> Dennis replied. > > I can just see the boat trying to handle all that machinery and associated > weight . Just a simple mast and rig with powered furling and winches would be easy to handle, even for an old guy like me, if the wind died, blew to hard, or changed. Something flying loose from the boat is not to my liking. It's bad enough to handle a spinnaker in the middle of the night when short handed. Sail assist should be simple and easy to manage with the least amount of gear. ------------------------------------------------------- Brian replied: I understand what you are saying, but I think you might be mislead by the amount of machinery on the test vessel. Much of what you see in the photos has nothing to do with the kite machinery. There likely will only need be a fairly light weight mast for launching (letting the kite fill with air, and tall enough to get the 'line control pod' off of the deck). It could fold down when not in use. <http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/52709-post11.html> The kite control line does not fly from this mast, but rather directly from the winch, which could be underdeck in a locker with a proper fairlead. The winch requires proper anchoring to structure of the vessel, be it deck or bulkhead. Might be pretty simple in reality. 'Flying' the kite in a more complicated manner such as figure 8's to improve apparant wind would require more sophisticated software, but not more mechanical fixtures. You can even orient the kite to 'idle' unlike a spinnaker. Took me awhile to get use to this idea as well, particularly when the kite fans were talking multiple lines from the deck to the kite. One line attachment....I might be interested in this!! And look at the line's attachment point...right down on the deck. Not a lot of overturning moments even in the worst of weather. Worst I might do is lose my kite.