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Going Small to Go Big

Why can a small kite produce big kite power?

Kites, like sails, produce lift by having air flow past them. The more airflow (or wind), the more lift. The great thing about kites is that unlike sails, we are able to move them through the air and create more airflow in addition to the existing wind. This apparent wind, which is created when we move the kite through the sky, is why our kites can develop so much power. Large kites tend to fly slower, so as a result they don't produce as much apparent wind as faster-flying smaller kites.

How do the pulls differ?

A large kite will have a more constant pull because its airspeed doesn't vary much, whereas a smaller kite will have more variations in its pull because its airspeed varies quite a bit as it moves around the sky. If you watch on a light day, the people with large kites hardly move them, whereas the people on 12s and 14s will be constantly moving them.

How do you make a small kite "pull big?"

The first secret to getting going with a smaller kite in light wind is to work it. Keep the kite moving up and down and try not to let the kite get to the edge of the wind window. When you first start going, head a little bit downwind to get your speed up before you start going upwind. When working the kite, it helps to depower when you are diving the kite so it can build up more speed, and then slowly power the kite up when it starts to climb. This is similar to the way windsurfers pump their sails to get themselves up on a plane. Caution: Don't let the kite get too low (close to the water) or it may have trouble climbing back up. The second secret is to use longer lines. The longer the lines, the longer the kite stays in the power zone and the higher the speed as it dives. The difference between 20- and 27-meter lines is like a change in kite sizes.

How long is too long?

Lines over 40 meters make it difficult to go upwind because of the line drag. Longer lines can also make a huge difference if you kite in a place where the winds up high are often stronger than the winds down low. Our local kiting spot here in Victoria, British Columbia, often has a 10-knot-plus difference between sea level and 20 meters. So next time the wind is light, try longer lines or get a set of 10-meter extensions, and you'll be surprised at the difference. However, if you go too long it will slow the turning speed and negate one of the benefits of a smaller kite.

Does it matter how you rig the kite?

Definitely. The third secret is to make sure you have the lines attached to the kite for optimum performance. If the kite has multiple front attachments, use either the rear-most (closest to the trailing edge) or the middle attachment, but not the front one. This will keep the kite in the power zone and allow more power to be taken by the front lines. The rear line attachments aren't as critical, so set them where you prefer.

Then why do we need big kites?

Don't throw away your big kites yet. Since we need a minimum amount of sustained power to get us up and going, there is a limit to how small a kite we can use for a given level of wind. Too small a kite will produce enough power only for very short periods of time, and thus will be unusable. Then it's time to break out the pig.

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