Kite vs Moth vs 49er

Windance Crew · Since 18 Apr 2008 473 Posts Hood River Kite Shop Obsessed

Good trailer video

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH_wX9LGH4k&feature=player_embedded
[/youtube]

Mark · Fri Dec 03, 10 4:50 pm

bad link...

kitemare · Since 23 Mar 2010 265 Posts Seattle, wa Obsessed

Link

problem solved

Matt E. · Since 22 May 2008 318 Posts West Coast Sales Rep Obsessed

Gotta believe Damo smoked em'!

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

Interesting. I haven't ever seen one of those "Moth"s before. I wonder if the kiter went overpowered for more speed. I have to imagine he probably went with more power than if he were doing jumps and tricks. Anybody know?

Is it even safe to use an larger kite and overpower yourself to go for extra speed or does it even matter? You are limited to a maximum of the wind speed correct? So at some point a bigger kite wouldn't make you go any faster it would just F you up more if you ate it. Is that correct or is my logic and overall lack of sailing knowledge working against me?

lloyd · Since 16 Aug 2007 108 Posts Hood River Stoked

Lots of different thoughts on this one. By no means do claim to have the answer or know everything about kite design. Bigger kites, generally depending on design criteria, have more drag and thus a relatively slower top end flying speed and slower turning speed. You're better off going with a bigger/flatter/easier to plane board to decrease resistance on the water and go with a relatively smaller, faster flying kite. Back in the day, there were kites in the 20m plus range. Now a days, it's difficult to find a kite larger than 16m. The ability to point in to the wind is more dependent on board speed, relative kite speed and the kite flying closer to the wind window, not the strength of the kite pull downwind. Hope that helps and is some what accurate. There are a lot of bright people on the forum whom I trust will correct what I got wrong.

gorgebob · Since 25 Jun 2007 259 Posts Portland, OR Shop Owner

Cool production video.
The Bay area had a race with 49r Windsurfer and Kite from bridge to bridge downwind where I believe the kite won. The Moths are wild , they had North Americans at Cascade locks last year.