Are these kites tricky to keep powered in lower winds, as
i seem to stuggle signing the kite does not always work,
i have read in a kitepower magazine issue 31 that this is mybe the wrong
thing to do with this type of kite ,and i should try to
keep flying a straight line as much as possible for more power,
easier said then done.


Thanks for the advice guys.

hi dog bones i have been rideing 12m and a 9m 08 atoms all season and i have found that in light winds(14 knots or less) it can be easy to over sheet the kite more than you think. try depowering the kite a little with the centre strap and when you are signing the kite especialy on the up turn just as the kite is about to come out of the turne push the bar out just long enough to let it accelarate out of the turn. you will only have to do this a few times to get on the plane and once you are moving through the water you can slowly stop signing the kite and fly it in a straight line.
i ride a wide 128 twintip and i find that i get a realy good bottom end with my 12m and if i cant get going on my 12m most other people are not going either even on bigger kites!

hey man, i own a 08 12m atom as well and struggle a little bit in the lighter winds. A mate and i both agree that maybe we are over-sheeting the kite and choking it of its power in light wind. I think damo is on the money. Ill try that as well. Good on ya

BRING ON SUMMER

Hi dog bone,

You been getting out lately? I got out last weekend for the n'wly - great session but nothing happened this weekend. Location location - n tassie isn't the place to be!

In Lightwinds the kite generates power using apparent wind, so the kite has to be moving fast through the air.

The lighter the wind, the earlier the stall point, (as typically the kites are flying a bit slower). I often pull in a couple more inches of depower when in light winds to avoid the kite stalling (choking) and effectively losing all the power generated by kites forward motion.

Another way to do this is to use the knot furthest from the kite when attaching the rear lines instead of the middle knot.

Before going out too far put the kite above your head and sheet in. If the kite starts to move backwards at all you need to pull in some more depower. This way you will have the kite set up for maximum power without having any chance of choking the kite whilst flying.

cheers mate, good, honest, straight forward advice

love your work