Postby Jzh_perth » Wed Nov 16, 2016 2:07 pm
i think if you fly foil kites in light winds, you have to concede that even if you are extremely skilled you will have the occasional swim in. Not because there is anything inferior about the kite, rather its because they are so light and efficient they allow you to push your low wind limits to the maximum and sometimes you may find yourself in a position where there is simply not be enough wind to relaunch you.
In "normal" wind conditions this would never happen, this is specific to flying foil kites in the sorts of winds where an LEI will not fly in the first place.
Also like Borist points out, flying foil kites improves your overall kiting because it makes you much more attuned to kite trimming and good kite technique.
Just watched that Real Watersports video - it's pretty evident that the rider was inexperienced with foil kites - bow ties happen but with practise they are usually able to be untwisted on the water. An you you learn pretty quick not to slack your lines and allow it too happen in the first place. On that day there was plenty of wind, and with practice you would be able to sort that out on the water without a swim. Those sorts of conditions are not usually problematic for foil kites -the glassy 4-5 knot days are the ones that suck you in.
Having flown foil kites mostly now for the last 5 years, i really struggle when i switch to lei's. To me they seem heavy and inefficient, i can't point anywhere near as high upwind, they don't have the depower or wind range I'm used to. Funnily enough in really light wind i struggle to relaunch LEI's, whereas I'm much more confident in being able to reverse a foil kite off the water in almost no wind at all. And then there's the time and effort spent pumping them up and laying out lines. In the time hit takes my mates to pump & launch their LEI's, I've already launched and am on the water having fun. The best thing about LEI's for me is that they are great for the surf. I abused my BWS Noise's for years and they always survived, whereas I'm not comfortable to think about my race foils copping a wave into the canopy. Plus they drift nicely when riding down the line.
I would encourage you to give foil kites a go if you get the chance, but be prepared to accept a few hassles from time to time, especially when exploring the lower wind limits. If by yourself, don't allow yourself to get sucked in to staying out longer than you should, or riding further offshore than you can swim. Im sure most of us foil kite riders would agree the benefits far outweigh the negatives once you get the hang of them.