We have been designing kites since 1998 and wings since 2019. Over the years, we have learned that design and fabric choice are only part of what it takes to build a disturbance-free kite or wing. The key is to analyze and understand load tensions to better control our design and its behavior while flying. That is done through Sail Engineering, and it is an ongoing part of the development of our kites. Sail Engineering is the science of controlling our design and its behavior while flying.
Our R&D team focuses on key elements such as load paths, panel layout, and fabric weight management in each area of the sail. These elements work together to maintain a smooth and consistent profile, contributing to efficiency, stability and sharp performance.
Warp tension line
Woven fabrics feature a longitudinal 0° yarn (Warp), and a transversal 90° yarn (Weft). Therefore, a fabric has great strength capacities if you apply tension at 0° or 90° along the yarns. But it will deform and stretch when tension is applied at, let’s say, 45°.
Staggered seams
Most of the kite’s back lines tension is distributed through the trailing-edge panels and seams. As seams are significantly stiffer than the fabric they join, they tend to strain under loads and therefore deform the profile.
On select kite designs, the staggered seams break that line of tension by balancing the stiffness between seams and cloth, which helps distribute the load over a wider area and maintain the original shape even under high loads.
Load control paneling / Radial cut
When engineering the load control paneling, we make sure that fabrics panels are warp/weft oriented, meaning that the load path runs through the yarns. Fabric and seams are then in the best position to receive tensions and maintain the original kite shape.
Fabric weight management
We use different fabric weights and constructions depending on the requirements of each area of the sail. Sail Engineering allows us to control our shape and manage load tensions without relying on unnecessarily heavy fabrics. By optimizing where and how much material is used, we can reduce overall fabric weight while maintaining the necessary strength and durability.
