My 15m2 foilkite gets me going in really light winds but I have to depower it most of the times and if the wind picks up it becomes overpowered quickly.
I guess 12m2 would be my sweet spot for LW (85 kg rider).
It is unfortunatelly so true ... I also try to avoid giving knots values in marginal winds but its the only reference unfortunately ; my definition of low end is indeed allowing waterstart and stay upwind; As you said we need less wind to ride once full speed on the foil, but it is not my reference since as you said it is not a real-life-everyday case (in the sense of being able or not to ride from beach ); now if waterstart is not part of the low end, then I agree with you that a race foilkite will allow to ride (kite parked) very soon, similar to medium AR kites if you do not try to have a tight upwind angle IMO ;Peter_Frank wrote: ↑Fri Sep 01, 2017 9:14 amThe problem with these threads are, that we dont know if we are talking about the "same" low end, as numbers are almost useless.
Half a knot or one knot difference in wind makes it from impossible to more than okay, or from possible to easy - so we might be discussing apples and oranges here, without knowing
We should be out on the same day same wind same spot all of us, in 3-6 knots of wind, to compare this ultimate low end
Even more so SUPers and kayakers. They can also go directly upwind.nothing2seehere wrote: ↑Fri Sep 01, 2017 11:02 amThe windsurfers are convinced they will come away with the crown for the lightest winds needed...
grigorib wrote: ↑Fri Sep 01, 2017 8:45 pmEven more so SUPers and kayakers. They can also go directly upwind.nothing2seehere wrote: ↑Fri Sep 01, 2017 11:02 amThe windsurfers are convinced they will come away with the crown for the lightest winds needed...
I recall I could fly (at zenith pretty much) my 19m Speed3 Deluxe in 3.5-4 knots measured at the ground level and I rode an inflatable SUP with it in similar conditions but I'd say that doesn't count.
Or miles?lets just say 200 meters.
I think I went cross-wind and maintained. In very light wind when I needed to pay too much attention/input to the kite to keep it flying it was a nightmare to get onto the SUP without being pulled over it, and get it moving. Once going it wasn't that bad.Peter_Frank wrote: ↑Fri Sep 01, 2017 9:57 pmgrigorib wrote: ↑Fri Sep 01, 2017 8:45 pmEven more so SUPers and kayakers. They can also go directly upwind.nothing2seehere wrote: ↑Fri Sep 01, 2017 11:02 amThe windsurfers are convinced they will come away with the crown for the lightest winds needed...
I recall I could fly (at zenith pretty much) my 19m Speed3 Deluxe in 3.5-4 knots measured at the ground level and I rode an inflatable SUP with it in similar conditions but I'd say that doesn't count.
But it DOES count actually...
Being planing or foiling is what it is all about, but if you can go upwind, it is also interesting non-planing.
Was it possible to go upwind ?
Would love to see what they'll have! I've thought about putting a foil on my Starboard Serenity because of how easy it could get to speed and get going with a large foil but with the 17' length of the board it just doesn't seem feasible. I'm guessing the AHD could partially be a displacement hull to generate speed before getting foiling. The thing is that I can't see a small sail getting the AHD foiling in 4knots. But I guess it's not really a problem if you don't mind using big sails.nothing2seehere wrote: ↑Fri Sep 01, 2017 11:02 amThe windsurfers are convinced they will come away with the crown for the lightest winds needed. The AHD rep for the shop near me tells me with the new foil and special sail they have this year, he can get going in 4 knots and carry on riding on the foil. Now he's a talented rider so I'm not remotely suggesting you'll jump from one to the other and be at the ultimate low end threshold.
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