I'm moving to Kiribati for a year, one of the most windless places on earth

In poreparation I got myself a liquid force foil fish, and I'm loving it.

I was out in 10-12 knots with a 12 catalyst today, and staying up wind easily.

I have a 17m zephyr. Is there any point in trying that with a foil?

I am unlikely to get a chance to practice much before I go away, and bringing a useless kite sounds like an expensive mistake. So if I can leave it at home would be sweet

Larger kites are more powerful but also heavier and slower, so in very low winds, this can become a disadvantage.

When using a hydrofoil you will not see much benefit in using a 17m LEI kite under 10 knots but you would if you had a large lightweight foil kite.

When foiling under 12 knots, just add line extensions (I'd recommend at least 5m) to your Catalyst and you will notice a big difference in terms of power during the water start. When foiling in very low winds the challenge is actually the water start and get the foil to fly. I was out foiling yesterday on a 12m kite and started with normal line length thinking the wind would pick up but it didn't and stayed around 7-9 knots, which made it hard to water start...so I stopped and added extensions for a total length of 35 meters and it was sweet. When the wind did pick up to 12 knots I was starting to be overpowered.

Keep in mind the winds in Tasmania are probably colder thus more dense/powerful. When you are in a hotter environment, 10 knots of wind doesn't have a lot of punch... Another thing is the LF foil board is small and doesn't have much volume...which doesn't help when trying to water start in marginal winds.

So yeah I'd bring the 12m and 2 sets of 5m line extensions and play with that.

Another benefit of using smaller kites is it will vastly improve your flying skills and overall efficiency

Christian

line extensions is a great idea. Will look into it. Thanks

17 and foil works well in low winds, often use my 17m edge when under 10

15m is all you need for foiling!17m and 18m kites too slow for tacking and gybing and too kites have too much drag in the air.

I took out the zephyr on Friday. It was absolute glass. I was astonished I could even get it in the air.

She was a beauty - but I had to be super careful when stopping, as the momentum of the kite could easily fly itself way into the luff zone.

It was also virtually impossible to gybe - the loss of power with even the momentary turn downwind and the kite would stall instantly. Gonna have to get my tacks sorted if I'm going to persist with that option.

All good until the kite fell out of the sky and I had zero chance of relaunching. Just swam ashore.

Note to self while in the central pacific on a tiny atoll miles from anywhere with no rescue facilities or communications - always have land downwind of you

Wish me luck from when I finally arrive (visas and work permits permitting, in late January)

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brady said..

It was also virtually impossible to gybe - the loss of power with even the momentary turn downwind and the kite would stall instantly. Gonna have to get my tacks sorted if I'm going to persist with that option.

Were you down looping the kite for the gybe ? I fly big slow kites, and often this is the only way to keep the kite moving. Doesn't seem to make much difference whether I turn the kite before or after I carve the board the board...

I was a bit afraid to try downlooping. I accidentally rigged my short bar rather than the long one, and I was worried the rate of turn wouldn't be enough, and I would just slam it into the ocean. Will use the right bar next time and try that instead

You can also just pull the steering line directly - on the 21m Flysurfer's I take hold of one of the steering lines an arms length away and simply use that to make sure the arc is tight enough. Otherwise the rate of turn is too slow @ the bar to make a nice loop.

Hi guys, my 2C..

I had a Zephyr and used it a bit when I started foiling. But as progression continued I found myself using smaller and smaller kites. The result is - I sold my Zephyr and even my 11M.

I now ride almost exclusively my 5.5 Drifter.. yep, you read it right 5.5 Drifter 2016. What I can't do on my 7M, which is now my big kite, it ain't worth being out on. Usually my mates are out on their Zephyrs and surfboards and I am out riding waves on my foil and 5.5.. this is no bull, come to Palm Beach and you'll see me all the time at the mouth of the Alley or on 4th ave.
When you learn to use the kite movement to generate the lift you need for a foil you will feel the benefit of fast turning, looping left and then right.. and letting it drift as you ride a wave. But then again I am the guy riding waves on a foil, not in a straight line on flat water, that's why I use a drifter. This year in January I was at Dongara for Kitestock. There was a 6' bearded guy (don't know his name) competing in the wave section on a 5.5 when everyone else was on 7 or 9 - I was amazed at how easy he made it look, never lost ground, his control was awesome. So I came home and placed an order for one - BEST THING I EVER DID !!! I am 5'8" and 74Kgs and I ride a custom MHL LIFT FOIL.. I've never looked back.So, I am not knocking down big kites, they have their place, specially when you want to park'n'ride. But I bet there isn't much I can't do with my 5.5 that you can do on a Zephyr.. that is foiling of course. Anything above 12 knots I am out on it, 9-11 on my 7M, my 9M doesn't get rigged for the foil anymore, that's for my surfboard days As I said, my experience, my opinion. So, whatever you ride that makes you smile.. that's the right gear

Peace up and sweet light seabreezes.V

Sounds awesome! What line lengths do you use sir v? Would be awesome to see a video from your perspective of how you fly and foil.

Hey Bletti.. I have 2 bars, one normal Cab length and the other with 4M extensions. On waves day I use the normal size, if it is really light I use the longer ones.Here's a couple of vids for you: the Indo was on a mix of my 5.5 and 7, the Burleigh Heads is definitely on the 5.5

www.facebook.com/SirVV/videos/vb.619161017/10153829557136018/?type=3&theater - Indo

www.facebook.com/SirVV/videos/vb.619161017/10153787398966018/?type=3&theater - Burleigh

www.facebook.com/SirVV/videos/vb.619161017/10153812799666018/?type=3&theater - Currumbin

www.facebook.com/SirVV/videos/vb.619161017/10153778250296018/?type=3&theater - little toy I made eheh

Enjoy, let me know if you can't see them.


V