Date:	Tue, 12 Oct 1993 08:50:00 -1000
From:	ATAHC423936NIDO1.BITNET@hsdndev.harvard.edu (Caroline Heider)
Message-Id: <1993Oct13.092319.12948@das.harvard.edu>
Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University
Subject: Vienna Autumn Festival

Just two weeks after the European Cup we had the regular kite festival i
n Vienna.  The wind situation was amazingly similar with the only change
that rain and gusts were prevailing on Saturday, while Sunday was bright
and sunny.  With the effect that we had a tremendous crowd over on the
island - a pity that we could not attract more spectators for the EC.

The sky was full of all sorts of beautiful constructions - everybody
flew under the motto "One Sky - One World" which, I understand, was the
motto of a number of festivals taking place throughout Europe, or maybe
the World?

We were honored by the presence of the Swiss team Lucky Landing Albatros
which made it third in the European Cup (both in precision and ballet)
and the pair Skyworks (which is part of the L.L.Albatros).  They
performed for us a number of magnificent shows, including their ballet
which they performed successfully just two weeks before.  In addition,
the four Albatros' were joined by seven Fish, ie. the Kite-o-Holix (the
Austrian team) plus two other fish-in-the-pond.  One flown by Helmut
Georgi, the initiator of the kite festival.  All eleven kites made a
hell-of-lot-of sail in the air.  They did some nice routines which were
even more enjoyable in view of the fact that they had never practiced
together nor was there much wind to keep eleven kites in place.  Great
fun altogether.

A personal benefit was my conversation with Ivan Kartschmaroff of the
Lucky Landing Albatros who designed the kite from scratch and gave me
some hints and tips (the ABC of kite design one could say) for making
kites.  And:  I had the opportunity to try out his Albatros - WHAT A
BIRD TO FLY!!!!  Not only is it "lucky landing" but it's gliding more
than flying, easily directed yet snappy, fast and sharp but stable.  A
miracle - in short.  If there is anybody out there who knows Ivan and
sees him (regularly or soon) my warmest regards, I really enjoyed the
conversation and flying experience.

Otherwise, a number of Rokaku fights were taking place - none of them
serious as none of the kites got lost or damaged.  It always remained a
matter of distangling the lines before the fight could start again and
not a subject to major losses.  Other though, the ghost chain: Georg, a
local kite fanatic who produed the Tangram kites (see my Euro Cup report
of last week), made a 120 ghost chain which he successfully launched.
However, ten seconds after pegging it down the line was cut and some 58
kites went on an exploratory mission across the river, a bridge, a
highway and finally landed in some gardens where they waited to be
collected.  Whow doesn't know this type of story......?

I heard that there were some night-flights on Satruday evening, however,
I must admit that cold and rain (and a flu stuck in me since the EC)
drove me home rather than watch the romantic spectacle.

Marty asked me to introduce myself which I haven't done so far.  There
is not much to say after the Euro Cup report - that I'm crazy about
kites is pretty clear.  And it took hold of me like a bush fire.  What
do I fly - up to now I have only one (self-made) kite which is called
Cicade (if you know the book Stunt Kites to make and fly by Servaas van
der Horst and Nop Velthuizen please look it up on page 82) although I
have to admit a number of (inadvertent) changes in the measures.  It's
great fun to fly, looks a bit like the Big Brother (only that it is not
watching you), and doesn't need much wind.  As a matter of fact,
whenever the wind dies on it it seems to be looking out for a patch on
new breezes.  The only problem: the strong autumn winds here might take
it to pieces so I have to make (or have my boyfriend make me) another
one for stronger winds.

Hope you enjoyed the short report on the autumn festival.
Caroline "C" Breeze  atahc@unido1.bitnet


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