Still trying to control the breach . Went from the Goya fringe 5.3 to 3.7. Way easier to control power now, but still need some more front foot pressure as speeds increase I guess. I'm using most forward foot strap position. I don't have rear straps installed yet. Could I use the rear strap and "lift" the rear foot while pressing down on the front foot help ?. Seems most the video's I see though, no ones using the rear strap. I was able to do some extended broad reach down wind with the sail unloaded which worked well. I suppose if lift is a function of board speed, at some point you gotta slow down to avoid foiling out ?. Or can you hit the limit of the foil top speed and maintain ride height ?.

Again, I'm new, so any input appreciated

I've done that so many times I've lost count -- getting better now but I was definitely a crash test dummy (that's why I wear a helmet and an impact vest)!

Shim for less stabilizer angle will help a lot.

Did u try turning upwind more as it started to lift? We can point way higher on foil and we will need to do so. If you are just sticking to fin angles it won't work.

Make sure you can easily lift up you back heel when riding across the wind, if you can't then you don't have enough weight on your front foot.

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WsurfAustin said.. I don't have rear straps installed yet. Could I use the rear strap and "lift" the rear foot while pressing down on the front foot help ?.

You can use the rear strap - it works kind of like a hook so that you keep your balance as you throw your weight forward.
Works well in bigger swells and winds.

In this vid we're always in the rear strap.

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azymuth said..

WsurfAustin said.. I don't have rear straps installed yet. Could I use the rear strap and "lift" the rear foot while pressing down on the front foot help ?.

You can use the rear strap - it works kind of like a hook so that you keep your balance as you throw your weight forward.
Works well in bigger swells and winds.

In this vid we're always in the rear strap.

Awesome video, thanks. I'll get the rear straps installed. Carving that swell looks like a blast !

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thedoor said..
Did u try turning upwind more as it started to lift? We can point way higher on foil and we will need to do so. If you are just sticking to fin angles it won't work.

Make sure you can easily lift up you back heel when riding across the wind, if you can't then you don't have enough weight on your front foot.

Yes I do, and it definitely helps. Tilting sail forward and sheeting out too. Feels like I need to move front straps more forward, but no more holds unless I use inboard wing position holes. I end up moving rear foot forward pointing close to the wind.

I probably just need more water time to get things sorted. Appreciate all the advice.

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Grantmac said..
Shim for less stabilizer angle will help a lot.

I was under the impression that the slingshot wings are not shimable. Anyone with SS gear using shims ?

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thedoor said..
Did u try turning upwind more as it started to lift? We can point way higher on foil and we will need to do so. If you are just sticking to fin angles it won't work.

Make sure you can easily lift up you back heel when riding across the wind, if you can't then you don't have enough weight on your front foot.

Yes I do, and it definitely helps. Tilting sail forward and sheeting out too. Feels like I need to move front straps more forward, but no more holds unless I use inboard wing position holes. I end up moving rear foot forward pointing close to the wind.

I probably just need more water time to get things sorted. Appreciate all the advice.

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dejavu said..
I've done that so many times I've lost count -- getting better now but I was definitely a crash test dummy (that's why I wear a helmet and an impact vest)!

Lol, that males me feel better. That video was one of a hundred

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WsurfAustin said..

Grantmac said..
Shim for less stabilizer angle will help a lot.

I was under the impression that the slingshot wings are not shimable. Anyone with SS gear using shims ?

I've successfully used a plastic shim with SS foils quite a bit. Works like any other foil.

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WsurfAustin said..
Yes I do, and it definitely helps. Tilting sail forward and sheeting out too. ..

Be careful in sheeting out not to take pressure off the harness and, thus, the mast base. It can run counter to instinct.

On your video, it looks like you first got out of balance due to a slight roll, then started up down up ending up with a breach.
Using smaller wave sails usually reduce the down pressure of the sail, and your kit is then more reactive, and need good skills to control. regarding straps position, I ended up thinking that inboard forward straps need to be more forward than outboard forward. I always use rear strap.
Shiming the stabs needs to be done with some thinking : more nose up shiming gives more stability provided you can counter balance the nose up force with the sail (big camed sail mast foot forward for expanble), less shim reduce the nose up force when speed increase and the drag... I shim my Aeromod foil between 0 and 0.7? (never more). Thats less than 1m for 5cm.
If I had time to prepare for overpowered situation (when I anticipate a gust), I can go upwind or bank the board wind ward in a straight line (very effective to reduce nose up motion, but also require to shift bodyweight forward to maintain straight motion).
If I get off balance and feel the foil is going to breach, emergency measure is to bend both legs (the so called frog position, or toilet...) and sheet out putting as much weight on the sail as I can.
IMHO you're doing quite well on the video you posted. It looks quite windy. I don't know how long you've been windfoiling, but do you remember how long it took you to be able to handle such a wind with a fin ?
More flight time builds up the skills...

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6u1d0 said..
On your video, it looks like you first got out of balance due to a slight roll, then started up down up ending up with a breach.
Using smaller wave sails usually reduce the down pressure of the sail, and your kit is then more reactive, and need good skills to control. regarding straps position, I ended up thinking that inboard forward straps need to be more forward than outboard forward. I always use rear strap.
Shiming the stabs needs to be done with some thinking : more nose up shiming gives more stability provided you can counter balance the nose up force with the sail (big camed sail mast foot forward for expanble), less shim reduce the nose up force when speed increase and the drag... I shim my Aeromod foil between 0 and 0.7? (never more). Thats less than 1m for 5cm.
If I had time to prepare for overpowered situation (when I anticipate a gust), I can go upwind or bank the board wind ward in a straight line (very effective to reduce nose up motion, but also require to shift bodyweight forward to maintain straight motion).
If I get off balance and feel the foil is going to breach, emergency measure is to bend both legs (the so called frog position, or toilet...) and sheet out putting as much weight on the sail as I can.
IMHO you're doing quite well on the video you posted. It looks quite windy. I don't know how long you've been windfoiling, but do you remember how long it took you to be able to handle such a wind with a fin ?
More flight time builds up the skills...

Thanks 6u1dO. Clearly more skills needed. I've been out about 12 times. 90% of my crashes (not including trying to jibe) are from overpowered foil out. The video is with a 3.7 sail which feels like a handkerchief compared to my 7.5 fin board sail. ?? With the 5.3, I get overpowered easily. Regardless of sail size, I can't keep the nose down when the puffs roll in. The only time I feel like I'm using rear foot pressure is launching. As soon as I break surface tension immediately move all weight forward. Scootch back foot closer to front foot to fly level. Turning down wind with the big sail I get the porpoise happening. With the small sail, downwind much more manageable. I actually had a foiling jibe finally. I made it through the turn, sail flip riding switch foot, but failed at the foot transition. Also need to work on flying as low as possible, but without clipping tops of waves in big chop. It's like hitting the brakes. Sounds like what I'm experiencing is pretty normal, just need more time. Probably try the shim to see what effect that has.

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WsurfAustin said..

Also need to work on flying as low as possible, but without clipping tops of waves in big chop. It's like hitting the brakes. Sounds like what I'm experiencing is pretty normal, just need more time. Probably try the shim to see what effect that has.

No one deducts style points if you are skimming a few pieces of chop in your formative foiling sessions. Fly at the level you are comfortable with and don't pay mind to the IG pics of someone 60-70cm out of the water. Even the very skilled foilers in Azymuth's video above are occasionally kissing the water. You probably don't even notice it unless you watch closely. On a light air flat water session I can fly clear for mile no problem but through in gusty winds, chop and being overpowered, I'll kiss the water (and more depending on how OPed) not infrequently.

As you gain confidence and experience, you'll find yourself flying higher but don't force it especially if there's big chop where it's not uncommon to hit a few tops. You're doing well with so few sessions, better than many of us were doing at that same point (myself included).

I find that if I have short lines, 25"ish, and standing fairly upright and I get hit by a moderate gust I did not see I can land the board and keep going, but if I am leaning out with longer lines and get hit with a gust I did not see then I can not land the board and crash into the water. Just need to keep looking up wind for gusts, and I forget to do that when distracted by other people on the water, usually jet-skis and windsurfers.