Peter Lynn ARCHIVE
Length overall 4.3 m, width 2.0m, weight 35kgms. Glass fibre planing hulls, stainless steel frame.
Four rudder foot operated steering- 2 forward , 2 at rear.- for very fast and precise turning.
Main seat; fabric, adjustable. Passenger seat; glass fibre (optional).
Packed dimensions (for shipping): 4.15m x 0.5m x 0.5m, 1.0 cu.m , 40 kgms.
Transport; fully assembled on car or SUV roof rack- can be taken off and on by one person.
Kite; 19sq.m Arc style Venom for the entire wind range up to 50km/hr plus (experienced users).
Upwind performance: Competitive with most conventional sailing craft.
Downwind and reaching performance: very fast. Max. speed to date:- more than 50km/hr .
Wave tolerance: very stable - useable to about 1.5m (front measure) surf with care and skill.
The KiteCat is the end result of 18 years full time development, and more than 150 prototypes of every conceivable style. The key design features of 'upside down' displacement/planing style hulls and four rudder steering, have been settled since 1997, but the many minor improvements added since then have improved useability hugely:--
Like the 'Italian' bum grabbing seat that holds the flier in - it works like a seat belt, but it's safe.
Like stainless steel fins- sand just polishes them, rocks quail as they approach.
Like balance point carrying- leave the kite to look after itself for a while (it's a Venom!), stand up and grab the side frames- the KiteCat is balanced for unaided launching and retrieval.
Like extra flotation- 175kgm/hull- improves stability and speed and allows for carrying passengers.
Like duck bill prows- for resistance to nosediving while surfing waves.
Like an optional motor for when the wind fails- more adventurous trips.
But, the improvement that has made the KiteCat into a truly practicable new type of sailing craft is better kites. Since our 1999 invention of the Arc style traction kite, development for the kitesurfing market has led to spectacular improvement. The four main breakthrough developments have been:
Wind range: 'Sheeting' and better gust response have trebled their range relative to pre '99 styles.
Upwind performance- measured by lift/drag ratio- is perhaps 30% better now than for pre'99 kites.
Luff resistance; Arc style kites stay up- they don't fall out of the sky at the slightest provocation.
Stability- they will fly hands off, like single line kites- and stay where they're put to a useful extent.
The KiteCat is conceived and presented as a single-design boat for racing and recreational sailing.
It does not require a high level of athleticism or physical strength but does require and reward skill. KiteCat kitesailing is more difficult than kitebuggying but not as hard as windsurfing or kitesurfing.
Promotion and development of the KiteCat class kitesailing boat worldwide is to be by a network of licensees who will manufacture and distribute exclusively in their countries or areas.
It is intended that class associations, regatta's and a world championship will be organised.
Although no doubt many of the first users will come from kitesurfing and other kitetraction sports, kitesailing is a sailing sport and the KiteCat will take it's place with other sailing genres rather than with the extreme sports- that kitesurfing, kitebuggying and kiteskiing have become.
Peter Lynn, New Zealand, Jan '05.
