Longboards vs. sailboats in light winds

Jean-Marc · 13th June 2012, 03:04 PM

AC45 versus kite duel : 2 sides of the same coin ?

1) the "fantastic" kite movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MoSW5NDK9o

2) the full lenght uncut movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhrfAyYu6Y4

The kite was trailing behind the AC45 for quite a long time. Only at the very end can the kite overtake the AC45. Please, note that both AC45s did have their gennakers deployed, but were they reaching their top speed that is 3x that of wind speed (similar to that of a D35 by the way) during these moments while exiting the San Diego harbour? I don't think so. Was it blowing less than 10 knots ? Hard to say, but I doubt it... Note the color of water at the end of the movie: darker blue usually means windier.

Fair enough. That video doesn't constitute a proof by itself that a kite is faster than an AC45 and I hope that folks at the ISAF did reach that very same conclusion. Hope to see a match race conducted in proper conditions one day to settle the question once and for all.

Cheers !

JM

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13th June 2012, 03:04 PM	#35
Jean-Marc TEAM Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,241	AC45 versus kite duel : 2 sides of the same coin ? 1) the "fantastic" kite movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MoSW5NDK9o 2) the full lenght uncut movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhrfAyYu6Y4 The kite was trailing behind the AC45 for quite a long time. Only at the very end can the kite overtake the AC45. Please, note that both AC45s did have their gennakers deployed, but were they reaching their top speed that is 3x that of wind speed (similar to that of a D35 by the way) during these moments while exiting the San Diego harbour? I don't think so. Was it blowing less than 10 knots ? Hard to say, but I doubt it... Note the color of water at the end of the movie: darker blue usually means windier. Fair enough. That video doesn't constitute a proof by itself that a kite is faster than an AC45 and I hope that folks at the ISAF did reach that very same conclusion. Hope to see a match race conducted in proper conditions one day to settle the question once and for all. Cheers ! JM