The following was first published at: SailTech - 89, Proceedings of the Eighteenth Annual Conference on Sailing Technology, Sponsored by The American Institute of Aeronautics andAstronautics, (AIAA), San Francisco Section, and the Socient of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, (SNAME), Northern California Section, Volume 35, and was presented at Stanford University October 14-15, 1989. © 1989 AIAA San Francisco Section. Reprinted here by permission of the authors.
William G. Roeseler,
member; AIAA
David A. Culp, publisher; "Kitesailing International"
Sailing by means of kite power is treated from an historical perspective, including
current research and world speedsailing record attempts. The theory of kitesailing
is applied to several types of watercraft: displacement craft, planing craft, and
hydrofoils. The activities of the authors over the past several years are documented,
and future plans are discussed. The primary focus is on the technology which can
allow monohulls to regain the speed advantage now held by multihulls, while retaining
the seakindliness advantages of monohulls, including the ability to provide safe
transportation to port after dismasting at sea.