Except the kites they’re talking about now are indeed kites and not just sails - they’re flying up high on long ropes, able to catch winds at greater altitude than sails can.
Which wasn't used previously because you are limited by the tensile strength of the single rope or cable to the kite, which is limited by the weight of the rope or cable. Sales are attached via multiple points, so the rope doesn't have to be as heavy duty at any one single point. Also they work in much more unstable winds because they are more stably mounted than a kite would be.
There's a reason that kites are only used for surfing with single board and person, and only recreationally in good weather.
I don't really know what exactly are the reasons, but normal sails with masts remain almost entirely standard for small sailing boats - and the required strength of the cable isn't a problem.
I do know that in low wind conditions, a kite struggles to lift itself - much less provide traction for a boat. But I don't really get that ... most sailboats also include an engine for when wind is low. So if you're not going to be using the sails anyway when the wind is low, why not a kite?
Andrew Pam
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Jess Nut
•Which wasn't used previously because you are limited by the tensile strength of the single rope or cable to the kite, which is limited by the weight of the rope or cable. Sales are attached via multiple points, so the rope doesn't have to be as heavy duty at any one single point. Also they work in much more unstable winds because they are more stably mounted than a kite would be.
There's a reason that kites are only used for surfing with single board and person, and only recreationally in good weather.
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Tek aEvl, Andrew Pam and Isaac Kuo like this.
Andrew Pam
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Tek aEvl and Isaac Kuo like this.
Isaac Kuo
•I don't really know what exactly are the reasons, but normal sails with masts remain almost entirely standard for small sailing boats - and the required strength of the cable isn't a problem.
I do know that in low wind conditions, a kite struggles to lift itself - much less provide traction for a boat. But I don't really get that ... most sailboats also include an engine for when wind is low. So if you're not going to be using the sails anyway when the wind is low, why not a kite?
Muse likes this.