ADVANCED BUGGY HANDLING Experience grows but it's disappointing that the general level of proficiency is improving so slowly. I hear comments from interested observers like "That looks great but far too difficult for me." When these same people can see true state-of-the-art buggying proficiency they will often instead say "That's for me." Practice, hours of it, is the key, and not boring long run reaching either: frequent turns (especially when you have to not when you want to!), racing, variable terrain, various surfaces and tricks are what you should be putting the time into. It's generally accepted in yachting that a day of racing is worth a month of cruising. Talking specifics there are two emerging problems. One is understeering and this has been caused by going to fat tyres. With the original 50mm tyred spoked wheels understeer/oversteer balance (which is absolutely the key to buggy handling) was perfect. The problem can be reduced by going to a very short front stem setting. Redesigning frames to move the rear axle back could be the solution or perhaps we may be able to find front tyres with a tread pattern that will give more lateral "bite". The second problem is the situation familiar to anyone who has buggied on a super smooth (tarmac) surface. During turns the lines can suddenly go slack, sometimes 10m or more slack! The result may be an embarrassing kite collapse or worse, drifting followed by unsustainable pull and unpredictable direction as the kite re-established itself. The cause is obvious; sudden imposed loss of apparent wind,the solution is not so obvious. Slowing to a stop, parking the kite then turning is a very unsatisfying palliative. After a couple of days playing on the vast tarmac at Munich's old airport I see a glimmer of hope in better technique and skill even with two line kites. In a reversal of established practice it seems necessary to turn the buggy (momentarily) before turning the kite. This is akin to standard turning techniques for kite skating (although jump turns also work for kite skating). Quicker turning kites also help and the use of four line kites is a substantial but not total answer. In the long term this and other apparent wind change problems can be avoided by developing the ability to pull in or let out lines as we fly.