Kiteboat Tests

Kitefoiler in Border Run race – Apr 9

4/9/11

Photos show Don and Joe preparing Friday and Saturday for the race in Newport Beach on Saturday. The wind was so low that they needed to be towed out to the start and couldn’t keep the kite in the air for long. (See Jamie’s post for windspeed data). They were able to test out the Kitefoiler’s trailering capacities (very good), however, and to improve boat setup and takedown procedures. Thanks to Erika for taking photos!

Kai View Data:
20110409-kf-borderRun.kai.bz2

Kitefoiler kite & radio test – Apr 5

4/6/11

Yesterday we took the Kitefoiler out to test it with a kite and three T-foils again. Additionally, we tested the newest hands-free radio prototype from Paul Larkin, who visited from InduComm to show us the system. The system fits inside one ear of a crew member and picks up voice through his or her jawbone, a setup which is meant to reduce wind noise. We taped the radios themselves to the outside of each person’s drysuit. There are one captain’s headset and several crew headsets. The radio has both push-to-talk and open-mic options. For our test, Paul wore the captain’s headset on the Protector, and Don, Joe, and Richard wore the crew headsets on the Kitefoiler. Paul attached a directional […more]

Kitefoiler evening test – April 4

4/4/11

Don and Joe put a 4 hp motor on the Kitefoiler this evening in order to test without towing the boat to and from the dock. Dudu followed on the Protector. Despite the late hour, the wind was good, and they were very pleased with the boat’s performance.

See video clip for fast foiling in the dark!

Kai View Data:
20110404-kf-25mHA2.kai.bz2

Kitefoiler Tow Test – Mar 30

3/30/11

We tried the side T-foils on the Kitefoiler for the first time today. They performed very well in the glassy conditions, demonstrating much more lift than the J-foils, and foiling stably with little spray on the crew. The boat also had no trouble foiling with five people on deck. Don’s parents, Sharon and Roland, and Erika came out to help round out the crew.

Kitefoiler tow test – Mar 29

3/29/11

We went out for a brief tow test today to check adjustments to side foils and to compare performance of original T-foil rudder to newly fabricated larger T-foil rudder.

The attached plot compares the speeds and loads with each rudder T-foil. The speeds are not identical in each case, and other factors such as the tow angle and acceleration may have varied between runs. However, there is some indication that the “new” foil requires a larger towing force at 20-21 knots.

Kitefoiler kite test – Mar 28

3/28/11

We tested the Kitefoiler today with the new rudder. Using the kite-launching mast, Don, Joe, and Richard successfully launched and transitioned to sailing for the first time and on the first try!
Thereafter, they sailed the boat to test the foils. Both Joe and Richard sailed with Don, but the wind was such that foiling was only possible with two crew members at a time. The foils worked but adjusted unevenly, causing the boat to jump a bit as it sailed. The foils tested were one original J-foil (starboard), and one new, modified from old quadfoiler, more steeply angled J-foil (port). We will test again shortly after further foil adjustment.