THE BOW KITE CONCEPT BY THE LEGAIGNOUX BROTHERS

To reconcile the rigidity of a tube kite with the flatter shape of a ram air kite was the dream of many designers since kitesurfing became popular, but nobody to date had succeeded in developing an effective one, the C-shaped kite invented in 1984 by the Legaignoux remained the uncontested reference.

Paradoxically, Dominique and Bruno attacked the problem at the end of 2001 in their home spot of the Dominican Republic, in reaction to increasingly frequent accidents. Their goal was above all to obtain a wing with full de-power capability, since it should well be admitted that opening a quick release in a panic situation is most of the time unrealistic.

However they knew that the new wing should also be more efficient to take a lead in the market.
A flat wing is easier to de-power than a C-shape one. They thus sought a means of obtaining a wing having very few bridles and a flattened and clean shape, without pockets or deformations of the canopy.

The main innovation consisted in putting sweep, i.e. to move back the wing tips compared to its centre until the trailing edge is concave, which makes it possible to flatten and perfectly tighten the trailing edge. There is also an original and very simple bridle device, only fixed on the leading edge, designed to allow almost full de-power and a fast turning speed.

Swept-back + simple bridling on the leading edge only is what differentiates the BOW concept from all other flat wings. Many alternatives of form and bridles are possible inside this concept.

November 2003 New 12.0 notice the dull colors of most protos, to be less visible in the sky	Apr 2004 This 12.0 is almost perfect. Now looking at the best location for the bridle tow points.	Apr 2004 The Legaignoux' brothers at work

Diamond White Lda, owner of the patents protecting the BOW concept, now offers user licenses to any interested brand

Development and origin of the Bow Kite

The BOW is the result of more than 3 years of research by the Legaignoux brothers
Noting that the 4-line kites and quick releases developed in 1999 and 2000 do not solve 100% the safety problems, they decided in October 2001 to explore another way: obtaining a larger opening of the profile in the gusts should make it possible to avoid a number of accidents.
They then tested some bridles on the leading edge of 4-line C-shape kites to allow the wing more de-power but they turn badly and the bar pressure is heavy.

In early 2002, to help the wing to turn, they modified a Free Air 8.9, gave it some sweep by sewing triangular creases in the wing and they added bridles on the leading edge. The tests on water proved to be promising but especially they understood (or rather remembered cause Dominique had already thought of it) that putting sweep allows flattening of a wing. The BOW concept was born and the Legaignoux consequently focused on flattening the wing as to obtain 100% de-power.

Feb 2002 The first Bow kite is a modified Free Air 8.9	You can see here the different modifications (cut TE and tips, sweep seams)	The Bow's ancestor proves its capacity to de-power

Till early 2003, they continued to work on bridles starting from modified C-shape kites. Then the first protos arrived, making it possible to better define the final form of the kite.
The Takoon team (with which Bruno collaborated since the creation of the brand) is held informed of the Legaignoux's work and goes in a slightly different way, developing their own type BOW kite (not as flat).

The Legaignoux brothers continued to develop the concept and proposed it to the large kite brands after Takoon disclosed the concept in December 2004 at the Paris Boat Show

Many brands were interested, but it is Cabrinha who was the fastest to launch its Bow kite.

THE BOW PHENOMENON - A few dates

January 2002 : the Legaignoux brothers invent the Bow kite concept
December 2004: Takoon reveals the Bow kite at the Paris Boat Show
July 1st 2005: Cabrinha Crossbow website online
End of July 2005: Crossbow in the US shops and Takoon Nova in the French shops
August 2005: Five brands announce their "flat" kite
September 2005: Four other brands announce their "flat" kite
The revolution is on the way...

2010 marks the 10th anniversary of Cabrinha kites. Cabrinha kites are at the fore front of kite design and with it's 5 generation bow kites is leading the way in the kite surfing industry!!

2008 Cabrinha Switchblade 3	2009 Cabrinha Crossbow 4	2010 Cabrinha Switchblade 5