The whole sh-bang this time ...

Very coooollll.

Kiting = Best sport ever.

That Moth is fast, and actually travels in a straight line!

I was mildly surprised the moth didn't take the win ... I guess it still has more total drag in the water than the kite race board does, though I wonder if you can put bigger sails on the Moth :D

Very nice vid...It would have been interesting to see the outcome if they had thrown a Formula setup type windsurfer in the mix....

Quote:

Originally posted by Kamikuza I was mildly surprised the moth didn't take the win ... I guess it still has more total drag in the water than the kite race board does, though I wonder if you can put bigger sails on the Moth :D

By the rules of the International Moth Association sails can be no larger than eight square meters and only one sail. The is a complex measuring procedure for qualifying a sail. You could probably put a larger sail on a Moth, but it would no longer be considered a Moth. One Design sailboat racing has pretty strict rules even in development classes.
My guess is the kite board has more total drag, but the larger sail size of the kite surfer, the ability to work a kite (you see in the video the kiter is working the kite pretty hard to catch up after blowing the mark), and the kite being higher above the water surface for better wind all combine to give the kite surfer a higher power to drag ratio.
You can work a sail by pumping it, but in many classes it is not considered cricket.
S

ps: Below is the current IMCA rules regarding pumping the sail. Is pumping the sail legal in kite buggying racing?

2009.06.10

Dear Moth Sailors,

As per the decision at the 2008 AGM, ISAF have now approved class rule changes in the following two areas, these rules are now in effect and thus will be valid for the 2009 European Championships in June and the 2009 World Championships in August.

The first rule change is that now boats that were first measured after 1 Jan 2005 can only carry sails measured to the new "true area" method.

Boats first measured prior to this date may continue to carry sails measured to the old method.

The second major rule change is that now it is legal to pump twice for each wave or gust or to promote foiling after each tack or gybe.

Repeated pumping as we have seen in some events is still illegal, as is any more than 2 pumps in an attempt to promote foiling in marginal conditions.

RRS 42 thus still applies and boats may be protested and/or disqualified for repeated pumping.

Regards,

Mark Robinson
IMCA President

Scudley
I take it you sail these "Moths"?

No, strictly kite buggy now, boats are way to expensive to campaign. My nephew has a 49. I did a lot of sailing when I was in University. I used to race Stars, Solings, and work foredeck on big boats on a regular basis. I also played a fair bit with small catamarans (hobies and Tornados) and lasers. A friend's dad was world Dragon champion. Sailing in one design regattas you get to hear about the classes and their rules.

I have to say the Moth looks like a gas, but at 14 grand for one, I do not see one in my future.
S

Holy Cow!!! $14K!!!! I sailed Sabots, Lasers, Sunfish, and owned a Force five, Macgregor 22, Hobie 16, Windrider 17, and currently have a Windrider 16. But mostly buggy now too. Boats are so darned expensive.