Your upwind issue is 100% not board and foil related. You should be able to crank upwind if you are foiling. What sized sails and wind speed are you sailing in?
Time on the water, and sailing with other good foilers is the key.
Some of the advice in this thread might help you:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Foiling/Need-upwind-advice