Many line sets bought as a "pre-stretched & pre-sleeved" set are rarely spot on. Before you attach lines to the handles and the kite for the first time it is better to loop one end of the lines around a ground stake or something solid (fence post etc) and pull at the other end hard to check if the lines are indeed the same length. As you pull hard the lines will stretch then go tight as the braid tightens. If the lines are NOT the same length adjust them – this may have to be done on the longest line by untying a knot, pulling a bit of the line through the sleeving and then re-tie the knot. Do this for both the top lines and bottom (brake lines). Ideally ALL lines should be the same length. If you want to buy good quality lines which have been correctly pre-stretched check out www.mmstudio.com/spider  - Spider sell lines sets which are a bit more expensive but save a lot of hassle – highly recommended. Note that after use its worthwhile checking line lengths because they do stretch unevenly and a bit of time spent "equalising" them again is advisable.

Attach the lines to the handles (larks head knot) and put the handles around your ground stake. The Flexifoil handles have a small loop to secure them over a stake however NOT all other handles have these in which case you must rest the handles over the stake very close to the bottom / brake lines so they look very simialr to the LEFT hand picture.
 

Blade handles staked out on a very realistic Martian surface !	Ready to launch - note the short pieces of sleeved line on the brakes to allow adjustment. Note also the nice use of different coloured sleeves so I can tell my left from right !!	Getting ready to tug the lines and pull the kite into the air (very cold weather gear evident here in excess)

 

Run out the lines to make sure they are not crossed, twisted or knotted. Unpack the kite and attach it to the lines. Unfurl it and allow it to sit up on the lines. It should not try to self launch or sit so low on the ground that the trailing edge tucks under and the kite lifts and flaps around. Sometimes the lines cannot be adjusted to make the kite stable on the beach. In this case you will have to add an short extension to the lines – usually the best way to do this is to get some rope e.g. 4mm braided rope and attach it to the handles – put knots in each piece every 50mm. Attach the lines to the rope and adjust by slipping the line knots up or down. In the pictures above the brake lines are lengthened a little using some sleeved line (sold as bridle line) which is usually included in the Flexifoil Blade backpack !