Let's learn KITESURF
- Safety
- Wind
- Spot
- Kites
- Flight zone
- Kite size
- Kites preparation
- Launch and land
- Directions
- Right of way
SAFETY
Kitesurf is a
wonderful sport, very easy to learn, but we have to teach it, explaining that
it is not possibile to improvise.
The beginners have to learn Kitesurf in a certificate school.
The first step is a basic course, it is addressed to all those people
approaching this sea activity for the first time: the aim of the course will be
SELF-CONFIDENCE and so the teaching of all those technical and behavioral rules
which will make you be able to master your kite out of the water independently
and to take the first exciting steps in the sea with your board.
The next steps are courses to improve the y technique.
WIND
- The instrument that we need to measure the intencity of the wind is
the anemometer. It is very useful in Kitesurfing because later we will see
how important is for a beginner to use the right Kite.
- For the beginners the wind should not exceed 20 knots, for the other
that have a medium/good level the wind should not exceed 30/35 knots.
Never kitesurfing with very gusty wind (for ex: from 20 to 28 Knots)
Never kitesurfing with offshore wind, because in case of problems it will loose water in open sea.
SPOT
It is important to
choose the right spot with open spaces without downwind obstacles before the
Kite.
Assure you that it is not vorbidden to sail with kitesurf by the local
regulations.
The regulations are important for the safety of everybody.
KITES
There are two kind of Kites:
- foil non inflateble
- inflatable kites with bladder, in theory are easily relauncheble
FLIGHT ZONE
The neutral zone (backside wind) start above your
head (zenith) and touch all the lateral point to the left and to the right, in
the picture is the outline area.
The neutral zone is useble on the beach or in the water when we stopped.
The power zone is the white area in the
picture. It is the zone that give power to the kite
and you must to use only in the water.
KITE SIZE
There are three essential variable
for the right size to take on to the water:
- skill
- wind intencity
- your weight
A beginner should use
a small kite and work up, as necessary.
The table below will help you in the kite size choose.(skill:
medium/good - weight:
|
Wind
intencity |
Kite size |
|
8 Knots |
18/20 Meters
|
|
10/14 Knots |
|
|
14/18 Knots |
|
|
18/24 Knots |
|
|
24/28 Knots |
|
|
28/32 Knots |
|
|
32/38 Knots |
4/6 Meters |
KITES
PREPARATION
When you prepare your kite, is very important to check
more times all the things.
- Set out the flying lines clearly on the ground cheking that there are
no knots on it, because they will cause breakagese.
- Lay out the Red flying lines on the left side.
- Inflate the kite with the leading edge tube facing into the wind and
rotate it on the round. To secure the kite place sand on the sail behind
the leading edge.
- Attach the flying lines only when you are ready to go out – the front
flying lines, starting from the depower, are attached on the leading edge
– the back flying lines are attached on the rear part of the sail.
When you go back to the beach release the flying lines.
LAUNCH AND LAND
The safest way to
launch your kite is with somebody helping you.
Make sure that your helper is fully briefed and understands what you want him
or her to do before attempting to launch your kite. Use hands signals to
communicate.
Get your helper to walk the kite to the edge of the window, on the sea
direction because in case of trouble you should go in the water.
Never launch or land the kite in a zone with obstacles.
Always use the safety system.
DIRECTIONS
Before going out on the water it is important that you
have a basic understanding of the wind as well as the terminology used in
describing the different conditions.
The hardest direction to learn for a beginner is upwind (bolina in the
picture).
The best advice is to put the kite at the edge of the window and press with
your feet on the edge of the board.
RIGHT OF WAY
- Have the right of way who proceed with the
wind to the right side. (Right hand before).
- Have the right of way who proceed downwind.
- Who proceed with right side wind has the right of way also if is
upwind but has to lift the kite.
- Who wants to pass must go upwind and lift the kite.
Boats
- The oar boats have the right of way over the sailing boats.
- The sailing boats have the right of way over the motor boats.
- The ferry boats have the right of way over all, but not over the
safety boats.
- The safety boats have the right of way over all.