Hey dudes and dudettes,

After observing for a while I think I have decided what I like and don't like about foiling.

Likes:
Sailing Light winds using a small sail and boom
Earlier planing

Dislikes:
Crashing lots
Having to work hard by pumping furiously to get on the plane

From what I've seen the Naish Foil probably meets the sailing in light winds, small sail and small boom, and least pumping. My research tells me the cons of the Naish are that it has has a limited top end, and other foils are faster, but that doesnt bother me, as I wont be foiling to go fast.

Whaddyas reckon, am i on the right track? what havent I thought of?

Maybe this should be posted in the foiling section.

^^^^^^ best ever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the very helpful advice so far. Feels good to be used to further people's political agendas

Go for it, for me I want to try SUP foiling as lots of our waves are just too full at times.

Hahaha, well I'd still recommend "demoeing" the foils you are looking at.
We don't have any Naish on the water yet over here, it's mostly Starboard/F4 and a few prydes and selects, so can't comment on the naish.

I see your point about "I won't be foiling to go fast", we all started there ! But after a while you really get pissed by getting overtaken (in silence) by your mates... Especially if they take off as easily as you on the naish.

I started out with an alloy manta, was very stable, early take off. had a few bending issues though (fixed now it seems); I've since moved on to the carbon starboard GTS..... no coming back !!
(I chopped the manta down to 65 cm to use it in shallow areas)

As for crashes, not so many now with the new generation foils, they are sooo stable ! Even better with a dedicated board.
Whatever you choose you'll have to pump seriously to get going in really light wind.
Most brands are releasing low wind large front wings, so worth shopping around.

Sails wise I like using cammed sails (OD's) so much stability in the pull,(I started with ncx's) lets you focus on your flight and board trim.
Hope this helps...a little.

Do it hardie.

the buzz of being a learner again is what im liking most. That moment when it goes silent is like the first time planing over again.

the crashes im sure will get worse as i try to go faster, but all the ones i have experienced thus far have been "soft landings"

Hardz, you shouldn't think my posts are par for course for the general foiler.

Pumping furiously is only in the sub 10 knot wind range.

Crashing, learning, EVERYBODY and I mean everybody no matter how good they are goes back to square 2 when learning how to foil, the better your basic technique and understanding of windsurfing fundamentals (rather than brute force and ignorance) the quicker you pick it up.

Crashing, for me occurs generally because with speed sailing I never learnt the basic technique fundamentals, the crashing is nothing like a normal windsurfer crash more like falling of the starting blocks at the pool (low speed and little sail energy)

Speed, in no hurry to go down this path, 22knots feels like high 30's every knot after that add another 4 for normal speed.

The Naish foil seems to be the easiest to learn and sail with.

I've upgraded my NP ali foil for NP RSX MWS carbon foil, which is a huge difference.

Chop, whats that?? besides something you glide over.

Time on water, you think you skive of work now? you have no idea how many days of red arrows you can skive of off work.

Red-yellow arrows are yeah baby territory.

7.8 doesn't feel like a 7.8m when there's bugger all wind (8-12 knots) to load it up.

The first time the foil rises from the water is an amazing feeling, your first flight of length will have you a hooting and a hollering after which you will promptly eat sh1t due to the lack of concentration but you'll be giggling in the water.

I get a feeling of overwhelming joy when foiling, it's not fast but by crikey it's fun and my other sailing has improved because of it..

If the winds light on the weekend Hardz I'll most likely be out, I'll give you a call to give it a go.

Sluggers got one too Now Joe. Gee I've got FOMO, starting to feel a yearning for one too
By the way, yes you've got it right (useful internet advice from someone with nil experience foiling )

most important pro: i now hear about people looking forward to light wind days
used to be only me with my longboard and BIG sails

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hardie said..
Hey dudes and dudettes,

After observing for a while I think I have decided what I like and don't like about foiling.

Likes:
Sailing Light winds using a small sail and boom
Earlier planing

Dislikes:
Crashing lots
Having to work hard by pumping furiously to get on the plane

From what I've seen the Naish Foil probably meets the sailing in light winds, small sail and small boom, and least pumping. My research tells me the cons of the Naish are that it has has a limited top end, and other foils are faster, but that doesnt bother me, as I wont be foiling to go fast.

Whaddyas reckon, am i on the right track? what havent I thought of?

hey hards I've had a Naish Hover 122 setup since last September. only use little wave sails and never pump if its a bit gust you don't need to.
call sometime if you want to know a bit more.

I'm very happy with my Naish 122 Hover and I'd recomend it to someone considering giving it a go.

The height off the water, the flying/floaty feeling and silence of foiling really is amazing.

The question of what foil to buy is an interesting one !
I must admit I didn't do a lot of research and just bought a NP Ali and have found it ok to learn on after sorting out the basics and having my share of big falls (that can seriously take the wind out of you) but as with anything you work it out and start look for more ???? ..:-
-more speed
-more stability (especially longitudinally)
- more air/ flight time especially downwind !!

in terms of your query

- To begin with I'm not it really matters what initial foil you get as likely you'll change it to go in the direction you prefer after 3-6 months FYI Im taking a NP rsx carbon foil for a trial tomorrow ( wind permitting) as based on the guys down in mandurah its " money well spent" ??compared to the NP Ali so we'll see !
- there are quite a few NP Ali's, naish's and mantas appearing now second hand and these are good options to learn with from my perspective and cap the initial spend
- boards do make a difference so go for a nice 75+ wide board

Once you have that first steady flight you'll be hooked and I doubt will be just looking for a light wind option

from what you describe you want the naish. it is paired with small sails and takes off slow speeds. Racing foilings you have to going fast to take off and people are using up to 10m sails.
I did hear the Naish is limited in top speed and one of the racing guys said you would get bored after 4 hours with the naish. other people love their naish. in the end the naish suit your criteria i would say.

Talk to azymuth (jj) as he has the Naish. I got consistent flight on it after about 6 sessions and love the small sail feel. Go the longer mast and then you can use it on the ocean. If you have the coin go the big hover board or a dedicated foil board. Haven't had any big crashes just occasional hard touch downs when it breaches
As for pumping, as Cribby would say"pumping not humping" use the rig with a J motion (front hand goes forward and back sheets in) to pull the board forward rather than humping with the legs and hipsand pulling on both hands. A softer springy 4 batten wave sail does this better than a solid cammed sail eg Ezzy elite.
At 70 kgs I can get planing on my 114 and 6.1 in about the same wind but you are just planing whereas I could be on a 5.3 on the foil and experiencing a new challenge of flying.
Taking this approach the skills are more akin to getting a wave board planing early rather than speed sailing. Finesse over grunt.

Joe get of the fence and get into it what ever you get learn the art of foiling it's not that hard and the cool factor is amazing you know me and I love my speed sailing but I don't even care if I can't go speed sailing I'd rather go foiling once you get the hang of it it's so enjoyable just cruising around looking for junky chop from boats just to fly over and go haaa and go OMFG this is amazing once you learn you can do it to your really old and it's low impact on your joints no slapping and a dozen knots is heaps good luck Joe

Slingshot also make an easy to ride foil.

Just to re-iterate what others have said: the crashing actually is good. It makes all those light 8-14 kt days exciting and fun. Instead of just mowing the lawn back and forth, you have a new challenge. Also, foiling makes you a better windsurfer as it reveals a lot about your technique. I was very asymmetrical when I started out - I wasn't sailing the same way in both directions even though I've been getting by for years. It helped me clean up my act.

And as others said, you don't have to pump a bit. It's that the foil is so efficient you want to get out of the water way before your friends with bigger sails.

And, the silence. Until you've experienced it...

The one downside: do I sell my nice 9.5 or keep it for that odd day someplace too shallow for a foil?

I jumped straight into the Starboard race foil format and have no regrets! I took a friend out on the (GT Starboard) setup and she got it within 10 minutes on a 9 - 14 knot day using a 7.0m. She was so hooked decided to buy one herself so I'll have company soon enough!

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kato said..
Go for it, for me I want to try SUP foiling as lots of our waves are just too full at times.

this guy..... wave seems to go on forever...
www.facebook.com/benjamin.tillier.39/videos/10154981612488884/?t=0

I have been naish foiling for 1 year and its so much fun you can learn so much not going fast , once you have the turns under control its awesome , most will be foiling easy in the first hour , when we give someone there first go dont take the harness you will do much better and have much more control ,get into the straps soon as it has enough wind to foil and away you go .

I just bought an NP AL RS Flight foil and have been waiting for enough breeze to get started....hoping to get going this weekend if its not too windy. Just get into i say Hardie. :)