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LeeD said..
JB...
I question because I windsurf with guys on the leading edge of the foil revolution, foil maker's like Mike Zaicheck, his former team rider's Steve Sylvester and Mike Percy, and a handful of other foil rider's for the past two year's. Most are using Formula boards and F-4, or MikeZ foils, but including NP's and Starboard foils also.
We seldom get light winds (that's relative of course) here in Berkeley Ca., usually plenty for me at 160 lbs to plane solidly with a 6 meter sail and a 100 liter board. Those days, the foilers my size are using slightly bigger sails with their Formula boards and foils.
Some lighter wind days do come around in the summer, so on a "7-13 mph" day, they are still out foiling, while I"m playing tennis or watching. Seems they only pump onto a foil in the higher end of that range, not the lower ends. And, they're using 7 meter sail sizing.
I just don't see foiling really working in sub kitesurfing winds, which is around "7-11" as bare minimum...for actual planing, then foiling. Sure, you can slog to the windline, or wait for a puff, but my thought is, "if I don't plane at least 90% with 6 meter and 100 liters, I"m sitting on shore anyways. I do need 13-19 mph windspeeds, cannot pump onto a plane in 13, but can glide thru easily once planing in the straps.
The Naish Foil is pretty different to the F4 (not familiar with MikeZ Foils). Anyway this said, I was likely not up and foiling 90% of the time, maybe more like 75%, the wind was very light, as you can see the average was in the 5knot area, definitely could not get going in that. The max gusts during my time out there were 10kn or less (measured at Terry Hills, I think less were I was). Yes I needed the gusts to get going and yes I could foil through the lulls most of the time after this. The Naish set up is so different to what everyone else is doing. It's about getting going early, using smaller sails and enjoying the glide, who wants to pump a 7 or 8m sail to death to get going when you can use a 5.3m. Sure once up the formula foil gear will likely go faster, but this set up is far easier to use.
There are so many conditions round the world were due to the gusty nature of the wind, kitesurfing is not feasible, but Wind Foiling will be perfect. This said there is also conditions were Foil Kiters will be going sooner the Wind (as I found out over the last few days). No one is riding in the same conditions, and i am lucky to have all the toys t my disposal. Wind foiling is going to open up so many more riding days a year and bring back a lot of windsurfer frustrated with wind & Gear limitations.
Ride safe,
JB