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line length for Hfoiling in >15 knots

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abel
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line length for Hfoiling in >15 knots

Postby abel » Sun Oct 01, 2017 9:26 pm

Hi guys,
Went through a 'line length' search but couldn't find a specific answer:
Do you still use longer ~ 29m lines for regular winds? or just use the regular 21-24 m length?
Specifically: beginner, 78 kg, 13-17 knots, 2-3 foot waves, quite choppy (several white horses) and a 6.5 m single strut kite.
So what lines setup? long or short? :roll:

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Re: line length for Hfoiling in >15 knots

Postby Peter_Frank » Sun Oct 01, 2017 9:41 pm

abel wrote:
Sun Oct 01, 2017 9:26 pm
Hi guys,
Went through a 'line length' search but couldn't find a specific answer:
Do you still use longer ~ 29m lines for regular winds? or just use the regular 21-24 m length?
Specifically: beginner, 78 kg, 13-17 knots, 2-3 foot waves, quite choppy (several white horses) and a 6.5 m single strut kite.
So what lines setup? long or short? :roll:

I bet it is really individual, and you have to find out yourself :rollgrin:

I use standard foil lines as I call it, 26-27 m when sufficient wind, for all kitesizes, also my 3.5 and 5 m2.

Have tried shorter lines, 22 m like my waveboard bars have, but it does not work at all for me when hydrofoiling, the carves and waveriding gets rubbish and not fluid, and I also have to ride somewhat overpowered which is not good :(

29 m is too long though, and I use these for wind under 10 knots only, and kites over 10 m2.

You will get many different answers I am pretty sure though :roll:

8) PF

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Re: line length for Hfoiling in >15 knots

Postby Starsky » Mon Oct 02, 2017 12:36 am

For free riding the adage about long lines for low end goes double when foiling. A bigger window goes a long way in light wind foiling. Once you can get up and riding without needing to loop, shorter lines do fine. I like 24+ for light air, 21 once there is 13 knots and 17 in anything over 20. Light kites drift so well that short lines are great in high winds.

Another way to think of it is long lines for 12m, 21 for most sessions on 9/6m and 17 when you’re juiced on the 6m.

Nothing like racers who use short lines on big kites.

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Re: line length for Hfoiling in >15 knots

Postby tswierkocki » Mon Oct 02, 2017 2:17 am

I use 20m lines in all wind strengths on 3.7m to 10.4m kites.

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Re: line length for Hfoiling in >15 knots

Postby Kykeon » Mon Oct 02, 2017 7:24 am

From a theoretical point of view :

The kite travels with the same speed across the wind window independent of line length but longer lines means bigger wind window.
Therefore since the kite has to travel greater distance with the same speed, it takes longer to do so.
That means longer power spike and more time to do tacks, jibes.

On the other hand longer lines are impractical
They also have more drag which creates more response lag and forces the kite to sit deeper in the window worsening the upwind a bit (that's small and concerns only the racers)
I suspect that it makes also drifting worse.

Racers use the shorter lines they can for performance but that requires perfect timing in tacks, jibes and downloops

For personal preference I'll leave it to more experienced rides to tell.

.

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Re: line length for Hfoiling in >15 knots

Postby socommk23 » Mon Oct 02, 2017 8:28 am

People have used lines as short as 10m with foil kites on foil boards.
Longer lines help with low winds as the power generated lasts longer through the wind window but manoeuvres take longer.
Short lines help with the kites speed through the window so can be faster to make turns. But in low winds your technique needs to be good to get up and going in the short power spike before the kite reaches the edge of the window.

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Re: line length for Hfoiling in >15 knots

Postby Wielandt » Mon Oct 02, 2017 8:30 am

As mentioned it's a personal preference!

For myself 30 m lines for low end wind on a 57 cm bar with my 15-12 m LEI kites(Storm Voyager and Airush Ultra)). 27 m lines for 9 and 6 m LEI kites.


Furthermore I switched the steering lines on my low wind setup to 1mm dynema SK 99 lines. Their breaking limits is supposed to be 280 kg each. The lines are very thin/light and I imaginen that I can feel a different in the way the kite drifts with the reduced line weight.

Does anyone among you have any idea about how low you can go concerning kite line breaking point ??? I only switched the steering lines, because I was unsudden. If no problem I would like to switch the front lines as well.

Regards from a windy autumn Denmark

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Re: line length for Hfoiling in >15 knots

Postby FrederikS » Mon Oct 02, 2017 10:33 am

Storm Voyager 9 and 12 sqm is great with 20 m. 17 m on the 9 is ok as well. Foil kites I use 17 m for 8-11-15 (sometimes 20 on the 15), same on the 18.

Much easier to control the kite on shorter lines. Started out long coming from the race board but it just does not make sense if you know how to pop up without using the board.

Short lines feel funny at first, but after a while you do not want to go back.

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Re: line length for Hfoiling in >15 knots

Postby cwood » Mon Oct 02, 2017 12:25 pm

If I have learned anything this year, is that line length preference for free riding is totally subjective! I hear all sides...the only real absolutes seems to be that the really short (like racers ride) are really only good for racing.

Between 20m and 50m its really personal preference. For me I run all standard Flysurfer length from 6m, 9m, 12m, 15m. I tried the 6m extensions on my 15m and I can certainly see the benefit of the long stroke but man did it feel more sporty when I went back to the 20m.

I have a friend that went to all 35+ and 60cm bars on all kites all sizes and loves it....huge bar on tiny kites even. But then he tried the 20m again and said: hey, that feels pretty good! you can really chase your tail. At some point I think you need to pick a strategy for your ride style and conditions, and then own it and master it.

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Re: line length for Hfoiling in >15 knots

Postby abel » Mon Oct 02, 2017 12:31 pm

OK, thanks,
My understanding from all above is : No extensions for winds above 15 knots, and if the wind is stronger, even use shorter lines.

Summarizing:
<10 knots: 27-30 m (my standard setup in my local spot) :(
10-15 knots: 24-27 m
>15 knots <24m

Did I get it right for the med/stronger winds?


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