How many days since ...

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arrogantj
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Joined: 01/24/2012 - 14:11
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How many days since ...

my last session Cray 2

--- The Arrogant Jerk: Crabby and irritable since 1998.

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arrogantj
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Joined: 01/24/2012 - 14:11
Posts: 1053
Re: How many days since ...

I can't vouch for the authenticity of this photo but it comes from a usually reliable source

--- The Arrogant Jerk: Crabby and irritable since 1998.

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Barrett
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Joined: 12/23/2003 - 23:07
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Re: How many days since ...

Went out to the garage and found cobwebs on my JP Super Light Wind Board.

Barrett

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Randy
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Joined: 05/05/2002 - 10:38
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Re: How many days since ...

Ok since you have nothing better to do, here is the long awaited video of the traction kite development project I undertook with a Danish kite designer back in the days when there was actually wind.

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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Barrett
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Joined: 12/23/2003 - 23:07
Posts: 3395
Re: How many days since ...

Wow, that's a lot of testing, design modification and retesting. Looks like you're pleased with the result. But I'm curious, why focus on the traction design when a larger airfoil will get you back upwind?

Barrett

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Randy
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Joined: 05/05/2002 - 10:38
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Re: How many days since ...

This was kind of a "because it hasn't been done yet" type of project. This genre of kites has not been studied much and at least one design was tested in conjunction with the America's Cup Trials a number of years ago. It seemed interesting to me - but I'm the first to acknowledge that if you want a better kite - there are plenty available already.

Nonetheless, I think this kite has some advantages. I can get upwind with the kite on land with the longboard, albeit not as quickly as with a foil. On water its not been a priority as I can paddle upwind easily with the current at the river and downwind with the wind. I have not made on in the sizes necessary for upwind performance, nor have I used them very much with a centerboard equipped SUP. Using the paddle as a rudder (as shown in the bloopers section) allows me to sail about 45 degrees off the wind. I'm pretty well convinced that a leading edge inflatable (kitesurfing) kite is the way to go on water though.

For use on land, foils have their own foibles - they are much more challenging to fly and require more wind to fly than a single skin kite. Under the wrong circumstances foils are potentially dangerous. This is largely due to the higher level of performance of a foil. The NPWC kite is much more docile and lower performing which I believe reduces (but does not eliminate) the level of risk. It is probably like the difference between driving a minivan and a sports car. You can die in either one.

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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Barrett
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Joined: 12/23/2003 - 23:07
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Re: How many days since ...

Understood - traction kites are less risky to fly with our gusty winds. I'd hate to dragged across pavement land surfing with a kite.

Barrett

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