kitefoiler

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.

Kitefoiler kite launch test – March 22

3/22/11

We took the Kitefoiler out again today to practice launching with the carbon mast. Joe added extensions to the mast earlier this week to accommodate a larger kite, and this time he, Don and Dudu used a brand new 25 sqm kite, instead of the 20 sqm one. The new kite is similar to the old 25 sqm high-aspect-ratio kite that we’ve been using with such success on the Trifoiler and Kitefoiler. The new kite, however, has some improvements, including a larger diameter strut base and a trailing edge canopy made of Dacron instead of the old, softer material.

During the test, we had trouble on the first couple of launches with an exposed bolt on the top of the […more]

Kitefoiler mast test – March 11

3/11/11

Today we tested the new kite-launching mast on the Kitefoiler for the first time. The setup includes the K1 winch with custom platform, two carbon windsurfing masts with extensions, and an intricate system of pulleys.
Don, Joe, and Dudu successfully launched the kite three times, but had difficulty transitioning from launch controls to sailing controls. Overall, the test went well, as each successive launch improved upon the last. However, they attempted a fourth launch, but the kite lost air after hitting a sharp carbon piece on the bow.
Today was also the first test of some of the new modifications to the boat, including steel reinforcements on the rail moldings and bronze bushings and smaller wheels on the […more]