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What is the lowest wind you can kite in?

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Qiter
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Re: What is the lowest wind you can kite in?

Postby Qiter » Sun Sep 01, 2019 5:21 am

dice wrote:
Sat Aug 31, 2019 5:33 pm
It also depends highly on the humidity of the air. Or the airpressure. Or something else, I'm not sure. But knots is not everything.
Absolutely, that is a big factor in light winds. At my homespot, I have to use one kite size bigger in summer when kiting in comparable (light) wind (measured on the beach).
Same for planes who need more runway for take off when its hot for same weight of plane..

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Re: What is the lowest wind you can kite in?

Postby StillLovinIt » Sun Sep 01, 2019 6:41 am

Qiter wrote:
Sun Sep 01, 2019 5:21 am
dice wrote:
Sat Aug 31, 2019 5:33 pm
It also depends highly on the humidity of the air. Or the airpressure. Or something else, I'm not sure. But knots is not everything.
Absolutely, that is a big factor in light winds. At my homespot, I have to use one kite size bigger in summer when kiting in comparable (light) wind (measured on the beach).
Same for planes who need more runway for take off when its hot for same weight of plane..
The effect of temperature on kite power is actually a lot smaller than many people think:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5159&start=10
==> scroll down to the graph "Height and Temperature effect on kite power"

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RedSky
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Re: What is the lowest wind you can kite in?

Postby RedSky » Sun Sep 01, 2019 12:53 pm

Pffff 4-6 knots

Flying here when the wind drops off to 1 knot



xD
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elguapo
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Re: What is the lowest wind you can kite in?

Postby elguapo » Sun Sep 01, 2019 2:02 pm

RedSky wrote:
Sun Sep 01, 2019 12:53 pm
Pffff 4-6 knots

Flying here when the wind drops off to 1 knot



xD

i'm about 99% sure i know those condos in the background there(well)... and i was under assumption we couldnt launch from that beach in maui

i know the video is dated... but anyone know if *can* you kite on that beach..??
there is a most awesomeness break right off shoer of there (i believe)


Image

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Re: What is the lowest wind you can kite in?

Postby windrider1 » Sun Sep 01, 2019 8:23 pm

While a good foil kite can probally fly in 4 knts I think u need about 6knts to kitesurf and stay upwind and probally 5 knts on a hydrofoil. this can be measured in onshore or slight sideshore wind with an accurate windmeter and zero obstructions upwind . Lei need about 8 knts . Any claims lower are just not accurate . Now wind never just blows 6 knts so if its 5 to 8knts then yea sure u can ride.

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Re: What is the lowest wind you can kite in?

Postby tallakt » Sun Sep 01, 2019 8:33 pm

Air density changes by 9.3% in zero deg C relative to 25 deg C. This gives you instantly 9.3% more lift everything else being equal. Furthermore dry air has higher density than humid air. So that could account for another slight factor.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Density_of_air

The formula for lift is

L = 0.5 rho v^2 C_L S

where rho is the density of air...

We also have a slightly higher Reynolds number for cold air. Depending on the airfoil, this could have a positive effect for colder air.

http://www.airfoiltools.com/calculator/ ... =Calculate

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Re: What is the lowest wind you can kite in?

Postby grigorib » Sun Sep 01, 2019 8:54 pm


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vanart
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Re: What is the lowest wind you can kite in?

Postby vanart » Mon Oct 07, 2019 7:34 am

while we on the subject can someone recommend a reliable wind measuring tool!?

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JakeFarley
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Re: What is the lowest wind you can kite in?

Postby JakeFarley » Mon Oct 07, 2019 7:52 pm

I have used a Kestrel wind meter for the last 10+ years. I've compared it to others that my fellow kiters have used and it is accurate/comparable. It runs about $74 USD for the Kestrel 1000 (cheapest model). https://kestrelmeters.com/

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Re: What is the lowest wind you can kite in?

Postby Regis-de-giens » Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:27 pm

A good marginal wind day 3 weeks ago :

No music to "feel" the marginal wind
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