Credit where credit due !!! Kiters.

I don't think a kite is a sail . It don't have a mast . It's speed record is irrelevant to sailling .
Why don't they compare the speed to paragliding or parachuting . I am quite sick of this
speed comparison to windsurfing !!!

Its a bit pedantic to argue over wether its a sail or not;its irrelevant.Fact is its fastest wind driven water craft ..(Full Stop)So what its not a sail (or it could be ???)

Credit to them.

Wonder if when they are out boarding they`re pondering wether its a sailing craft or not they`re on.Bet they dont care either.

Just dont understand the bad feeling.Its same between snow skiers and snowboarders.; water skiers and wakeboarders.; jet skiers and every body else on water. ????????????? Dont get it !!!

Live and let live !!!!

Kiters were out last week again in 40+ knots in Leucate !!!

[Farlo]

Well the topic was about Kiters doing better in strong wind while not so far ago we considered it only good for light wind. However we shall congratule them for taking the record back from the Hydroptere. It's really David against Goliath. As a windsurfer I feel closer to kiters than to such multi-million dollars sea monster, although it is a remarkable technical and human endeavour. Let the WSSRC decide whether the new record is valid.

[Darko_Z]

During most of the year my main sport is windsurfing, but in winter I switch to snowkiting. Windsurfers, usually have wrong impressions about kiting. For example wind gusts and change in wind direction can cause even more problems for kite than for sail, but you can fly kite higher where wind is not so gusty. Wind direction, 15m high can be different then at ground level, which can give you incredible pointing in one direction, compared to the ground wind. Generally, with kite you have to think about wind in three dimensions not only two.

I have 9.3m foil kite with depower and I use it only if wind is less than 25kn. Once I pulled safety too late and safety insert which can take more than 120 kg snapped. Kite in strong wind can develop enormous power, as can you see if you follow this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igwh8vFUU78

In Luderitz speed challenge, kiters are using 7m kites in 45kn wind, but even the best have accidents:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Bxm5...eature=related

At the end of this video you can see what can happen in 45kn wind if kite goes out of control:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlo88g3JrGM

Kiters have taken world speed record again from Hydroptere and are approximately 6 kn faster than windsurfers. But in Leucate Orange Speed Crossing this year, 12 best windsurfers were racing against 12 best kiters, best kiter was on place 10. Of course we all now who would win if Hydroptere would compete at this race.
Check this links:
http://www.mondial-du-vent.com/docs/results_osc.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7a9W4JAK5o

Modern kites have better safety and depower, but this works only with kiter, if he makes mistake, even the best kite will not be enough to save him. If kiters are now going out in 30 or 40 kn wind that’s not only because kites are getting better, but also because kiters are getting better.

Don't like kiter at all . Nasty kite line everywhere jaming the beach . Kiters doing all sort
of monkey tricks on the air thinking they are cool. Who care what you are doing - we windsurfer
are just scared to be hurted by you crazy guy !

[Per]

WIND... how much can we sail in?? 40 knots of wind is a lot, when sailing any craft driven by wind. Most yachts will be heavily reefed already. Worst thing is the sea state though. 60 knots steady is close to a hurricane. I've tried steady +50 knots of wind gusting 70 to 80 knots (officially measured) in a 28 foot sail yacht on open sea - IT´S HELL!!! The boat was knocked down, cockpit filled and simple jobs like opening a hatch became a fight for two men.
Handling a kite or windsurfer in 30 knots of wind is only a job for the very best (but surprisingly possible), and the wind pressure on anything - the board, your body etc. makes it a struggle.
On flat water (quite theory) I guess I would be able to windsurf in 30 knots steady with matching gear, but the fun factor is probably limited ;-)

[Kato]

Per,it all depends where you sail,30kts at Sandy Point is just a fun day,40kt is a potential Pb day still with very very flat water and at 60kts the water is still flat. In the ocean 30kt is our 60+ day

[joe_windsurfer]

i thought this was a windsurf site

kiters are here to stay - Robby Naish kites - cool enuff 4 ya ?
Antoine Albeau SUPs - cool enuff 4 ya ?
if u love water like the rest o the windsurfers, then ALL water-toys are COOL !!

safety? i have more close calls and swearing with my fellow windsurfers than with kiters
i make sure i smile and chat with local kiters to ensure they realize i just wanna have a gret time on the water and if we can learn from each other like how much wind do we have today, etc - big sail time, etc - we are then learning to live together

just smile and if you cannot - grin n bear it
one day windsurf will be just as fast as kites - i can feel it
can you feel it - huh, huh

:0

[k.lauman]

Credit is due. It's sad to see there is still a generation of older windsurfers who occasionally dump on kiting, including some in the industry. Some people get hostile when they feel threatened.

Kites have come a long way in terms of depower, aerodynamics, and structural integrity. You can depower the kite while still hooked in, direct the force upwards on any point of sail, something that requires the "unhooked chicken strap stance" on a wide sailboard. You're always hooked in and the "draft" never changes relative to the bar.

C- kites from 8 years ago look atrocious, unstable, little depower, not much range. People who hate on kiting are probably working with an impression of kiting's old school days.

Better in lulls. Kites have a better power/weight ratio. Don't discount wind gradient. If it's 30 knots at sail level, its more like 45 knots 30 meters up. 25 knots, 35 knots at maximum kite level. Also less effected by bumps from chop and the wind deflecting effects of shorelines and large waves.

If you consider kites and sailboards to have aeronautical equivalents, then a kite is like a helicopter and a sailboard is like a fixed-wing airplane. The kite can generate maximum thrust while the board is stationary = power and acceleration. A sailboard's foils need to accelerate together up to planing speed = streamlining and efficiency. A helicopter can take off vertically and an airplane needs a runway. Which is faster? Which has more vertical lift?

Talking to kiters has made me realize that sailboarding has many virtues. You can launch unassisted in onshore winds from cluttered shorelines. I sail a spot that kiters complain about because of two maple trees they have to water launch near. That's a "tight launch". You can always slog back home if the wind dies. Tacking and jibing are reliable and easy. In kiting, jibing and tacking a directional is considered an advanced skill. Everything is self contained and you're less likely to get into trouble with other craft, snag objects or endanger other sailors. In real world conditions, (Almost got K'OD from a careless kiter's kite diving into the ground first day snowkiting). With my iSonic 133 i'm planing in 9-12 knots with a 7.5. With a 9.0 who knows?

Off wind - can't kite .
On shore gusty wind - can't kite .
Good side shore wind but beach not wide enough or obstacle - can't kite .
Good condition but no one to assist on launching ( Alone ) - can't kite .
Good condition with a friend , you still can't kite because he went out first leaving
you alone on the beach - CAN'T KITE AGAIN .
Funny enough !!!!