Hey, I just found this link...
http://www.fotofocus.ca/kite/
Do not expect much from the photos because copyright is important.
Showing newest posts with label pictures-other. Show older posts
Showing newest posts with label pictures-other. Show older posts
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Lake Minnewanka in Banff, Alberta
by William Tuthill
This is 18 April on Lake Minnewanka in Banff, Alberta.
24 inches [60 cm] of ice so hard that it is buckled like an alligator's back. There is so much cold stored in this slab that even above freezing temperatures have barely etched the surface. The lake is drained and that causes banked edges. In one place where the ice was trapped between warm air and a concrete ramp, the ice had candled into vertical honeycomb structures. I tried to pick up a handful and carry it to the car a short distance away, but the cold was so intense that it stung my skin. At present, more cold is on its way with some snow mixed in to keep the sun's rays from doing any damage. :-)))
WISSA 2001 organizer Barney Kenney moved to Alberta from Saskatchewan a few years ago, and has sent photos taken in May before. It is one thing to see pictures, and something very different to go there in person. I recommend it to ANYONE!
As we descended the mountains heading towards Calgary, we saw places where open water had re frozen. There will be ice on this, and other high mountain lakes for several more weeks! World class skiing is available throughout May.
This is Barney's new foot steering sled. It carves just like a short board in water.
The custom made skis are capable of sailing in deep snow. The front skis turn and the back ski tracks.
On the one day that we had available to sail, there was almost no wind. The Concept Air Freestyle 5.5 meter was flying, but only if it could be whipped around. The windsurfing rig only got moving a few times. After we left, the wind came up and blew hard for several days. Typical.
This is a VERY fast surface!
This is 18 April on Lake Minnewanka in Banff, Alberta.
24 inches [60 cm] of ice so hard that it is buckled like an alligator's back. There is so much cold stored in this slab that even above freezing temperatures have barely etched the surface. The lake is drained and that causes banked edges. In one place where the ice was trapped between warm air and a concrete ramp, the ice had candled into vertical honeycomb structures. I tried to pick up a handful and carry it to the car a short distance away, but the cold was so intense that it stung my skin. At present, more cold is on its way with some snow mixed in to keep the sun's rays from doing any damage. :-)))
WISSA 2001 organizer Barney Kenney moved to Alberta from Saskatchewan a few years ago, and has sent photos taken in May before. It is one thing to see pictures, and something very different to go there in person. I recommend it to ANYONE!
As we descended the mountains heading towards Calgary, we saw places where open water had re frozen. There will be ice on this, and other high mountain lakes for several more weeks! World class skiing is available throughout May.
This is Barney's new foot steering sled. It carves just like a short board in water.
The custom made skis are capable of sailing in deep snow. The front skis turn and the back ski tracks.
On the one day that we had available to sail, there was almost no wind. The Concept Air Freestyle 5.5 meter was flying, but only if it could be whipped around. The windsurfing rig only got moving a few times. After we left, the wind came up and blew hard for several days. Typical.
This is a VERY fast surface!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Wing posse sailing at Veranger, Norway last week
by William Tuthill
The whole place is like a terrain park. Low sun angles & kilometers of sailing.
The whole place is like a terrain park. Low sun angles & kilometers of sailing.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
WISSA 2002: pictures
By Alexei Nozdrin
01 - Ancient Interlock near Coliseum
02 - Coliseum
03 - Pigeons
04 - Bridge across Tiber
05 - St. Peter's Basilica
06 - Main Alttar of St. Peter's Basilica
07 - Saint Peter's Square
08 - Village on the Resia Lake
09 - Resia Lake Ice
10 - Drowned Bell Tower
11 - USSR Team
12 - Uhan Gross Sailing
13 - Monoski: about 30km/h
14 - Andrei Maslov is boosting to the finish
15 - Finish
16 - Juha Mannermaa
17 - Skimbats
18 - Hotel "At Deceased Windsurfer"
19 - Kite
20 - Sunset
21 - Ice Hummocks
22 - Winner
23 - Winner
24 - Rajev on the third mark
25 - Kite
26 - Kites Racing
27 - Kites Starting
01 - Ancient Interlock near Coliseum
02 - Coliseum
03 - Pigeons
04 - Bridge across Tiber
05 - St. Peter's Basilica
06 - Main Alttar of St. Peter's Basilica
07 - Saint Peter's Square
08 - Village on the Resia Lake
09 - Resia Lake Ice
10 - Drowned Bell Tower
11 - USSR Team
12 - Uhan Gross Sailing
13 - Monoski: about 30km/h
14 - Andrei Maslov is boosting to the finish
15 - Finish
16 - Juha Mannermaa
17 - Skimbats
18 - Hotel "At Deceased Windsurfer"
19 - Kite
20 - Sunset
21 - Ice Hummocks
22 - Winner
23 - Winner
24 - Rajev on the third mark
25 - Kite
26 - Kites Racing
27 - Kites Starting
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Kite to pull ship across Atlantic
Story from BBC NEWS
The world's first commercial cargo ship partially powered by a giant kite is setting sail from Germany to Venezuela.
The designers of the MS Beluga Skysails say the computer-controlled kite, measuring 160sq m (1,722sq ft), could cut fuel consumption by as much as 20%.
They also hope the state-of-the-art kite will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions, as it tugs the ship.
Fuel burnt by ships accounts for 4% of global CO2 emissions - twice as much as the aviation industry produces.
The MS Beluga SkySails' maiden transatlantic voyage is from the northern port of Bremerhaven to Guanta in Venezuela. The ship is expected to leave the German port at 1700 local time (1600 GMT).
It's kind of back to the future
Verena Frank, Beluga Shipping
The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, on board the vessel, says the computer will enable the kite to harness the full power of the wind.
"The maiden voyage marks the beginning of the practical testing during regular shipping operations of the SkySails System," says Stephan Wrage, managing director of SkySails GmbH.
"During the next few months we will finally be able to prove that our technology works in practice and significantly reduces fuel consumption and emissions," he said on the company's website.
Free energy
"We're absolutely excited," said Verena Frank, project manager at Beluga Shipping GmbH, SkySails GmbH's partner.
She told the BBC's World Today programme that the project's core concept was "using wind energy as auxiliary propulsion power and using wind as a free of charge energy".
"Nevertheless, it differs very much from traditional sailing, as we do not have any bothersome mast on deck which might be a hindrance to cargo-loading operations."
Ms Frank said the efficiency of the kite depended on wind and weather conditions.
But the advantage of the SkySails system "is that you do not need only backward winds - there can also be side winds and you can still set sail," she said.
She said the kite could be used on medium-size cargo ships, cruise liners and trawlers.
HOW THE KITE SHIP WORKS
- The kite sail will help reduce annual fuel costs by 10-35%. Reduced fuel also means fewer harmful carbon emissions
- The large towing kite resembles a paraglider and is shaped like an aircraft wing, to enable it to take advantage of different wind directions
- It operates at 100-300m above surface level - much higher than a normal sailing craft - where winds are stronger and more stable
- The kite can be used in winds of between 12-74km/h (7-40 knots) and not just when the wind is blowing directly from behind the ship
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Winter Sailing
by William Tuthill
Greetings All
I should be preparing for WISSA 2008, but today- this WHOLE week is unseasonably warm. It is global warming ;-((
We needed to move a boat from Newport, Rhode Island to New Bedford, Massachusetts. It is only about 40 nautical miles, but it involves going out into waters that are usually dangerous at this time of year. Today was more like a day in October than a day in January. +15C and sunny with a SW breeze. The boat was a Tayana 64. She is a blue water cruiser with an interior that is nicer than most people's homes.
We left Newport motoring into the wind and waves, and turned East to pick up our course. At that point the hydraulic powered head sail was released and our speed cracked 10 knots. The boat was surfing the chop as we ate and talked. It was peaceful and warm. One week ago this same place was violent and freezing- by next week it will be that way also. It is January and winter is supposed to be here to
stay.
Today was rare. There is only one month left until WISSA 2008 http://www.wissa2008.org/ Get psyched- get ready- see you there :-)
THINK ICE!!!!!
Greetings All
I should be preparing for WISSA 2008, but today- this WHOLE week is unseasonably warm. It is global warming ;-((
We needed to move a boat from Newport, Rhode Island to New Bedford, Massachusetts. It is only about 40 nautical miles, but it involves going out into waters that are usually dangerous at this time of year. Today was more like a day in October than a day in January. +15C and sunny with a SW breeze. The boat was a Tayana 64. She is a blue water cruiser with an interior that is nicer than most people's homes.
We left Newport motoring into the wind and waves, and turned East to pick up our course. At that point the hydraulic powered head sail was released and our speed cracked 10 knots. The boat was surfing the chop as we ate and talked. It was peaceful and warm. One week ago this same place was violent and freezing- by next week it will be that way also. It is January and winter is supposed to be here to
stay.
Today was rare. There is only one month left until WISSA 2008 http://www.wissa2008.org/ Get psyched- get ready- see you there :-)
THINK ICE!!!!!
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