Kiteboat Tests

Kitefoiler test – Jun 22

6/22/11

Don, Joe, and Dudu tested the Kitefoiler again today, using the old 30 sqm kite from 2003 to compare performance to our newer kites.

Kitefoiler Test – Jun 21

6/21/11

We took the Kitefoiler out again with the original J-foils, as they’ve proved the most reliable in allowing us to sail upwind. We took out an old kite from 2003 that has a high aspect ratio and a very simple bridle, in order to compare its performance to our newer kites. The wind proved light, so we did not sail quickly enough to get the boat on the foils. We did, however, verify that the simple bridle on the kite was much easier to handle on the launching mast than the more complicated ones. Also, we realized that the launching mast needs to be expandable, in order to be made taller for larger or higher-aspect-ratio kites.
Additionally, Don and […more]

Kitefoiler Test with J-foils – Jun 15

6/15/11

We tested the Kitefoiler using the original Trifoiler J-foils with the Kitefoiler extensions. We used the Tom Speer-designed T-foil rudder.

The wind was light. We used the electric winch handle to successfully winch the kite back to the boat.

Dual bar setup. Launch bar and flying bar.

Don tried out our new Zeal goggles that were equipped with GPS (https://www.zealoptics.com/transcend/). He and Jamie purchased the goggles to play with the sensor inside and to see if they could modify the display. The goggles are designed to display speed information inside the eye view space. Don found that the display was not in quite the right place. Modification will begin when Jamie is back from vacation.

Kai View […more]

Kitefoiler kite test – Apr 14

4/14/11

We tested the Kitefoiler today with the side T-foils and 25 sqm kite. Don, Richard, and Erika crewed while Joe is hurt. They also used the compressed air tank for the first time to inflate the kite, which worked very speedily. Damon made a special compartment on the starboard hull for the tank. The boat foiled very stably while towing, but had trouble remaining on foils with the kite up, due to unsteady wind and a combined 3-crew weight of 490 lbs.

Kai View Data:
20110414-kf-25m-TFoils.kai.bz2

Kitefoiler test with J-foils – April 12

4/12/11

We tested the new J-foils on the Kitefoiler for the first time today. While towing the boat out, the Protector needed to be going about 20 knots in order for the Kitefoiler to start foiling, which is a much higher number than either the old J-foils (15-16 knots), or the T-foils (12-13 knots). While sailing with the kite up, it was hard to keep the boat on the foils. This poor performance was partly due to very choppy conditions and a lot of swells knocking the boat off course. We used the new 25 sqm kite with the Dacron trailing edge.

Kai View Data:
20110412-kf-towAnd25m.kai.bz2