ArthurAlston forum posts in last 60 days

Select to expand quote

eppo said..
well this was my review of the 770 i put on the armstrong facebook page after my 3rd DW on it.

770 UHA Magic


not sure why im dribbling about this but I had to write something somewhere.

No sure I've ever seen you so excited. High praise from a very experienced foiler. Can't wait for my 870 (primary use intended for the PW).

Tons of information in the Armstrong Facebook group already. Both sponsored riders and normies.

Just released: shipping at the end of the month. 777kites.com/gliders/p-t-hybrid/

Select to expand quote

hilly said..

eppo said..Thinking of getting a 5.4m 777 actually. ps would like to try the frigate

I have 2.5/3.5/4.7 Frigates and a 777 PT Skin 5.4 should arrive this week. At your size the 4.7 Frigate would get you up in very light wind.

Hilly, I'll be interested in your take on the Skin 5.4 compared to the 4.7 Frigate once you've had the chance to use them both.

Select to expand quote

eppo said..

Thinking of getting a 5.4m 777 actually. Tom had one yesterday and got it out when the winds were weirdly super light on a 68l board and he's 85kg. wind then kicked in and he grabbed the 3.7 v2 flow and packed it away. Looks like a great para

Eppo, just check the model that Tom has. AFAIK it is a UDW - I have the Skin. There was some initial unhappiness with regards to the UDW 5.4 m2 specifically. Related to what he described as an "overbraked" bridle setup that he addressed with a modification. I think it was only the 5.4m2 as others had no issues with the smaller UDW sizes. I've seen Tom describe the 5.4 UDW as a session saver.The Skin is also available in a 5.4 and a massive 7.3 m2 size. I would also like to try the 5.4 Skin. Based on my experience with the 4, I imagine it would be usable from around 12 knots till about 15/16 or something similar.

Select to expand quote

bolocom said..


I have a 777 4m and want to get a 3m. Would get another 777 or change? Haven't tried anything else so I really don't know if I am missing anything

Hi Diego, I also started with a 4m2 777 Skin and then quickly picked up a 3 for the afternoons in Gerroa. I decided to stay with the same brand/model rather than jump around. I prefer it that way.
Am considering a 2.4m2 as I've found I start getting really uncomfortable late afternoon when we get those super-charged 25-30 knot seabreezes, gusting to 35. To be fair, I would also be uncomfrotable with my 3m2 XPS Mk II in the same conditions.
The low end on the Skin is pretty good, I start getting out at around 15 (using a 108 L 7'2" x 22" Amos Sultan and 890 foil) with the 4. Then switch to the 3 once it's consistently over 20 knots. So I find myself at the very edge of the low end according to the 777 marketing materials - see below.
The 3 is a sensational wing. Like the 4, it behaves well, very easy to maneouver, e.g. Heineken gybes just trust it will be where you expect it to be when it comes around. All the coloured lines and bar and leading edge make launches easy. I've had no major tangles. Pulls well when it's in the range, no issues with deformation. High quality lines don't tangle, very high quality materials used everywhere plus the harness and it already has the bridle approach like the BRM and the PP has now adapted. I actually think the Skin was ahead of it's time and I see many brands now using the design aspects 777 already incorporated in the Skin.
I had to learn how to fly the Skin and in the beginning used too much depower and have learnt to improve the trimming of the wing. I always use a harness. As I get better at flying it, the range has improved dramatically. Was out with the 4 recently when locals were on 5m2 wings.

If you are curious about other brands, Craig now has an Ozone PowerPack as well as PocketRocket, an F-One Frigate as well as the older BRM. We need to do a test!PS: I see Jeremy is also on a 4m2 Skin.

Select to expand quote

Sheps said..
Recently I've been enjoying this running vest. Great for carrying a phone, electronic car key, sunglasses and an extra parawing (even a Paia) in the back. Rather than put the parawing directly into the back I use a compression bag with a screw valve to push out water and air before putting in the back. This vest is so light and secure and a cinch to take off and put on in the water. It's super small and no problem using with even the very large Manera waist harness. Avaliable at Anaconda and Rebel Sport. It's caller.. Salmon Active Skin 4

Nice!Are you not worried about compressing the PW? Do you mind sharing the compression pouch you use?

Select to expand quote

eppo said..


so does this also have somewhere to stow the actual para you are using at the time in the front ? i assume so ? hook for harness line as well?

You can store two PWs in the backpack. It has front facing pockets for small stuff (like the running vest that Sheps posted above).There is not harness hook and it doesn't have a pouch either.

Ozone is also releasing a new version of the pouch called the "Stash Harness". This sounds like a great idea given that many of us use the Pouch with a hook, but it is not a good harness. E.g. mine is a bit loose and it rides up the chest.

Both these products from Ozone will sell like hotcakes I suspect.

Select to expand quote

MProject04 said..


Just reading that Ozone is launching this mission pack as a separate product too. Comes now with the powerpack. Looks good.

The PP has a different backpack. Slim with only space for one PW and no front facing pockets.
Tbe bag on the photo is the Mission Pack and will take 2 PWs plus a phone and other small stuff in the front facing pockets. It's quite a large backpack.

I picked up one of these from Kathmandu at the sale. Works perfectly for both my 3 and 4m2 777 Skin.
No issues when the bag gets wet either. Very lightweight. And you can use the external bungie cord to compress the contents. Everything is secure.

It's smaller too than what it looks on the model. My PWs fit snugly, no space for anything else

Select to expand quote

kyrojoe said..
have the PTskin 5.4 and really love how it flies... EXCEPT if you manage to catch a leading edge tip roughly on the surface and force a half liter of water into the tiny last closed cell!

Even with tons of wind in the rest of the wing... i have a hard time getting the water to DRAIN drain from the tiny mesh screen in the bottom the the last closed cell! most seems they should have put that mesh "drain" Material along the bottom of the last TWO cells maybe??

i love the light material of this thing but it's amazing how half a liter of water can make it almost totally "stuck" on whichever side of the wind window that you filled with H2O! ????

I use a 3 and 4 m2 PT Skin. And that happens to me from time to time.
I solved it by learning to gently tug the D-line at the opposite end and the wing pops up from the water immediately. And you can get going and the water simply drains.

I was out at Pinnaroo with Jack at exactly the same time.

One thing that may not be clear from his excellent review, but was noticeable to me, was the wind range of the 3.6. The graph shows how variable the wind was and he seemed to manage the 3.6 well from 12 knots all the way up to 25. That's impressive. He always looked comfortable.

Of course, pilot skill is a major component in that. Nevertheless when compared to my experience at the same time, I switched back and forth between a 3 and 4m2 parawing. I'm a year behind Jack in the skills department though.

Ozone (correctly) positions the PP as suitable for sailors with experience. I can see how this wing amplifies the existing abilities of an experienced user.

Also, Ozone's recommended wind range for the PP and is remarkably wide across all the sizes. This may be underplayed in their positioning and marketing of the PP.
Based on what I saw, in the hands of an experienced sailor, the PP could be a one wing solution, eg the 3.6
from 12 - 25 knots. I find that very attractive and something to aspire to as I improve.


For now, my lesson from yesterday is to start taking two wings out with me more often. I initially thought that was a crazy concept, but can see the utility in the approach.