Sit On Top Kiteboard Prototype kitesailing off Fehmarn

Another heel free kite rig sail craft prototype: a Sit On top Kite board.
Testing on Fehmarn in August 2012.
It worked very well and sailed comfortably at displacing and planing speeds of up to 8 knts.
However, in theory this craft, if powered by an effective kite(I used a speed3 21sqm), should sail much faster than the wind(and than most other sail craft). I couldn't get it faster than about 9knts though (in ~10knts of wind), as it started to wobble, causing front foil ventilation and an uncomfortable feel when exceeding 8 knts. Will mount the same rig to a longer board with a wider stern for further testing and am optimistic, that wobbling will stop and craft be much faster, design will be resembling a Jet Ski.
Will unfortunately be quite a while, until I'll be able to do so.

[ingovoegler]

I absoltely agree with what you are saying, the trailing edge of the carbon foils I used in this prototype were razor sharp and the fear of capsizing or nosediving at speed and getting sliced in two, prevented me from even trying to ride faster than a meager 8 knts on it.
The threat could easily be defused however, by building the trailing edge from some soft material like rubber.

[carltb]

this is a very interesting project, ill keep an eye open for further developments.

[ingovoegler]

the " strange thing in the front" is there to provide the lateral resistance needed for effective sailing (especially upwind). A kayak or surfboard would have very little resistance by themselves (kiters usually increase it by "edging", but that is much less effective, than using foils).

[ingovoegler]

the foils being above waterline during gybes makes the boat very versatile, I am using the kite to pull the bow up and around towards the other tack (by simply steering it via the zenith to the other edge of th wind window). This has to be done carefully, though, as the full craft could get airborne otherwise

[ingovoegler]

yes, I first sailed upwind and then dead downwind back to the beach. I wasn't trying to get maximum upwind performance during that run, could easily sail at a higher angle, up to around 50deg off true wind, but at a lower speed.

[ingovoegler]

Okay, you won!
(Unless you are sometimes driving a car, these infernal machines are said to cause even more deaths than kite boat contraptions)

[ingovoegler]

there is a well working safety system installed which will prevent that scenario. My advice to you is, to do only stuff that you are comfortable with (having someone sit on your face?).

[kadmow]

Question for the inventor

Would it be better to have the foils fully submerged, that will allow them to act with downforce when the kite is overhead

As the foils are always 90 degrees to the kite, providing max leeway resistance ie steering is only increasing and reducing foil lift in the water against the kite force if the kite is overhead on a high speed gybe having them clear of the water means that the front of the kite risks being pulled up severely out of the water also you loose heading

[ingovoegler]

This is a prototype, not (yet) a product!
And you are probably based in the US, while I live in India (though originating from Germany).
Here even the power lines are hanging everywhere over the roads uninsulated, and the linesmen connecting or disconnecting anything with pliers without switching of main supply, standing on a shaky bamboo ladder.
If something goes wrong, which happens sometimes, it's just karma . . .
This kind of thinking helps enormously, to sleep easy, try to adopt it!

[sitonmyface]

Do you have a quick release mechanism for the foil? The safety release on the kite is not enough if the lines get caught, not only will you injure yourself but you could end up with the kite dragging the rig around, and injuring someone else. So it's not just about your comfort....

[rapidsnapsphotography]

In South Africa we made a "core board" years ago, you sit on a hump with knees bent facing backwards to surf waves, it has some similarities to the board you use. I am looking to shape a board for riding on flat windy days. Are you marketing the design of the system/harness or can you share it as I would love to get the set up in place so i can design the appropriate board for it? Please let me know cheers

[sitonmyface]

So no one thinks that having the foil straight in front of you might be a little dangerous?
It looks like if you screw up you could be sliced in two

[carltb]

the track you posted, was that upwind?

[berlengas]

Helo, why do you use this strange thing in the front of your kayak? You realy dont need it. you should find a bigger kayak and more stable, this way you would float better and go faster. Best regards. Ressanopapanoa.

[stephenmoralee]

Hi Im an Industrial designer, currently working on a very similar product, would you be interested in a collaboration?

[sitonmyface]

Going out on it in any winds or at any speed is just plain stupid, I think this foil above the water concept is a bad idea even if it's soft what happens when gets caught and you start to kite loop? My advice is never to go out on it again