Whenever I go sailing I carry my board and sail separately to as close to the water as I can get, and I'll do the same when foiling. However, I found it quite difficult to carry all the gear at once even a few feet without somehow having the board drag or hit the beach. So far it hasn't been a big deal because I've been at a sandy beach but soon I'll be wanting to launch from some rocky sites. What are some ways I can try to carry the gear? I'm not very tall, and quite possibly one of the weakest people you've ever met/responded to on forums.

thanks

If you're weak, how can you expect to carry 52 lbs of gear in one piece?
Bring help.
But at 71 years old and out of shape, it's not too hard to carry everything just like surfsailing....sail upwind atop head, board downwind facing out and towards the wind, held by bicep part of arm below the tail of the board.
Bend zeee knees, don"t lean forward.

Thanks, I didn't think to put the sail on my head - I've never tried that but now that you mention it, I remember seeing people do it in videos.

Select to expand quote

LeeD said..
If you're weak, how can you expect to carry 52 lbs of gear in one piece?
Bring help.
But at 71 years old and out of shape, it's not too hard to carry everything just like surfsailing....sail upwind atop head, board downwind facing out and towards the wind, held by bicep part of arm below the tail of the board.
Bend zeee knees, don"t lean forward.

How about a short video LeeD showing how you carry.

I often move it in pieces (method 5a and 5b). For short distances I use method 1 or method 2.

www.sailworks.com/how-to-carry-your-windfoil-gear#:~:text=Grab%20the%20mast%20with%20your,rail%20with%20your%20right%20hand.

Edit actually my version of method 1 keeps the board horizontal : one hand on rail, the other rail on my hip

Useful advice on different ways of carrying foil gear can be found in Balz M?ller's video below.The carrying part is towards the end.
My preferred method I have taken from it: Board on head, sail on top of board, one hand at mast of board, the other hand holding the fuselage. Works great for me, but imho requires a full mop of hair (which I happen to have lost when I completed the evolution from ape to human being), a thick beanie or a helmet.
www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjbvNeF0rjqAhVHxoUKHXKcCv0QtwIwAHoECAUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DvrupMZ1qyrk&usg=AOvVaw1qJ2zfduBWA6QayrjoeoAy

Sorry for the long link!

No way I could carry kit on my head, not good for compression in the neck area!

We have lost our local beach due to COVID, so our other launch area's can be a real b!tch. We have slick mud banks rather than rocks but plenty of folk slip and land in a mess.

If it's a loooong way, we carry board, then rig, connect and use the wind/leverage method.

I lean back holding foil mast in right hand using my body weight as leverage (I'm 90 kg though), boom in left with the tail of the board on my thigh while trying to use the wind to loft it. It helps to have a light rig and short foil board (like the SS wizard)

Select to expand quote

shmish said..
Thanks, I didn't think to put the sail on my head - I've never tried that but now that you mention it, I remember seeing people do it in videos.

Good luck with carrying the board on your head! The easiest way to carry the board is indeed as shown above: grab the mast of the foil say 40 cm above the bottom of the board. Think of it as if it was the footstrap that you grab when carrying a regular board on the water. Even I can do it!

Select to expand quote

duzzi said..

shmish said..
Thanks, I didn't think to put the sail on my head - I've never tried that but now that you mention it, I remember seeing people do it in videos.

Good luck with carrying the board on your head! The easiest way to carry the board is indeed as shown above: grab the mast of the foil say 40 cm above the bottom of the board. Think of it as if it was the footstrap that you grab when carrying a regular board on the water. Even I can do it!

I can barely carry my wave gear on my head

I have SB 177 foilboard with 1000 race foil and 9.0 Severne Hyperglide what is a torment to carry in one piece over ten meters of rocky beach. But it is also extremely exhausting to hold the wide board upright without a helping hand in the water when the foil wants to anchor in the deep mudd. So i prefer the one piece method.

The funny thing about carrying your foil gear on the head: there is hardly any load on your head, you lift most of the weight with your extended hand holding the fuselage. I wouldn't carry my wave gear on my head either as neck compression is a pain in the.......

Select to expand quote

ZeeGerman said..
The funny thing about carrying your foil gear on the head: there is hardly any load on your head, you lift most of the weight with your extended hand holding the fuselage. I wouldn't carry my wave gear on my head either as neck compression is a pain in the.......

OK good point. Just took another look at the Radiculo vid and I will give the board on head a go

Wait till a big gust of wind comes thru from a slightly different direction.
Or you're perfectly balanced for 10 knot breeze and it suddenly dies.

I'll do my best!
And the crowds at the beach are always happy for some entertainment, aren't they?

In what is my favorite foiling tips video at 14.30 into it Balz covers a few different carrying options


NB- I just do it in 2 trips, i am not up for doing together