Kiteboating

An early (1984) experimental kite rig being used to pull a boat.

Kiteboating or kite boating is the act of using a kite rig as a power source to propel a boat. Kiteboating is a type of surface water sport, but it also has transportation uses[1]

Equipment

Kiteboating uses different types of gear from kitesurfing. Kites attached to boats can be larger than kites attached to a surfer. For long voyages, the kite rig must be more autonomously controlled. Due to the lifting power of kites, they are often used with hydrofoils.[2]

Points of sail (with a kite buggy)

Current kite rigs can be sailed within 50 degrees of the wind.[1] Placing turbines in the boat's hull can let the kite power generate electricity on board.[3]

History

Going back to 1800s, George Pocock used the kites in order to increase the size of propel carts that are found in land and boats.[citation needed] Sébastien Cattelan is the French kitesurfer was the first sailor who was able to break 50 knots, achieving 50.26 knots on 3 October 2008 at the Lüderitz Speed Challenge in Namibia.[4] Next, on 14 November 2009, Alex Caizergues achieved a speed of 50.98 knots in Namibia.

Patents

  • US Patent 6003457 Boat powered by means of a kite via a hinged arm by Pierre Chatelain. Filed:April 1, 1998.

See also

  • Kite rig
  • Kite types
  • Kitesurfing
  • SkySails
  • Power kite

References

  1. ^ a b Skysails, Captain John Konrad, Mariners Weather Log, April 2009, Volume 53, No. 1, National Weather Service
  2. ^ The Kiteboat Project, interview of Don Montague by Paul Lang, The Kiteboarder, December 14, 2012.
  3. ^ "Home". energykitesystems.net.
  4. ^ "New World Speed Record 50.26 knots". sail-world.com. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2017.

External links

  • Kiteboating enthusiast website
  • Kitetender
  • Oceankiteboat
  • Beginners kiteboating
  • Wingit kiteboat systems
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