Optimum sheeting and kite location for speed

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Gfly
Gfly
165 posts
165 posts
7 Apr 2015 10:59pm
On a broad reach fully powered and planing, I dont find there is a noticeable difference in sheeting the bar in from 75% to 100%.

How should I determining the optimum amount of sheeting in for max pull from the kite?

And is having the kite low in the window near the water the best place to have it for max power?
Xanthian
Xanthian
23 posts
23 posts
7 Apr 2015 11:33pm
What you've just described is that the 'sweet spot' of your kite is between 75% and 100%. As long as the kite is flying well without stalling, and steering well, forget about pulling on the bar for more power.

Having the kite low in the window will cause it to fly more perpendicular to the wind. It will also have less lift, allowing you to edge against a stronger kite. Both of these things translate to better upwind drive (which is good), but not more power. (And the drive itself may cause you to depower the kite.)

If you want more power from your kite that the bar isn't able to deliver by sheeting, either build more board speed to get the kite deeper in the window and gain apparent wind, sine the kite to get it deeper in the wind window and gain apparent wind, or do a combination of these.
bigtone667
bigtone667
NSW
1559 posts
NSW, 1559 posts
8 Apr 2015 7:47am
Depending on the brand, to much bar will choke the kite and slow you down (acts like a parachute).

One brand I use performs best when the bar is fully out. The few of us who had this brand now all have 15cm extensions added to the steering lines to avoid the "choking experience".
Plummet
Plummet
4862 posts
4862 posts
8 Apr 2015 6:47am
Gfly said..
On a broad reach fully powered and planing, I dont find there is a noticeable difference in sheeting the bar in from 75% to 100%.

How should I determining the optimum amount of sheeting in for max pull from the kite?

And is having the kite low in the window near the water the best place to have it for max power?


I'm assuming you want to do speed runs? rather than loop for uptimum power for upwind.

If speed runs is the answer from your description 75% would be the best spot. Basically feel for the sweet spot of maximum speed. Any more bar in will stall the kite and slow you. Any less will not give you enough power and you wont go full pace.

Also as you speed up the wind window drifts back the faster you go. Your kite and bar position changes as you speed up. Also your down wind angle increases to. So the fastest speed is obtained by and angled broad reach that slowly curves more and more down wind.

You reach maximum speed for your equipment and the wind speed when the kite drifts back in the window where it no longer can pull you forward faster.


Gfly
Gfly
165 posts
165 posts
8 Apr 2015 2:16pm
At the moment I am determining the sweet spot by bar pressure when it feels like the kite is taut.

Are there any other indicators?
VRBones
VRBones
130 posts
130 posts
14 Apr 2015 7:56pm
Gfly said..
At the moment I am determining the sweet spot by bar pressure when it feels like the kite is taut.

Are there any other indicators?


If you sheet in and the kite moves further forward in the wind window, you should be able to go faster by holding more bar pressure. If the kite starts to lag back when sheeting in, you're at the limit of forward thrust (but can still use the additional power to boost, etc). Also note that once you're holding more bar pressure you will want to then move the kite deeper into the wind window to allow it to generate the additional forward thrust. Rinse & repeat to keep ratcheting up the speed.
evila
evila
VIC
66 posts
VIC, 66 posts
17 Apr 2015 7:12pm
Xanthian said...
Having the kite low in the window will cause it to fly more perpendicular to the wind. It will also have less lift, allowing you to edge against a stronger kite. Both of these things translate to better upwind drive (which is good),


This has to be one of the Biggest misconceptions of our sport. When I was learning I spent many sessions following these ideas just to finally realise they are not correct.

The kite can only pull in one direction... Downwind... The board is the one that takes you upwind, so edging more is indeed a good thing.... But not against a kite low and deep in the window... A kite there will pull you more downwind countering any benefit of edging.

To go better upwind keep the kite high (above 45 degrees) and lean against the kite. The net effect is the kite takes a lot of your weight, allowing the board to push you upwind.

Only case where this doesn't work is in high wind conditions, but then you can afford to waste a lot of power and still go upwind with ease.
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