There is a reason why a kiter holds the world speed sailing record

They are bloody quick when they want to be and in the right conditions.

but still, I have had some races with kiting friends who are on their freestyle gear and I was on a a freeride board with a wave sail. and when we both pushed it we are about the same speed

elmo said...

There is a reason why a kiter holds the world speed sailing record

They are bloody quick when they want to be and in the right conditions.

But it is not sailing

Sorry to light the fuse on that argument again, I retract the comment.



NOT

me 10 years ago.



bullsh!t.

tell me that isnt sailing.






























































PS. kiting > windsurfing.

the advantage kiters have over windsurfers when it comes to speed is that they can sail across water only an inch deep.... that would be a difference wouldn't it??? or am i just talking smack?

poor relative said...

sboardcrazy said...

Also can they quickrelease or depower quickly from their kit if a massive gust comes through?

One thing that kites have over windsurfers is range.

Not sure about that one pr I sail my 8.5 from 10 to 25 and alot of formula sailors use there 12 meters from 6 to 30.

Regularly "sail" with some kiters. They can stay close in wind up to about 20 knots on standard gear ( and beat me under 15 knots) but struggle with breaking their fin traction when going for max speed in a race. After that speed with us on freeride gear and I presume they on similar gear, sailboarders seem to pull away.

Got no idea but just my observation.

poor relative said...

sboardcrazy said...

Also can they quickrelease or depower quickly from their kit if a massive gust comes through?

One thing that kites have over windsurfers is range.
A 10m kite with say a 135cm twinnie with a 85kg rider can start at around 13kn and be good til around 25kn and held down til about 30kn (there are always exceptions to the rule and some who will say they can kite with their 10m in 35kn+...good luck i say)

Yes. There was a lone kiter out yesterday in what started as 20knot conditions. We're still getting that trailing edge of the 'cyclone' that came down the east coast. Soon enough some 35k gusts came through and I sheltered my 5.9 in some shallow water for a few mins. Looking downwind through the rain that was driving holes into my back, the lone kiter was still blasting, kite down low just above the water. It didn't look a small kite.

So a) he was the only kiter out yet b) he was completely going for it.

While you can probably plane on a waveboard in around 12 knots with a 5m and hold that same sail in 35 knot gusts sometimes its just easier/safer to park on the beach and wait for the squall to go through. Maybe fractionally less easy/safe for the kiter. He/she is probably slightly safer away from any hard surfaces or pointy objects.

speed kitesurfing...



41 knots!!!!

In my experience I have never been beaten by a kitesurfer when I'm going gangbusters. Although I always sail on choppy water, and I think kites have problems going fast through chop.

crazyjockey said...

In my experience I have never been beaten by a kitesurfer when I'm going gangbusters. Although I always sail on choppy water, and I think kites have problems going fast through chop.

For sure, you guys always beat us hands down when its choppy, our smaller boards and smaller fins cannot compete, when its flat however is a different story. I was at sandy point in an easterly, low tide, riding on the flat behind the sand bar in the middle and out of about 30 windsurfers out there only one that was going faster (just), i was riding normal free style gear, gimme a board designed to hold a better edge at those speeds and i would have blitz em. I followed that guy for a few runs, he was a good fellow, we chatted a little while he was resting, but i couldn't pass him, when going along behind him i could see that most of his board would rise out of the water and almost see the fin hanging down... Ah that was a fun day

crazyjockey said...

In my experience I have never been beaten by a kitesurfer when I'm going gangbusters. Although I always sail on choppy water, and I think kites have problems going fast through chop.

Jockey, due to the size of our boards this does make it harder for us to go at higher speeds when there's a bit of chop due to the fact that you end up jumping off all the chop and when you're airborne you automatically head downwind slightly and then have to dig in again and edge hard upwind to gain the little bit of ground you just lost.

D

Sail board is using fin for lateral resistance, so board has to stay flat for max efficiency. But Kites use their rails not so much the fins, to use the rails the boards have to be "edged", this saves them from the ventilation and cavitation problems windsurfers have at speed.