Ending up with a messy bar after a self rescue is normal,
getting tangled up while you do it is not.
Its up to you whether or not you want to use the OS handle on one front line,
but shortening one front line, however you want to do it will keep the kite from relaunching and down.
I pick the front line that turns the kite in the direction that I want to swim to
and focus on wrapping the lines up quickly so I don’t drift too far.
My advice always is “keep the kite in the air”
Its good to learn self rescue technique, but keeping it together and flying is even better.
My longest swim?
1.5 miles off the coast of New Jersey when I was just learning to stay upwind.
Dropped a 9m F-One foil while jumping way, way too far offshore.
Man that was a long swim with a what felt like a circus tent in the water.
I ditched the foils right after that and ended up buying a used bronco, my 1st OR kite.