From: reich@nosc.mil (Ronald S. Reich)
Subject: Re: Kiting on a boat
Date: Tue, 9 Aug 1994 13:55:49 GMT

>From: esinger@extremeone.win.net (Eric Douglas Singer)
>I am interested information regarding flying a kite from a boat.  
>I  have a friend that has a regular recreational motor boat  and 
>he  is  interested in driving he around a lake with  one  of  my 
>kites in the air.  Does anyone have experience with this, and if 
>so any tips or suggestions? 

     I  have done this several times and as a matter of  fact  my 
team  mate, Pam Kirk and I will be performing from the back of  a 
new jet boat in a promotional night show in Sept.  For that  show 
we will be using 30 ft. lines so that we can maintain control  as 
the  boat makes turns in a cove.  Other times I have used 150  ft 
lines.  I usually have the kite in the air and then step into the 
boat.   Landing is done by locating a clear land shore  area  and 
then  have  the  boat  slow  down  as  it  approaches  the  shore 
diagonally to the shore.  Then swing the kite over the shore much 
like a waterskier and land the kite.  Another way is to keep  the 
kite  in the air and step out of the boat at the shore. (or  Dock 
if  possible)  The problem that you will encounter is  that  when 
the  boat is headed down wind it will need to travel at  least  5 
mph  faster  than  the wind speed in order for  you  to  maintain 
control.  Also, when the boat makes a turn you will need to steer 
the  kite to the outside of the turn direction much like a  water 
skier.  My 4 person team has even flown formation of the back  of 
a  boat.  At Disney World in Florida there were kites flown  from 
the  back of boats in a major production number.   They  actually 
enter  the performance from under the water.  (So I was  told.  I 
never actually saw the show.)

                      Good Luck,  Ron Reich
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