Comment Re:Everything old is new again (Score 2, Interesting) 211
Advantages of a kite:
Wind at higher altitude is more consistent and stronger. Part of the reason americas cup boats have such tall high aspect sails
A kite flies back and forth through the air experiencing an increased wind speed compared to static sail
The center of effort for the force from the kite can be placed very low on the boat so that heeling moment is minimised. So no need for a deep keel or long heavy fragile mast.
With the kite retracted the wind propulsion system is hidden away. So reduced windage when travelling against the wind and no exposed parts in storms.
BMW oracle experimented with a kite instead of a spinnaker but rule restrictions within the americas cup make it hard to work with (Cant fly higher than the mast head, has to be single skin, only 3 control lines). So it was rule restrictions rather than the inherent principle of a kite that excludes it from the americas cup.
Wind at higher altitude is more consistent and stronger. Part of the reason americas cup boats have such tall high aspect sails
A kite flies back and forth through the air experiencing an increased wind speed compared to static sail
The center of effort for the force from the kite can be placed very low on the boat so that heeling moment is minimised. So no need for a deep keel or long heavy fragile mast.
With the kite retracted the wind propulsion system is hidden away. So reduced windage when travelling against the wind and no exposed parts in storms.
BMW oracle experimented with a kite instead of a spinnaker but rule restrictions within the americas cup make it hard to work with (Cant fly higher than the mast head, has to be single skin, only 3 control lines). So it was rule restrictions rather than the inherent principle of a kite that excludes it from the americas cup.
