Dyno 2013 - What's new? by Ken Winner
Low Weight
Low weight is a key feature of the Dyno and all measures have been taken to strip out materials that do not contribute to on-water performance. For example, there is no single-point inflation system on the Dyno simply because SPI increases weight without improving performance.
The performance benefits of low weight are mainly:
(1) the Dyno will easily fly when quite underpowered. The 17 will readily stay in the air when there is too little wind for an 80-kilo rider to plane on a big race board.
(2) when flying the Dyno up and down for power (as when racing downwind), the Dyno's low weight helps it to make a powerful upstroke.
Aspect Ratio
Aspect ratio remains low enough for quick turning but high enough for good aerodynamic efficiency.
5-line ability
While the Dyno will work as a 4-line kite, it retains 5-line ability for these reasons:
(1) Easy relaunch in light winds. Even riders who like four-line kites often add a fifth line to make relaunch possible in super-light wind.
(2) Safety. When you need to get total, complete and perfect depower in half a second, nothing else works as well as a 5th line.
(3) Easy, safe self-launching and self-landing.
Thin tapered struts with semi-segmented and conical construction
Struts are tapered from a fairly large diameter where they meet the LE to much smaller diameters 25% back. The big joint with the LE gives more rigidity to the structure of the inflated elements. The taper to a smaller diameter provides lower drag.
The semi-segmented construction gives a smooth upper curve to the struts – an aerodynamically superior shape – while taking up excess cloth and preventing unsightly wrinkles in the lower surface of the strut.
The struts go to a conical construction at the 25% point. This eliminates seams and therefore removes a point of potential seam failure in the part of the strut that bends the most on the beach.
Strut configuration
The 2012 Dyno has seven struts for extra stability – mainly appreciated by heavier riders taking the Dyno to the limit in powered conditions.
The 2013 Dyno is more narrowly focused on racing, which requires more flexibility and the lowest possible weight, so the new Dyno has only five struts.
The tip strut is closer to the tip to support the thin leading edge and provide stability during hard turning. The quarter strut is a bit closer to the tip strut so as to support the flat section of canopy between tip and quarter struts.
The large span between quarter and center struts provides the bulk of the power of the kite. This area is not heavily controlled with struts because it needs to be free to luff or fill, depending on wind strength.
More and different sizes
The Dyno was originally a light-wind kite but has evolved into a light-wind and race kite and now comes in sizes 7, 9, 11 and 13 in addition to the original 15 and 17.
The new 17 is larger than the 2012 Dyno 17 and has significantly more power. Sizes 15 and 13 are also more powerful than corresponding Dynos from 2012.
Graduated cloth weight
The inflated elements of the 2012 Dyno were entirely built of a light but extremely stable new Dacron. For 2013 we are keeping this lighter Dacron in the small-diameter inflated elements – the struts and the tips of the leading edge – while going with our standard, heavier-duty Dacron in the large-diameter parts of the leading edge. This heavier Dacron permits higher inflation pressures and thus greater stability in the leading edge.
Segmentation
We've added more segments to the geometry of the 2013 Dyno. This helps ensure good fidelity to design shape.
Turning speed
Owing to the fewer struts and lower weight, turning speed has been improved. This is most noticeable when flying the Dyno up and down on a deep downwind point of sail.
Leading edge diameter
Leading edge diameters are basically unchanged in the center of the Dyno but tip diameters are smaller. This change provides a bit less aerodynamic drag.
New bridle
The new Dyno bridle has no pulleys. This gives a bit less weight and drag but also means that the 2013 Dyno must be flown on either (1) a 5-line bar or (2) a four-line bar with front-line safety leash.
Profile tweaks
Canopy profiles in the outboard quarters are quite flat for low drag. Canopy profiles at and between center and quarter struts are deeper and more powerful than in 2012.
Power vs. depower
The various changes have led to better power and depower.
Relaunch
The lower weight, deeper profiles and new geometry help the 2013 Dyno to relaunch quickly.
Sky Solbach Dyno:
"The new Dyno is something totally new and is hands down the fastest kite I have flown to date. It constantly shoots to the edge of the wind window while maintaining really consistent power delivery that carries you upwind. Downwind, the new Dyno is equally impressive. I can't wait to see what the North Race Team can do on the race course this year with this tool in their hands!"
Kite Race World Championships 2012 - Cagliari
In the history of Kiteboarding all that took part in the champagne racing conditions in Cagliari bay last week will always remember this event as the start of something really really big in our sport. Over 220 riders from 40 countries met in a showdown of colour, excitement & crashes for this was the start of a new road for many competitiors now that kiteboarding has replaced windsurfing for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
In the mens fleet, racing started with a qualifying series, with three groups of 51 sailors each which were re-seeded by the first racing days results before the fleet got split into Gold/Silver/Bronze for the final series day. In the womens fleet, a single opening series was run over the first three days, followed by a medal race series on Sunday.
North riders were joined by kite designer Ken Winner & production manager Dirk Hanel - most using the new North Dyno Ltd & battling it out in the first 2 days to gain selection for the much sought after Gold fleet. It was close racing amongst Maxim Nocher (FRA), Olivier Dansin (FRA), Florian Gruber (GER), Blajez Ozog (POL) with Oliver Bridge (GB) not far away.
The womans fleet saw 2012 European Champion - Steph Bridge come head to head daily with Johnny's sister- Erika Heineken. Brazilian rider -Nayara Licariao & Alice Brunacci (ITA) took top 10 results during this qualifying series.
After day 3 the top 10 riders from the girls fleet & top 10 riders from the mens went head to head in a medal race to determine the 2012 World Champion. All could be lost or gained in an 8 minute umpired fleet race which was carried out in gusty offshore conditions. The beach scene was huge & North kiteboarding provided the much needed support for the competitors that made it to the final.
It was the womens turn first, with the whole fleet starting on starboard towards the first leg, and the battle was on between Steph Bridge and Erika Heineken. Being only one point separated, it was open for virtually every sailor who qualified for the medal race series to win the event. In the end it was Steph Bridge taking the win in this race, meaning that both Erika and Steph were tied in points now and whoever won the last race would take the tittle. Coming in in third, it was Nayara Licariao (BRA, North). Race 2 of this medal race day was more of a challenge to fight back after a windshift on the start line & steph's chance of her 5th World tittle was looking in doubt. Pushing the board hard & using the bands of wind to her advantage was not enough, a 1 point defeat & steph took home the Silver medal while 4th place went to Nayara Licariao (BRA and 8th to Alice Brunacci (ITA).
The men's medal race involved huge place changes, crashes & penalty turns & the eventual results were Maxime Nocher (FRA) in 5th place, Florian Grubber (GER) in 7th place while Olivier Dansin (FRA) was in 8th position. Disappointment for Blazej Ozog (POL) who was black flagged on the final gold medal race & this pushed him out of the medal race day to finish in 14th overall.
Other huge success's for the North team were for Ken Winner who was 3rd overall in the Grandmasters and Oliver Bridge (GB) who at age 15 became Youth World Champion with Jannis Maus (GER) in 2nd & Oswald Smith (RSA) 3rd. Race Team Manager - Dirk Hanel had some bad luck in the qualifying series however what was apparent at this event was the level to which kite racing is now going to be with most athletes taking this full time in their run up to Rio 2016.
Rebel 2013 vs Rebel 2012
What´s the same and why (by Ken Winner)
5 lines
The Rebel remains a 5-line kite, of course, and for all the usual reasons:
- Short depower stroke and crisp feel. Anyone who rides waves or has short arms or just likes a responsive kite can appreciate the importance of achieving full depower with a minimal movement of the control bar.
- Super stability. If it weren´t so easy to keep in the air you'd be forgiven for thinking it's made of rock, it’s that solid!
- Easy relaunch in light winds. Even riders who like four-line kites often add a fifth line to make relaunch possible in super-light wind.
- Safety. When you need to get total, complete and perfect depower in half a second, nothing else works as well as a 5th line.
Size-specific tuning
Sizes 5 to 8, which naturally end to be a bit too crisp and responsive, have been tuned for a crispness and responsiveness that's just right. Not soft and slow but not uncomfortably harsh and fast.
9 meter kites can go either way, a bit slow and soft or a bit fast and harsh. We spent some time tuning this one for what we think is just the right feel in a wave and all-round kite.
Sizes 10 to 14 have been tuned for short bar stroke and a maximised crisp feel.
Tolerant of low inflation
Rebels work best when inflated to 6psi. They lose some performance at lower inflation pressures, but will still fly pretty well. By contrast, many kites on the market these days need 8 or 10 psi to fly correctly.
Segmentation, rib configuration
Aspects of the Rebel's overall geometry have not changed. There are still five struts, with the centre strut being a floating strut for momentary depower and luffability. Segmentation is much the same from tip strut to tip strut. Multiple segments through the centre of the canopy give good profile fidelity, while one straight segment on each side gives a flat profile where it can do the most good in resisting unwanted luffing and flutter. Five struts give needed structure while allowing for good performance at low inflation pressures.
Leading edge diameter
We kept the overall LE diameters fairly large right out through the tips to ensure rock-solid stability and tolerance of low inflation pressures. The new square tip is more tolerant of low pressure than the old one, so we could have reduced tip LE diametera bit, but chose not to in the interest of ensuring stability and reliability.The Rebel is an all-round and wave kite, so there's no need to try to minimize diameters at the expense of convenience, stability and easy relaunch.
Aspect ratio
The Rebel retains the moderate aspect ratio befitting an all-round kite. The wider tip helps us tune the kite for quick turning and precise bar feedback. The risk of the wider tip is that the canopy fabric can be less tightly controlled and can luff and flap more. We have paid particular attention to this issue and ensured a clean canopy shape in this area.
What´s different and Why
Smoother feel
Every year we try to reduce undesirable luffing and fluttering in
the Rebel and this year we have made a further step in that direction, mainly achieved through fine-tuning of canopy profile. Luffing and fluttering occurs most when a kite is overpowered, or when it is turning tightly. In both cases, the feeling of the bar is one of vibration and imprecision. Reducing luff and flutter gives the bar a smoother and more precise feel. Most Rebels now are smooth enough themselves that much of the vibration we feel on the control bar comes from the flying lines vibrating in the wind.
Wider tip
The wider tip helps us tune the kite for quick turning and precise bar feedback. The risk of the wider tip is that the canopy fabric can be less tightly controlled and can luff and flap more. We have paid particular attention to this issue and ensured a clean canopy shape in this area.
New strut shape
The new struts, we call it the STREAMLINE STRUT are larger in the front for a more rigid connection with the leading edge tube. The quarter struts are thinner for less drag and weight, and because the need for rigidity is least at this point. The thin quarter stuts give the Rebel some of the flexibility and lower weight of a 3-strut kite without the big losses of range, speed, boost and top end that 3-strut kites suffer from.
Improved construction
Most obvious of the new construction elements in the 2013 Rebel is the element we call the "TE Force Spread” a layer of wave-shaped cloth situated at the boundary between our durable 50-gram D2 canopy ripstop and our super-tough 160-gram trailing edge Dacron. The dissimilar cloth weights between the two materials can result in excessive flexing and thus weakening of the ripstop just in front of the Dacron. The addition of the "TE Force Spread" layer mitigates and spreads the flexing of the ripstop and prolongs the life of the kite.
The new Rebel has a beefed up leading edge construction that allows for more durability at high inflation pressures. Frankly, one of the big advantages inflated kites have over ramair kites is relatively high inflation pressure. Pressure gives better shape stability and responsiveness to bar input. Being able to pump to a higher pressure has no downside. Other details, such as scuff pads that cover stitching and improved Lazy-Pump valves help ensure the Rebel is built to last.
Power vs. Depower
Recent Rebel designs have had a lot of power. In 2011 and 2012 we refined canopy profiles and angle of attack to improve depower, and for 2013 we have carried this process a step further to give a bit more depower without hurting the overall power.
Speed
Though the Rebel has been competitive in races over the last few years, it really is a wave and all-round kite and pretty much none of the testing for the 2012 model involved race boards. That said, the canopy profile changes made in 2013 result in Rebels that are a bit faster and more slippery than in previous years.