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WIPIKA
INTERNATIONAL |
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WIPIKA DESIGN Bruno Legaignoux Tel: +33 298 90 83 79 Fax: +33 298 52 16 18 email: design@wipika.com |
The WIPIKA F.A.Q.
How about going upwind ? The Wipika wings work as any good boat sail or board sail. They have
a good aerodynamic profile. But your ability to go upwind also depends on your craft : - If you use a buggy/parakart or a boat with a long centre-board, you will go upwind as a boat (around 45° on each wind side) - If you use a board, the ability will depend on its shape and on your own skill - If you use your body, a kayak, a rescue raft, a motor boat or your grandmother bath, don't expect going upwind (unless you install a centre-board underneath). When the first bath race ?
How to fly a Wipika wing ? A Wipika wing is easy to fly for two reasons : - it is stable but not too much to allow radical manoeuvers - it is more a "static" kite. That means that it pulls a lot when on a side of the wind window. It is not required to steer it and make patterns in the sky to obtain the pull except if you really are underpowered.
How about water launch ? The Wipika wing is the only system capable of relaunching from water in a few seconds and without wing handling. When your wing falls, just work with the control bar, the wing will always inflate, even after being hit by 3 meter waves. Then let it go to the edge of the window of flight and launch it. The minimum wind strength to relaunch the wing is 2 or 3 Beaufort accordingly to your level. Thanks to this ability, you need never be afraid of falling your wing and you will progress much faster, taking all the risks in high jumps and tricks.
How to succeed on water? Our advice: You will not have much success on the water unless you first become a good kite pilot. So it is advisable to buy a stunt kite or a Nasawing and become familiar with flying a two-line kite (while awaiting your Wipika wing). That will save you a lot of time.
What lines material ? We use Dyneema line because it floats (not Vectran, Kevlar and
polyester).
What line strength ? 200kg strength for the main uses. As for any equipment, you have to calculate a confortable safety factor. If you are not too heavy, that you want to sail in very light winds or to race also, you can use 150kg or may be 120kg lines. Using thiner lines will give less drag so a better upwind capability, but also less safety and comfort.
What control system ? For kitesurfing, boating, buggying, a control bar is perfect. For bodydraging or kayaking, use handles, and if you want to use a harness, put a rope between the handles and a pulley on your harness. Caution : always put a quick release between the harness and the pulley.
What means WIPIKA ? First was the WIPICAT for WI.ng P.ropelled I.nflatable CAT.amaran Why this design? First were two wing types known for their efficiency: The Legaignoux's design now proved to be the third efficient type of
airfoil. It has no multiline bridle, no air cells and no rigid spars. It was designed and
improved with one main goal: simplicity of use. Schools ? Addresses in the More about Kitesurf page.
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