BraCuru wrote:I wonder to know what do you think about restricting amount of kites for a competition.
Is good or bad for kite racing future?
This year we may use max 3 kites in any event.
It is an unsafe rule, taking part to many races, now or later you'll be racing in a 30 knots condition and be sure that the race direction will not stop races.
As 30 knots are not frequent the main part of the racers will register only big kites (19-15-12) and you'll be compelled to go out fully overpowered.
In multi days event or places where the wind may vary a lot this problem is more evident.
After last year world championship in Sylt this problem was clear to most of the main racers but during the IKA reunion in Athens for only one vote passed the 3 sail rule despite of a clear indication for 4 or more sail from the athlets.
Last week-end in Italy we had the first event of our national championship, we had a 28-30 knots race and almost all the riders were overpowered as the smallest sail we registered was an 11, many rescue were done ad someone abadoned after the first race for safety reasons.
The day after we had no wind anche made an athlets meeting taking the decision to always allow the use of a "safety sail" under 10 meters, out of the 3 registered, when there is more than 20 knots.
I've heard that also in Spain and Nederland has been made an axception to the 3 sail rule and in France athlets are asking for 5 sails so try to change this rule in your country and ask your representative to vote for a change in the next IKA meeting.
Next world championship will be held in Italy (Cagliari) it is a place where the wind may vary from 6 to 40 knots off-shore (maestrale) so a new IKA rule before that event will be very important for safety.
Many decisions are taken by people that don't really race, the economic motivation for the 3 sails is ridicoulus, everyone that really does kite has a small sail for wave riding, this is not a further expense and with only 3 sail you can't cover the range 6-35 knots unless you regsiter a 19-12-8 quiver but you'll have big holes expecially between 19 and 12 that is the most frequent wind range