Dave D.
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Re:Kite Lines - 2006/06/22 03:28
Good question,
The line length issue is always very subjective and personal.
I have found that short lines are best in steady winds, and surf-style riding style.
When attempting to use short lines in offshore, gusty winds, you will need some crazy power-stroking to get moving, then you will have to work the kite to keep moving in the gusts.
In my experience the 17 meter lines are easier to ride than the 15meter lines.
My theory is that you have a slightly larger target area, or "Sweet Spot" to keep your kite while flying. The longer stroke, length gives you more time in the "power zone", and then you get planing.
But that was the theory until bow kites came along....
Bow Kites have a wide sheeting range that appears to allow them to find the power zone at any position on the kite clock (window)...So kite angle relative to the clock is secondary to the kites angle of attack. The sheetable bow kite can stay at the ideal angle of attack to the relative airflow for longer periods of the stroke.
The C-Cup kites dip into the power-zones for shorter periods, and are less responsive to changes in relative airflow.
(of course a lot depends on the sensitivity of the rider.).
A more efficient stroke means that you have more available power, and can get planning easier and earlier, for a given kite size and line length.
So I have re-defined my recommendation of the shortest "ridable" line-length for Bow kites to 10 to 12 meters of line (Keep in mind that the kite's bridles add a meter or so). Again this would be best in non-gusty winds, with a reasonable size board. A surfboard should make it even easier to plane quickly and get through the lulls. Paul Franco has a "short-line-bow-kite-surfboard-setup" that works well, he also uses an interesting bar setup from the recent past, the Naish, four-line, UDS system.
I have had my students up and riding using bow kites on 10 meter lines. Surprising!
I would like to hear your experiences using short lines on your bow kites.
DD.
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