MBounds wrote:
...
On Sunday, it was blowing 25+ and nobody wanted to go out (including the RC) to break their boat in a practice race.
On Monday, it was blowing 20+ with gusts to 30+ and the Race Committee boat was taking on water. People were flipping left and right in the gusty channel leading to Arizona Bay, so racing was cancelled for the day.
...
Nobody who races would reef. You always want the most power and there are other ways to de-power in heavy air.
I kited so much i got the days mixed up !
Sunday started at a manageable 20mph down at 6-mile,(south of you
on the main body). When it picked up to 30+, i simply grabbed a SMALLER
kite and continued kiting with my Double prosthetic-(s), survivable
mode ended the moment i adjusted my aria to match the wind volatility.
Mr. --mmiller-- told me that the 18's Are allowed to reef then showed me the
rules :
http://www.hobieclass.com/site/hobie/ih ... 120401.pdfThis isn't even a Fun thing ; it's more about safety than anything ...
If your idea of De-powering a 17 is to flatten out the camber, then
i would suggest you stay Away from Mohave in the spring and summer.
The wind will go from 13 - 30mph, (and do that several times a day) ; and
the cycles will last for 20min to an hour sometimes. I've kited and sailed
that lake for 7 years now.
Same goes for the 18's ; if your not willing to reef, then find a Safer lake
to sail. NO i'm NOT being rude, simply stating a fact. The kite i use
can pull me in the 13 lows and can also handle up to 30+mph if needed.
I keep an eye on the lake the entire time, and stay close to shore
if i have my larger kite.
When i showed up at cottonwood on Sunday
i was on a kite appropriate for the wind conditions !! I dropped
it before ever reaching the shore near swim-beach, for safety reasons.
I'm a legless White-haired old fart and will stay within my own safety zone.
http://www.thekiteboarder.com/wordpress ... lly-floyd/I'm saying that having the ability to Reef is a Safety thing and has
nothing to do with being Macho. Playing with the higher winds can be
and Is Fun when done so with the correct amount of sail area; i learned
this when i was 12, but i guess a cat sailor thinks different than the
mono-hulls sailors i learned from.
You guys have a --one up-- on us kiters ; we Can't adjust our area
on the fly, and You guys can-------------------so Why don't Ya ?
I'd like a Reasonable response please ...
It's NOT meant to be a Bash contest by defending your turf.
I had a Blast in that 30+ stuff and You didn't ; and remember i was Well
within my own personal safety tolerances. You could have bin there with me,
if Ya had Bothered to get rid of some of your excess sail aria. I have
seen Gordo on his 21SE, out having fun by himself, in the same winds.
Come to think of it, he was out on Sunday as well !! You telling me
he Wasn't having Fun ??
Bille
**This topic is mostly meant to address the Safety aspect for learning
to reef a sail ; it's NOT meant to be anything else .
It's safe to say that the cat sailors that i watched at cottonwood
that day, are probably "ALL" -Way- better at their craft than i am with
a kite !
** and WHY aren't the 17's allowed to Reef again ? It Doesn't make
any sense ; the guy who wrote that rule should be forced to go sit
in the corner for a Time-Out , (for being a BAD rule maker) !!