Good to hear your thoughts. I also am still looking forward to Jons sketches. It would also be helpful to receive some sketches from you to see if we are visualizing similar concepts. You can contact me at> http://foxxaero.homestead.com/contact.html

With the visualization you, yourself have in mind would you consider such a concept valid for use as

1 > Speed-sailing only

2 > Personal recreation

3 > Cargo/Transport potential ?

Whatever use is considered, I can see some possible engineering problems which need to be resolved. (Difficult but not 'impossible'). You have already mentioned the difficulty of launching the kite (kites). Also, what about safely and effectively retrieving them, this is something which I believe needs to be considered.

I think you are correct in presuming that two small sidehulls would be beneficial added to the tips of the wings of the 'glider' (passenger body), but what do you think about replacing the 'sidehulls' concept with simpler 'end-plates'. I believe that this would capture a ram-flow ground-effect lift, which would aid the transition from water-contact to freedom from the same, while at the same time diminishing the overall weight of the craft.

About the possible 'bumpy-ride', I believe that if the 'glider' was dynamically stable this would not be a real problem because the tension between the two attached tow-lines would provide a shock-absorbing funtion or 'suspension' for the craft. Of course that would only BE if the craft (glider) was stable in pitch and roll itself. As you say, I believe that the foils (wings) of the 'glider' would sufficiently soften minor wind turbulences.

Also, can you post the URL of 'SKYSAIL' - I can't seem to find them. Punching 'Skysail' into a search engine seems to bring up all manner of items ?

Regards

Foxx