A 3-line kite

This is a kite like no other I know. The Synergy 333 was designed in the 1990s by Marc Ricketts. I don’t think it is still in production.

The sail is held taught by 3 carbon spars and a complicated arrangement of 12 lines; from careful study of the photo (below left; click to enlarge it) you will see that from the free end of each spar, two lines go to the mid points of the adjacent sides, two more to the free ends of one of the other two spars, and one to the next wingtip. This holds the free ends of the spars a few inches off the sail, the edges of which curl towards the spars.

The framework can be fitted to either the front or the back; on the front it is easier to fly, but when fitted to the back it is faster and flies in less wind.

The three flying lines are attached to the three points. The handle is a similar arrangement of three spars strung together; it can be tipped in any direction to control the direction of motion, but for fine speed control you can simply flex the lower spar with the fingers.

It takes some practice to get the wrist skill of it.