2011 - 40 kt SQUALL vs. 11 m Crossbow

[ricki]

I agree and for far more reasons beyond what you list. Squalls can create violent wind direction and speed shifts that you can't keep a kite flying in. It will stall and perhaps be relaunched spinning out of control, what then? Offshore windshifts are common and killed kiters in the past. Depower is great but can only do so much in sustained wind. Squalls aren't that well behaved, believe it.

You're a professional commercial jet pilot, what are some of the reasons you don't fly through squalls aside from electrical considerations?

Originally Posted by thebestkite

Any frontal activity, is due to temperature inversions. Large squall lines not only produce wind gusts and lots of rain, but also carry a lot of energy in the form of electricity in these clouds.
Look at the radar picture and lightning strikes reported in the above video.

Any one who wants to sit with a 100 feet conductive line through a squall or any gusty situation, needs their head examined.
Just because you don't see lightning and don't hear thunder, does not mean there is no activity. Cloud to Cloud lightning is 80% of a thunderstorm or squall line. That is why airplanes stay at least 20 miles away or more, as a lightning strike in an aircraft is a very serious condition.
Don't fly a kite in electrically active weather !

Complimenting a kite capabilities should not include the windgust capabilities in these weather conditions.
Kiters NEED to be off the water, anytime this kind of weather phenomenon is being observed. Don't ride until the last minute because it's cool and exciting.
I guess we have to wait for the first kiter to get fried before sanity comes around on this subject.

Clear and simple. GET OUT and OFF the water.