What a great sailing day we had on Sunday 23rd of January 2006
Wind Direction: ENE (060)
Wind Speed: 11 knots, gusting up to 24 knots
(or wind of 12.7 G 27.6 mph)
Temperature: 48 F – 51 F
Location: North of Van’s Tavern
Kite used: GlobeKite’s SONIC 14 (AKA PEPE EL BURRO)
I am ecstatic to report that finally after many years trying to attempt the “impossible”, I kitted on lake Lanier’s unfriendly conditions successfully. It was the first time I have launched and gain some 300+ ft of upwind terrain. Sailed for about 45 min session, and then the incredible, I sailed downwind (YES, downwind) to my initial departing sailing point. LAKE LANIER GUSTY NATURE HAS BEEN KITE CONQUERED!…. at least this is how I felt last Sunday.
What made all the difference to me was that I was using PEPE (yes, el Burro). A 14m BOW design kite. As expected, the revolutionary technology of the Bow kite, allowed me to depower and “dump” the additional power generated by Lanier’s gusty conditions. I have never felt in such control even in steadier wind-speed days. Literally it was like having 3 kite sizes all in one sail. When it gusted, you just let the bar go something like 15 inches away from you, and that felt like having a 12m kite, but when the gust was gone I pull the bar in all the way, and the kite increased the power like a 16m kite. Too good to be true? Come with us any day, try it and judge it by yourself. BE MY GUEST….MAKE MY DAY!
I don’t care what brand you fly, you need to try the new bow designs in the lake. To me, it made all the difference in the world. You can actually feel the gust in the bar when it hits the kite, (the bar gets an increase of tension), and by adjusting the bar a few inches out, the power is kept constant without the traditional feeling of overpowered force about to make you to explode.
Of course LocusWind represents Global Kites and their bow design the “SONIC”, so I will be giving demos and selling the SONIC, but in general, the bows designs are here to stay and will make sailing challenging gusty conditions (like lake Lanier’s) a reality and not a dream.
A bow kite will make it to most quivers for people kitting in gusty difficult conditions like the ones prevailing in Lake Lanier. Hear me now, believe me later.... If you kite, or if you are thinking about kiting in Lanier, do not hesitate to buy a bow kite, (from Locus, I hope) or from whomever sells them. Just remember that your local shop is the one that is here for you.
Just want to record that the first bow kite ever to sail and conquer Lake Lanier’s challenging gusty conditions was PEPE!!!!
Join LocusWind in making sailing Lake Lanier’s challenging conditions a reality.
Later,
Emilio.
http://www.locuswind.com
404 509 4229