Tag: Into The Wind

Flying Days

So we’ve had two days in a row of kite flying. Can you believe it? One was the community kite fly day and the other was a day too beautiful to stay home.

The weekly community fly started out chilly. It never really warmed up much but was rather pleasant since the wind was low. No wind chill. Yes, the wind was low so it somewhat restricted what kites I flew. I pulled out two of my go-to light wind kites bag. The Skate by Into The Wind and the Dunton-Taylor Box. Both jumped around in the sky as the wind was coming out of the north and having to pass over and between the beach houses.   tried to fly my Emong, a glider kite by Flying Wings, but it preferred to glide back down rather than catch the wind and climb. 

It just felt so good to be back on the beach with kites in the air. A sure sign spring will arrive soon and we will be flying more often. And, believe it or not, the following day was even better.

The temperature jumped up at least ten degrees and the wind picked up and came off the ocean. The best kind of kite flying wind. We put off a few of the household chores and headed back to the beach. This time with the intention of flying some new acquisitions.

This was to be the inaugural flight of the cellular kite I built at the Maryland Kite Society Workshop. I named it Sunshine (for obvious reasons). And I wanted to fly the mermaid kite I made at the Keystone Kiter’s Workshop last year, the Tametomo. She hadn’t seen much air time.

During the Maryland workshop, we picked up some kites to add to our collection. And, of course, we had to put them up as soon as we possibly could. John got a square-headed Skydog dragon kite. It has the Skydog logo on it and matches his Skydog rokkaku kite. I got a Joel Schulz parrot kite by Go Fly A Kite. Both are in perfect condition. And both loved the wind and looked great.

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Here’s hoping for more perfect flying days to come.

Fair Winds All.

 

The Sunday Curse

The week following the Carolina Kite Festival is one of cleaning out kite bags, re-organizing kites and getting things stored away until the next festival.   It is also a time to rest and recharge from the intensity of two long days on the beach.  The first fun fly after a festival is usually a lightly attended one and this week it was no different.

And as usual, we were visited by “The Sunday Curse”.  The winds were light as we drove into the parking lot but we were prepared and had brought our light wind kites.  We got to the beach and had a few kites up and flying when the curse hit.  The wind completely died.  The flag above the fort wrapped itself around the pole and all kites drifted slowly to earth.  Now what do kite flyers do when the wind stops?  They sit around and solve the problems  of the world and ponder if they should just pack up and go home or not.

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We are diehard kite flyers and we waited.  The winds rose a little and some kites went back up.  One of the kites I struggled to fly was a Malay Diamond, “Sunset”, by Into The Wind.  My husband has the Sunrise Malay.  This kite was an anniversary present and I really wanted to get it up, even though I knew the winds were gong to be a little too light to give enough lift.  So I stubbornly persevered and got it to fly for a little while.

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“Sunset” Malay Diamond by Into The wind

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What ultimately drove us off of the flying field was not the lack of wind but rain.  Quicker than we expected, clouds blew in and it began to rain.  Now getting a little wet is not a bad thing.  But having to pack up wet kites and then unpack and dry them when you get home is not fun.  There is never enough space to spread out a bunch of kites, kite bags, anchor bags and spools of kite line.

All is dry now and we’re looking forward to more fine fall days to put color in the sky.

Fair Winds All.

 

Catching Up For Lost Time and Lost Wind

It was pretty frustrating having no wind at the festival and then finding out that there was wind for the kite club fly at home.  So to make up for it, we went to the kite field more than usual this past week and a half.  The fact that the temperature moderated at a very comfortable level was a bonus.  It was so relaxing.

The winds were actually a little strong the first evening we went to fly.  I had just gotten the Brasington Central Station train and had yet to fly it.  So I put it and my Waif train up,  You will notice that the Waif train has five kites and the Central Station train has six.  Well, the Waif train I made at a Brasington kite building workshop and I have yet to finish it.  The sixth Waif is on the table waiting to be sewn.  Guess I had better get to it now.  John put up his Vertical Visions Malay kite.  I’m thinking of getting this same kite in the opposite color scheme.  It is so easy to fly and looks great.

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Vertical Visions Malay Kite by Into The Wind

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Brasington Central Station Train by Into The Wind

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Brasington Central Station and Waif Trains

The weekend arrived and it was time for the Carolina Kite Club fly.  Several of the Critter Kites by Skydog; the Wolf, the Tiger and the Bumblebee, flew as well as the Central Station train and the Vertical Visions Malay kite.  We also put up the Triton Kite.  This is a modified genki design which pulls like a tank.  It is a steady flying kite, even in the gusty winds we had that day.  This will be a good kite for lots of line laundry.  Especially I’m thinking our red wiggly worm and yellow little man.  Haven’t had them up in a long time.  There were a couple of new people who joined us to fly a stunt kite, a delta kite and the EO Atom by Prism Kites.

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Critter Kites by Skydog Kites

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Triton Kite by Into The Wind

Today was a day we just couldn’t pass up.  It was at least ten degrees cooler than the past few days and the winds were steady at a moderate 11-12 mph.  So when our errand were done, off we went to the beach.  We put up two of our own Critter kites and I practiced with one of my Revs.

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The Tiger and The Panda Critter Kites by Skydog Kites

It had been a while since I had flown the Custom B-Pros and this was the perfect day for a mid-vent.  I spent the time working on hovering and reverse diagonals.  Still haven’t figured out the inverse hover but I think it will come eventually.  There was practically no one on the beach which made for a very quiet, pleasant stay.  Then the sun began to go down and the park rangers wanted to close the gate.

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Custom B-Pro Mid-Vent Revolution Kite

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Yes, That’s Me and My Revolution

So now we’re home getting ready to go on the road and no telling when we’ll get to fly again.  Hopefully it won’t be too long.  It all depends on our new granddaughter.  She is due next week and we are pretty excited.  So until then…

Fair Winds All.

The Wisp II Arrived

Much to my surprise, the Wisp II arrived early.  I was hoping it would come before we left for the Mile High Kite Fly at Beech Mountain, NC.  In fact, it arrived a week early.  Kudos to Into The Wind for the extremely fast delivery.  So my red Wisp II, my husband and I went to the beach today to try it out.  The winds were really low to nonexistent so it was a great trial for this kite.

The Wisp II is a dual-line, low wind stunt kite.  It is rated for two to five mph winds.  I tried it out on fifty foot lines to get a feel for it before leaving for the festival.  It was so much fun.  Even when the wind stopped and the flag at Fort Macon was wrapped around the pole, this kite kept on flying.  It felt like there was nothing on the other end of the lines.

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The Wisp II by Into The Wind

Beech Mountain, here we come.

Fair Winds All.