I have looked up apparent wind on Wikipedia and could in theory work out apparent wind for a kite if I had all the accurate wind speed info, my speed and angle etc.....

Not overly confusing or tricky in the maths department....

Here's the question then: (hypothetically speaking)

Say for instance I could get going and ride with a 14m kite and a twin tip in 15knots.

Now assume the kite, board and rider don't change.

When I'm cruising along with the kite parked the apparent wind maybe say 20 knots. When I sine the kite the apparent wind might be say 25 knots with the extra speed of the kite. (I'm obviously using very round numbers)

If I now change to a 11m kite with the same wind and sine the kite quicker because it turns faster the apparent wind speed would rise and therefore create more lift (pull).

Obviously some kites get into their sweet spots quicker and you can park and follow them easier, so why is it that on any given day you can do a few runs with the kite parked and pulling well then seconds later you change direction and you have to sine the kite heavily to even keep going and on and on the cycle goes?

Is this all purely technique?
Is it overworking the kite trying to get enough apparent wind to park it?
Is there a technique to build up apparent wind? (Thinking aloud here but starting to sine smaller and smaller as you build up speed)

It would be interesting to hear from advanced guys as to how they optimize apparent wind on marginal wind days and get the kite into the sweet park spot easier?

My technique is fairly good I think but nothing compared to guys who have been kiting since Jesus played full back for Jerusalem!

Apparent wind usually means "Apparently there's not enough wind"

You have to consider the current as well. And chops/waves.

What about the tide? I was out today with an 11m with 11-14 knots but we had 4.5m tide, so the runout was about 4 knots or maybe even 4.5 knots. So my question is dose this 4.5knots of tide give me an extra 4.5knots of apparent windo?

refer all of this back to sailing techniques, boat sizes, vmg, vog, apparent wind. there are novels on this( and is why a longer water length will point higher and have a higher hull speed. )to apoint. and that is why 100 foot maxis win.

Something else to mind fark you with. The faster you go and the more apparent wind you build the further back the wind Window shifts! The power zone is no longer in front of you. It has shifted back.

Low aspect kites side further back in the Window. So as speed build they find their speed limit sooner.

High aspect kites can hunt the edge of the wind Window better and can go faster before they hit their Window limit.

Singing the kite works at low speed. But it also pushes the kite back in the wind Window. So as you build aparent there comes a point when it is more efficient to park the kite and regulate aoa at the bar to keep the kite forward enough.

Clear as mud?

if its windy, kite.
too easy.

Edge down wind to gather more speed to create that apparent wind .Then you can in increase your angle of attack up wind with that extra speed.Hold your kite slightly higher as you start to edge up wind a bit more.When you start feeling you are going to stall dive your kite and direct down wind to get your speed up again.Also get a bigger wider board with hardly any rocker for your marginal days.

I can have a big hang time boost sesh on my 17 m edge in 14 knots on a speed ball w18.Or do a down winder on my 10 m reo and north nugget combo !

surfingboye said..
if its windy, kite.
too easy.

Like the old Tracks slogan - "If it swells, ride it!"

How do you guys make a simple topic so confusing ?? LOL

Ok standing with you back to the wind that's blowing12 knots your kite 'sees' 12 knots - even if its at the 2 O'clock position OK ?

Now if you can get going lets say to your right at 12 knots board speed, the kite will 'see' 12 knots of wind speed plus a component of your forward speed - this is called apparent wind !!

Obviously your kite wont 'see 12 knots of wind speed plus 12 knots of forward speed = 24 knots cuz its a vector thing (geek stuff) but you will be able to park the kite and mow the lawn cuz the kite is experiencing something more than 12 knots now that it is moving through the air - at that stage unless you are a fat boy like me you might be able to park the kite !! Sweet

If you are on a 14m as Daniel suggests the wind speed plus the apparent wind might provide enough grunt to keep you on the plane with the kite parked. But try the same on an 11m - given the same wind speed, rider weight and board well it wont work just as trying to kite with a 6m in 12 knots wont!! Funny how we have different size kite hey !!

Apparent wind also works for windsurfing - ie pump the sail to get on the plane then park, and speed sailing as well - and its also why it sometimes gets scary kitesurfing - the faster you go kite the more power it seems to generate!! ( hard edging slows the kite and kills the power - go figure!!)

Now Im going to sit back with a red wine and wait for the red thumbs LOL

I always find that you get your self up and going then work the kite up and down thru the window. When ure really cranking park the kite let the bar out a bit until you feel it start to go even faster then hang on. Works for me. But hey i am only learning.

wishy said...
Give a kite to a braindead bogan from safety Bay and he will be doing great tricks by the end of the month.

Give a kite to a highly educated engineer and he will mow the lawn for three years because he spends so much time trying to optimise his speed and upwind angles for flawless efficiency according to the vectors.

Thinking about it won't help, just practice, and get a huge twintip or race board for when the wind sucks and you still want to go out.

Now I love this one, very witty!!!

Just gotta ask.......were you doing cool tricks at the end of the month or did you mow lawns for 3 years?

Very funny post!!!