Yay. Just received my Naish Wingsurfer in quick time from Luke of Ocean Addicts. And it comes with an air pump, backpack
& spare valve & valve tool. Thanks Luke.
I decided to give it a go with paddleboard & no foil. My first time ever using a sail so wanted to experiance how it all works without a foil making it more complicated.
Got out early due to wind predicted to hit up to 60kph.
So first thing in the morning grabbed my Wingsurfer & JP Widebody paddleboard.
I was surprised to turn up at my local saltwater lagoon with no wind so just paddled around until the breeze picked up.
I found it easy to jump onto the board holding the front of the wing in shallow water. Not possible if a foil attached.
Sailing down wind was easy but upwind was impossible. Just could not get back to my starting point. So had to walk back. Holding the wing by its nose was easy. But it wasn't as still as claimed & it did wonder a bit.
When the wind picked up around 15kph I found it better to sail & feel it working. Was easy to hold & easy on my arms & shoulders. But again difficult to sail upwind no matter what I tried & found myself again walking back to start again.
Switch foot was a strange feeling so went back to my normal surf stance.
Wind picked up to about 20 to 30 kph & I found this to be the best.
I managed a few runs only slightly upwind but eventually ended up downwind again.
Everytime time I tried upwind the wing would want to invert itself digging its wing tip into the water & pushing towards my feet forcing me to struggle with the wing to get it back to head high. Frustrating when you recover & find yourself going downwind again!
So it this stage I found the wing easy on the body & could hold it for about 2 hours before feeling it in my shoulders.
Also found that a good constant wind helps compared to gusts. And a good constant wind I am hoping will help to make my elusive attempt to go upwind.
Maybe being up on a foil will fix that. Or am I missing something?
I would advise anyone trying this for the first time to ensure their downwind runs lead to a safe shoreline & not open waters as you would have a long paddle back or need a rescue.
I found it very hard to head up wind on my 9'8 longboard sup but fine on my 6'9 foil board with foil. Think you need some big fins or a daggerboard without the foil.
Thanks for the heads up! I'm planning on taking the Slingwing for a ride on a paddleboard first, and with this I'll just put the daggerboard in from the start :)
Good to know it is more difficult to head upwind with a SUP & easier with foil because that's what I'm planning to do anyway.
My converted SUP for foiling has the slot for centre fin so might try that with a 9 inch fin without the foil & see how that goes. I'm more optimistic now.
Yes I had to do a walk and swim of shame on my SUP when I was swept downwind. So far have avoided both on my foil board. I can see the benefit of carrying a paddle with the Naish. It's one of the drawbacks of the Duotone.
Same experience with SUP. Have had 2 attempts with SUP foil, only very briefly up on foil and ended up way downwind.
This video provides some tips that may be useful for next try:
Yeah, I saw that video yesterday. Been watching quite a few for ideas. Winds blowing in excess of 50kph today so might stay indoors instead of flying. Lol.
Ha ha! Just checked the weather site (BOM) & it says anywhere from 30kph to 76kph. Last night it hit 100kph. So not getting caught out in that!
Enjoying reading people's posts and experiences. I've had my Gong 5m (similar to Naish) out 4 times since it arrived. I don't foil but hopefully would like to with the wing. As my surf sups are small I bought a used 10'6 JP to learn how to cruise with the wing. As with other people I havnt quite worked out how to stay upwind. I have had alot of fun learning though!! I have been walking the board out in the water as far as I can, I go upwind (ish) away from the beach at a 45 degree angle and then turn to go back to my starting point but I will have slipped 20m back.
Also I went out in 30 knots onshore ocean when only good kiters or windsurfers where out and I didn't feel in danger or a hazard to them. It was hard work due to having to walk it back out but I flew very fast, full surf stance giggling like a girl!! I also lined a few turns up with a fat wave which I took just as the wing engaged and it was like hitting a turbo button!! I think its pretty unique compared to wind or kitesurfing that as a complete beginner you can get out in 30 knots!!
Wing on friends!!!
This is an interesting topic "upwind".
I guess the big thing here that many sailors overlook is that the upwind thing, but in all sports "upwind" is actually a milestone, and takes some learning. The Wing Surfer is definitely easier to sail upwind than a windsurfer and kite for the comparable craft, but yes a centre/dagger board or centre fin will help tremendously.
Personally I have no issues Winging upwind on a SUP, here's an old one from one of my first goes on the Wing Surfer back in April. I was riding the Nalu Pro 10' x 27" @115ltrs. A few tacks up wind, then a fun run back. The app thinks it was 15kn, but it definitely wasn't. No way any kiters or windsurfer would have been going in that. I'd say more like 8kn.
It is all just practice, and you will get better and better as you get used to it.
Enjoy the ride, it's insane where the Wings will take us.
Regards,
JB
Yeah. This morning wind was light to medium at home. So had to get on the lake to practise my Wingsurfer.
I used my paddleboard again with larger singlefin.
Just as I walked down to the water it blew harder & the 65kph gusts blew my head off! Was too hesitant to sail at first so stood on shore getting the feel of the sail. Then finally got on the water when it eased a bit. But not for long. And I nearly turned into a hang glider when the gust hit me. Lol! Fell in once & after one sail downwind called it quits. Didn't want to walk upwind fighting my board.
At the start I was tacking upwind a little, but after turning onto my backhand without switchfooting I found it harder due to fighting the sail wingtip from digging in & ended up downwind.
Also I found that My speed slowed to nearly a halt the more I go into the wind which obviously I have to go downnwind again. So will have to keep my angle right.
I also found that I have to keep the wingsurfer behind my body more when wishing to go upwind. It helps to point my board upwind.
Oh well. Will have to wait for a day with a good constant 15 to 20 knot winds without the crazy gusts. Looking forward to the summer winds.
Windgenuity, very good summary. I would add:
- The CoE move a lot with sheeting in/out. For instance beginners in Windsurfing were going into the wind in gusts and be smashed into the water by the sail, as the wind force was making then sheet out a bit, and the CoE was going aft, and the board turning upwind killing its speed.
- The CoR on a board without a centerboard move around a lot with the position on it: moving forwards on the board dig more rail forward, moves the CoR forward, and the board turns upwind, killing its speed.
Going upwind is tricky, it is finding a dynamic balance between speed and angle into the wind. If you have no sailing experience, do not struggle, just buy a strap-on center fins system or make yourself a crude one with some plywood and straps.
supinflatables.co.uk/arrows-drift-stopper.html
To go upwind you need a daggerboard like the old windsurfer has. Nozza put a fin box in one of his and windsurfed it, I would suggest the longest more upright fin you can find. Or just use a foil.
Thanks heaps JB for your detailed explanations. I think the sheeting is what I need to practice. I found the more power I felt in the sail the less I would go upwind as well.
I am thinking of taking the rear fins off my quad only JP widebody & my Coreban Hyper & seeing how that goes.
I know I could easily just whack on the foil & go but I am interested to understand the aspects of sailing upwind with a Wingsurfer on a SUP first to get the best of both.
I quick update on my 5th session using the 5m gong wing and a 10'6 Jp allrounder. Finally I have managed to go upwind and stay upwind. Pretty pleased as I was starting to wonder if someone with zero wind knowledge/experience could crack this. This was using a standard sup 2+1 Fin setup. The wind was a nice 15 to 20 knots.
At this stage I would like to wing without the foil .. have 10' stylemaster SUP .. and Naish Wing.
Problem:
When I get close to plaining speed the tail sucks down and just won't perform.
Have had lots of windsurfer experience so the sailing side of it is progressing nicely.
Seems as though I need more of a plaining board.
Would appreciate any advise .. cheers