Or in my case, more accurately parafoil sailing... Agree with the comments of those who have used kites/parafoils. I use a 12sq ft para with my Klepper, and the points Philip and Tord make are apt. This ain't for the novice, unless in protected waters with everything in your favor; ie, steady manageable wind, well behaved parafoil, well rigged, kindly leeshore for crash landings, and not too many other seafarers around to play dodgems with... As Philip says, the margin of manageable conditions is narrow; the right wind, [ for my para, around 10-15knots ] blowing the right way, doesn't always happen.. For safety, I always tether myself to the boat; treading water and watching your unmanned kayak merrily sailing away downwind at a rate of knots is not something I want to experience. I haven't experimented to see what actually happens if I bail without a tether and the boat sails on. Perhaps the parafoil will eventually drop into the ocean as the boatspeed builds. I don't know, and I don't want to try it! Knowing the Klepper, it will sail on forever like the Mary Celeste. The parafoil is a handful to launch, but once 'up there' it performs wonderfully. More efficient downwind and reaching even, than a sail, more powerful for the windspeed [ the kite is actually getting a better true wind up high above the water ], for long distance work downwind with relatively mild conditions, can be great fun. Not advised in congested areas, ie harbors, small lakes etc There is a long 'lead time' to bring the kite down neatly, with the line properly stowed. In a decent blow you can skid a quarter of a mile easily downwind towards a lee shore, oncoming boat, etc while you're busy hauling in line. My para has a single line and depending on conditions, I shift the towing point forward to the bow via a snaphook and running line so the power and the lift of the kite is transferred to the bow. The kayak is still quite responsive to the rudder and the bow towing points lessens the chances of being dragged leewards on a reach. I don't use leeboards. Given its low weight and mass for packing I take the para on trips, hoping for good conditions. It seldom happens. But that said they are just another fun thing to do messing about in boats.. And I read somewhere that the bloke who paddled/sailed from CA to HI used a parafoil. If anyone has talked to him about how he set it up and his experience with his parafoil, please tell!! Cheers, Peter Rattenbury. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Apr 25 2005 - 15:37:34 PDT
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