Figured better post here to....
Okay I know some crew were waiting on some feedback on the 14m cat as a potential 'lightish' wind kite. After today I'm in a position to comment.
Yesterday the wind built to a level that I'd be having fun on my 10m edge, even on my 140 mako ( smallest board), not grinning but able to through down my usual and stay upwind easily. So on the cat at least I know there is a very decent overlap as although I was lit, I think I could have easily gone a couple of more knots. But then again when one gets used the the power of an edge, your limits do controllability seem to increase somewhat.
Today was perfect. Started at 8 to 10 knots, increased 10 to 13, then settled at 12 to 15 for half an hour or so before shifting very quickly to the south east! Gotta love those big ass highs sitting in the bite!
Sent a mate down with the kite and when I arrived he was losing 50m or so of ground on a north nugget in 8 to 10. He's been only been kitesurfing for a year and is still working in his light wind technique. I got on the nugget and was holding ground, if not heading a bit upwind. Got on my skim the same result. But to his defence not soon after the wind start to build slightly to 10 to 13 knots. So was I having fun...well it did take some technique to stay upwind lets say 8 to 11 knots. Still planning with some speed, but I wouldn't call it fun, be lucky to throw anything down and get back to your mark unless you went a fair bit out. Not worth jumping, just mowing the lawn and concentrating to keep board and kite speed up. Better than nothing though hey.
Once it steadied though at 11 to 13 (few whitecaps appearing), no problems at all crankin upwind on the nugget, even my mate was holding ground. When it hit 13 to 15 I was smokin upwind on the Mako King and could have changed down to the mako 140 at that stage, but would probably want more. So was able to throw down my gay style hooked in back roll back loop etc stuff, from the heel or toeside.
Some side comments here. Please take note this was done in the ocean, not on flat water. Although there was no great swell and the reef system does create a more flatter ride than say at some beach break slop, it was still choppy ish and there was still enough current and swell to counter the board and kites speed. In flat water you could do a lot better.
Another side note before I conclude, my brother at the 13 to 15 knot stage was powered enough on his 11m edge, could do some okay jumps ( well gay jumps compared to this kite at 20 knots of course) and was holding ground easily on a 150 Mako. He weighs a good 5kg more than me to. It just shows you how efficient and powerful these edges are, do yourself a favour even if you would never think of owning one of these kites, just for your own education do yourself a favour and get on one of these. They truly are a remarkable wing!
So what was my/our overall thoughts. Yesterday I was doubting the Cat, well me on it. I was trying to fly it like an edge. I was craving for that apparent wind and unrivalled speed. And when I was out with my bro who was on an 11m edge I was starting to get a little ....depressed.
But....
I reset today and started to fly the catalyst, like a catalyst a lower aspect stable kite, with a bit of C chucked in. I slowed everything down, I flew the kite not relying on that insane apparent wind to get back to my mark( the edge is effortless in that regard). Then presto I started to smile again.
The loops are much more crisp and controlled than on an edge. You feel the kites pull through loop, loop with a rotation etcThe canopy is so stable when I fell in the water trying to turn my skim around (that Farqin skim is doing my Farqin head in, still can't consistently turn that Farqin thing...but I won't be beaten!!), I wasn't worried about lack of line tension I do on the edges in 10 knots from falling out of the sky). I enjoyed the more constant power through the bar as the cat won't keep flying to the edge of the window, so you can hang of it and use slight body movements and edging to lift and drop the kite to keep your speed up with little depower movement. I started to have a bloody good time. I started to enjoy the bit of C4, bit of Edge and the old stable cat built into the canopy. I started to employ the quick turning capability of this wing and I was only on my normal 50cm bar!
While I have been told by a few that the cat can jump like the edge, well I can say that's officially bullsh1t. But the jumps are much easier to execute, going vertical is easier and very forgiving on the descend. Gives a nice bit of float that more adventurous of us could use their advantage.
So is it a light wind kite. Nah! Forget sub 10, even 10 to 13 is okay with good flying skills and the right board, but you'd be having way more fun on a say a Zephyr, core or a fat lady.
But 13 to 20, the cat is a bloody good option for those crew under 80kg or say 80 to 85kg coupled with the right board. It also provides a more constant pull through currents and swell, whereas a high aspect kite like an edge won't like the drop in board and kite speed. The upstroke of the cat gives you as much power as the downstroke if ya know how to use it. I did unhook it accidentally so thought stuff it and rode for a bit (after scrambling to trim as I have my bar set on the shortest knot), yep perfect to learn some unhooked stuff.
Anyhow that's my bit, hope it helps, got it right it seems. 14m cat, 10m edge, 8m cat for those insane winter winds and swell. Season nearly over....
