Winch Systems for Kite Sailing.
Published: 28 Feb 2009
Using mechanical winches to control kites for kite sailing might seem like a simple enough proposition, but it's not.A fundamental problem is that lines are tension-only elements; you can pull them in, but you can't push them out. This matters because very often when kite flying, one or all of the kite's lines will sag, go completely slack. Experienced kite fliers using handles or bars can usually cope with this by anticipating and avoiding its onset from line tension changes a...
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Kites for Yachts.
Published: 14 Feb 2009
About once a month on average I'm contacted by someone who has the idea of using kites in place of, or as well as, conventional sails for larger (that is, offshore capable) yachts.Attaching kites to conventional yachts, mono or multihull may be part of the development path but will not be the eventual solution. Sooner rather than later, boats will be purpose designed for kite power. Background.I believe utterly that kite sailing will eventually become practicable and common but there are co...
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Kite Power for Commercial Shipping
Published: 01 Feb 2009
Can kites be economically viable for propelling commercial shipping in mainstream applications? In my view there are two chances of this happening in the foreseeable future: Zero, none and a teensy possibility that indirect kite propulsion by way of on-board kite generated electricity driving a conventional propeller may work. Whoops, that's three, but you'll get the drift. But this is not to say it's not worth trying. Development work in this field, provid...
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Kite power for Ships
Published: 01 Jan 2007
Lift coefficient is proportional to angle of attack but L/D is inversely so- no free lunch.highly cambered airfoils have highest lift coefficients but luff - such kites can only be used at higher angles of attack.Launching is solvable- but lighter than air is not a likely optionKite size using current materials and super ripstop isn't limited up to a thousand or so sq.m.Current lightweight materials have a life in UV and wind of only a few weeks.heavy kites fly like shit- show me an exception.Th...
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Kite power for Ships
Published: 01 Jan 2007
Lift coefficient is proportional to angle of attack but L/D is inversely so- no free lunch.highly cambered airfoils have highest lift coefficients but luff - such kites can only be used at higher angles of attack.Launching is solvable- but lighter than air is not a likely optionKite size using current materials and super ripstop isn't limited up to a thousand or so sq.m.Current lightweight materials have a life in UV and wind of only a few weeks.heavy kites fly like shit- show me an except...
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Kite Sailing
Published: 01 Feb 2006
A different approach derived from contemplating what characteristics kites will have to have in order to be practical in the real world of yachting and large boat hauling rather than by extrapolating from my experiences and hopes as a committed kiteflier as I've generally done up to now- not being alone in this either! . Since my naive dreaming of kitepower in the '80's (when I rushed out and bought a 12m 'Formula 40' high performance catamaran with the intention of sticki...
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The Peter Lynn KiteCat kitesailing catamaran.
Published: 01 Jan 2005
Length overall 4.3 m, width 2.0m, weight 35kgms. Glass fibre planing hulls, stainless steel frame. Four rudder foot operated steering- 2 forward , 2 at rear.- for very fast and precise turning.Main seat; fabric, adjustable. Passenger seat; glass fibre (optional).Packed dimensions (for shipping): 4.15m x 0.5m x 0.5m, 1.0 cu.m , 40 kgms.Transport; fully assembled on car or SUV roof rack- can be taken off and on by one person. Kite; 19sq.m Arc style Venom for the entire wind r...
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KITE SAILING.
Published: 27 Jul 1999
BY PETER LYNN VERSION 1999. WHY? Because it's fun!I love buggying, kitesurfing, single line kites and sitting on aeroplanes for days- of course I do! For one thing, Elwyn wouldn't want me hanging around the house under her feet all the time. For another, alternating spells of frantic activity amongst a bunch of nutters (kite events...
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