on a broad or beam reach down wind, which kite would be faster.....

curious if the mid/low aspect kite which sits further back in the window would be better than high aspect. so for instance taking an ozone edge or dyno vs an airush lithium or wainman rabbit?

fire away

Mid to low aspect will drift better and have much less tendency to backstall and they also tend to be faster turning kites.

Wainmans, SS Rally, Cabrinha Drifter are all kites that would drift well downwind.

Hope this helps,

Bob
www.kiteridersllc.com

On a raceboard I go faster on a race kite (dyno 18 and 10) than on my lower aspect kite (kahoonas). The high aspect kite really builds power as you go faster and faster.

You sine the kite or loop it to keep it back in the window.

Race kite. Race kite go better upwind and eventually all course of sail end up upwind. Even heading downwind.....

yes, but i am only talking about downwind reaching speed. for instance, you see some people riding the genetrix hydra in speed trials. doesnt look too high aspect to me, but its fast as hell. rob douglas is on crossbows which are high aspect though.

not sure what everyone is on in slalom courses?

kites that sit further back in the window has more resistance. Think for yourself which one will be faster.

I think ozchris was saying that in lighter wind, when you are riding downwind at 2 or 3 times the wind speed, the apparent wind shifts around and everything is semi-upwind. Much different than drifting the kite on slack lines while surfing a wave.

yes exactly. I was wondering why on earth anyone wanted drift on a racekite. drift is useful if you disengage the kite and slack the lines, that is NEVER the goal when you race..quite the opposite.

I can see grunt, but that is a whole different parameter again.

Even if you don't go faster than the wind the apparent wind will still be at a higher angle than "downwind" so the more efficient kite will win (everything else being equal). If this wasn't the case the speed record woud be held by a NASA wing. I guess the only exception to this is if you really truly do want to go absolutely dead downwind in really high wind, say 50 knots. Then a parachute would be best. Any "off" wind wind course will be fast the higher the L/D of the kite.

i see. thanks for the explanation. that makes alot of sense.