it's starting to look like the only flying time I will get is when it's raining , what's the story on flying in the wet? I know not to fly in thunderstorms, but what about everyday rain showers? Bad for the kite or lines in any way? I can imagine the lines might stretch a lot more, but other than that they look like theyd be pretty immune to water damage, as long as they were dried properly. Any insights will be welcome.

Thanks!

Dave

I have flown, competed and judged in the rain.

I've even felt the electricity in the air when I touched the metal on my REV handles.

Wet kites are not the nicest things. They are quite sluggish and heavy in flight.

When you finish flying them, dry them off as so as possible. Polyester in particular has been known to transfer darker colors to lighter colors when wet. This most often happens when the sails are left together wet until they dry or almost dry. This seems to have improved with the new polyester materials, but to count on it.

Lines, I don't worry to much about them. Just take them out of your kite bag when you get home and let them air dry out. I have not had any problems with lines stretching more when they are wet, but they do tend suck up wet sand. So try to wipe as much sand as possible off the lines as you wind them up.

If there is any hint of electricity in the air, pack up and get out of there.