Kiteboating or kite boating is the act of using a kite rig as a power source to propel a boat. Kiteboating is a type of surface water sport, but it also has transportation uses[1]
Kiteboating or kite boating is the act of using a kite rig as a power source to propel a boat. Kiteboating is a type of surface water sport, but it also has transportation uses[1]
Kiteboating uses different types of gear from kitesurfing. Kites attached to boats can be larger than kites attached to a surfer. For long voyages, the kite rig must be more autonomously controlled. Due to the lifting power of kites, they are often used with hydrofoils.[2]
Current kite rigs can be sailed within 50 degrees of the wind.[1] Placing turbines in the boat's hull can let the kite power generate electricity on board.[3]
Going back to 1800s, George Pocock used the kites in order to increase the size of propel carts that are found in land and boats.[citation needed] Sébastien Cattelan is the French kitesurfer was the first sailor who was able to break 50 knots, achieving 50.26 knots on 3 October 2008 at the Lüderitz Speed Challenge in Namibia.[4] Next, on 14 November 2009, Alex Caizergues achieved a speed of 50.98 knots in Namibia.
