Gaastra Jekyll 10m
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:04 am
I recently won a 50% discount of a new Gaastra kite at a comp and decided to purchase a 10 Jekyll kite, despite finding little information about this kite in the usual forums.
I've had a couple of sessions in very variable conditions on the Jekyll now so can probably make some conclusions. I was pretty skeptical based upon the pictures that I have seen which seem to depict a very high aspect and flat kite and I couldn't see how you could build such a kite without pulleys. The kite has a pulley-less supported leading edge and the back lines connect direct to the kite. Anyway, it is medium aspect and not super flat which is a good thing IMHO.
The one pump works well and the bar is a basic aluminium design but functional. Winds were challenging to say the least lulls below 10 knots, gusts to 25, and 30 degree changes in wind direction. I rigged on the top-most knot because the wind had dropped as I was setting up. Sure enough the wind came back hard and I was trying to pull the red trim strap to no avail. It took a while to work out that I should pull the blue to depower and the stopper can not be right at the top as it hinders operation of the depower strap. The sweet spot appears to be somewhere between the top-most and second knot; they are quite a way apart.
Unlike a flat bow kite the Jekyll generates heaps of power through the turn, and ditto when kite looping. Hang-time and loft is excellent and it also rewards a good edge and release. Turning speed is pretty typical for a 10m kite. Upwind seems good and you can generate power by throwing the kite around when the wind is light at the expense of upwind performance. Wind range is about 12 knots on a surfboard to probably 27 knots maxed out; I weigh 65kg. The kite deforms a bit in really strong winds but it doesn't yank you off the edge like an old C kite would. Self-landing might be problematic when very over-powered as the flagging front line is difficult to reach and has a neoprene covering. The kite seems to prefer being slightly on its back when self-launching. Steering is very direct when not depowered and bar pressure is a lot lighter than I am used to (Cabrinha and North kites). The winds have been too gusty to test it properly unhooked but it does not seem to back-stall terribly much and the direct steering with pop should make it more than adequate. In summary I really the kite but feel the bar could be improved. It is going to make a really good wave kite and as an all-rounder when I can travel with only one kite in my bag.
Simon
I've had a couple of sessions in very variable conditions on the Jekyll now so can probably make some conclusions. I was pretty skeptical based upon the pictures that I have seen which seem to depict a very high aspect and flat kite and I couldn't see how you could build such a kite without pulleys. The kite has a pulley-less supported leading edge and the back lines connect direct to the kite. Anyway, it is medium aspect and not super flat which is a good thing IMHO.
The one pump works well and the bar is a basic aluminium design but functional. Winds were challenging to say the least lulls below 10 knots, gusts to 25, and 30 degree changes in wind direction. I rigged on the top-most knot because the wind had dropped as I was setting up. Sure enough the wind came back hard and I was trying to pull the red trim strap to no avail. It took a while to work out that I should pull the blue to depower and the stopper can not be right at the top as it hinders operation of the depower strap. The sweet spot appears to be somewhere between the top-most and second knot; they are quite a way apart.
Unlike a flat bow kite the Jekyll generates heaps of power through the turn, and ditto when kite looping. Hang-time and loft is excellent and it also rewards a good edge and release. Turning speed is pretty typical for a 10m kite. Upwind seems good and you can generate power by throwing the kite around when the wind is light at the expense of upwind performance. Wind range is about 12 knots on a surfboard to probably 27 knots maxed out; I weigh 65kg. The kite deforms a bit in really strong winds but it doesn't yank you off the edge like an old C kite would. Self-landing might be problematic when very over-powered as the flagging front line is difficult to reach and has a neoprene covering. The kite seems to prefer being slightly on its back when self-launching. Steering is very direct when not depowered and bar pressure is a lot lighter than I am used to (Cabrinha and North kites). The winds have been too gusty to test it properly unhooked but it does not seem to back-stall terribly much and the direct steering with pop should make it more than adequate. In summary I really the kite but feel the bar could be improved. It is going to make a really good wave kite and as an all-rounder when I can travel with only one kite in my bag.
Simon