Rev Kite Team Notes, The Decorators

Side sliding a circle with 3 kites was today's spontaneous target.Initially I wanted to describe the rolling ball but that was a little too ambitious for Jade and ATM (Ashley).Surprisingly, the expected handle transitions are not actually required which is counter intuitive.  Lock the handle positions and it seems that the kite will circle.  (OK there...

If you are standing on the beach at Weymouth looking out to sea the horizon is dominated on the left by White Nothe. (A big chalk headland)  To the left of the coastguard cottages on the tip of the headland there is a dip in the profile and then there is a small building, a mere blip at this distance.  It was there that I first flew the cloth and aluminiu...

It seems that we first went to Berck in 1990.The team congregated in Berck on Friday 24th April 2009 in a different configuration but fully enjoyed the space and hospitality that some of us remember all the way back to that first visit.This weekend we had eight fliers. Three could be described as 'newcomers to the current team' even if two of them...

Glorious day, wind NE c10mph I think with plenty of sun.  I am almost not jealous of everyone at Berck!Flew the new Blast with SLE and muscle memory kicked in almost instantly.  Having flown the Shockwave or Supersonic when flying individually for quite a few years it was great to fly a larger sail which corresponded so closely in configuration straig...

In a high wind the handle loading would be best (most comfortable) when the kite is neutral so there is no forward/backwards tendency.  In a light wind the handle loading would be best when the kite is square on to the direction of movement so that the maximum benefit can be derived from the pilot's input.QED or something equally desperate...

Grey day with 3-4 mph maximum to start. A few drops of rain initially, gradually brightening with the mist lifting.Flew with ATM and Jade alternating leading left and right.  I called from the centre some of the time.  It can work to a degree.  ATM finally realised that I had maintained the three kites with crossed lines for a considerable length of time...

Some good smooth wind today for 1.5s at Blackheath.  Jacob coached some great 4 person repetitions (not practice, just piano scales) with Jade, ATM and I.  Both of them, Jade and ATM, are getting the individual control but still learning the challenges of the team environment.  There is only one position, for a team flier in the sky, which is the correct...

Another light and variable wind day.  No good for Berck training but we did put ATM 'in the middle' for some 3 kite repetitions.  There is no point in giving a beginner the easy option.Jade and I had earlier flown some 'treacle' moves in line and in parallel.  I think that once fliers have grasped the concept, as Jade obviously has, there...

Clock change weekend so an early start seemed appropriate given the forecast for gradually reducing wind speed.3-5 mph translated to nothing really so it was a bit of a waiting game.  Fly when you can and expect to respond to 90 or 180 degree shifts was the order of the day.  Jacob arrived around midday and we eventually put 4 wrap Rev 1s up.  Caught a th...

Encouraged ATM to work on leading edge down hover.  He was making good progress.  Suggested walking forwards to get gradual descent, backwards to gain altitude.  I will have to suggest the angled hovers next weekend.  The visual feedback is critical....I then went into reverie mode trying to pin the kite to a position in the sky in horizontal hover with v...