I'm interested to know whether foils met expectations in terms of extending the ToW in Tas over summer.
There's lots of posts about the technical aspects, brand comparisons, setup and so on, but from an experience point of view, did foils deliver the anticipated benefit?
I must admit to being a bit partial to the new Windsurfer One Design concept for a lightwind option, but interested in feedback from foil users. I've only really seen one foil kit in the flesh and haven't seen any on the water so don't have any feel for what's involved and the experience they have delivered.

Cheers,
Mort

Mort,
I sailed 3 days a week on my foil. Light sea breezes down south that I would never of been out on usually. Really enjoyed the whole learning stage and challenge.
Fully recommend, you would always keep a foil board/foil in your quiver.
Stopped me taking up kiting

And yes that was easy foiling in 10 knots on 5.2
To be honest is does get a little boring, I guess like going backwards and forwards doing the same thing for hours,
You have to push yourself , I.e learn to gybe it... Or like others buy a faster foil designed for bigger sails and speed..
The boards and foils from the big manufactures havev different minimum wind use, ask advice before purchasing.
Next season gear will be interesting.

Mort, I have the Naish, and have also sailed one of the slingshots. Both have the ability to allow you to sail in lighter conditions. I'd say my 8m sail plus a 120 litre freeride board (conventional - not foil) I can get going in around 12-13 knots. The naish foil and a 6 m, I could pump up in 10-11 knots. It might not seem like much, but I think for Sandy bay sea breezes, the foil gives you a lot more days of sailing than conventional windsurfing gear. And you get away with smaller gear too. I'm not bored with foiling and I'm not sure I will ever be. As Damo says, it's challenging. I think I enjoy conventional windsurfing a bit more, but only a tiny bit. For you on the NW coast, the more consistent conditions may not require a foil?? Anyway, next time I'm up, I'll let you know if the foil is coming, and if so, you should have a go.

Mort - I took up kiting instead, but I look at it the same way that G4K looks at foiling I think -

- It gets you on the water when you otherwise would not be
- The learning part is really good fun
- There is quite a bit of backwards and forwards once you get your act together.

The other good thing is that unlike wave-sailing, you are on the water in PLEASANT conditions, instead of 'I-am-going-to-beat-you-to-a-pulp' conditions.

Pick one - do it!

Mountain biking is taking off in your neck of the woods with lots of new tracks - no wind needed!

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Mort67 said..
I'm interested to know whether foils met expectations in terms of extending the ToW in Tas over summer.
There's lots of posts about the technical aspects, brand comparisons, setup and so on, but from an experience point of view, did foils deliver the anticipated benefit?
I must admit to being a bit partial to the new Windsurfer One Design concept for a lightwind option, but interested in feedback from foil users. I've only really seen one foil kit in the flesh and haven't seen any on the water so don't have any feel for what's involved and the experience they have delivered.

Cheers,
Mort

www.facebook.com/windsurfingtv/videos/2054158188205604/

Hi mort
Windfoiling is heaps of fun
Particularly after you get going and can go out with more wind and move quicker.
Gets the adrenaline going as it gets more challenging.

Hi Mort. We are up to devo this weekend. Missus is gunna watch royal wedding with mum in law on Sat so I'm free . I'm intending bringing the foil up as wind is going to be 10-20 kts for most of weekend up there by the looks. I'll let you know where I'm going and when if you want to come along and have a go. Probably Moorlands as swell might be a little more sheltered and good wind direction.

If you want to know a bit more about the how to and what it's like, then I'd recommend this link to Foil academy:
www.foil-academy.com/

Thanks for the feedback G4K, Geoff, Marty and others. I've started paddling a kayak on the completely windless days, which seems to be good for working a number of windsurfing muscle groups and keeps me on the water.

Marty, I'll definitely catch up on the weekend as I am intrigued. Morelands has a fair bit of rocky bottom & outcrops which I would not think is too foil friendly? Forecast certainly looks in that 12-18knt window where a foil starts to look like an option.
Mort

Marty,
if you have a spare seat i would love to come up and watch the Royal wedding with you , your missus and her mum.
My missus want let me watch it as it interrupts her All Star cage fighting on channel TV,, bummer.
I love my royal weddings

Damo so sorry we didn't have room. Mort did superbly considering the variable winds and swell. Flew the foil a few times and only 2 stacks. Wind picked up so went back to wave boards. Think adam was gutted he spent 3 hours sailing when he could have been preparing tea, scones and royal photos ready for tonight.

Nice one,
Perfect conditions up that way in summer for foiling .
Perhaps next season might see some more on the water

Thanks Marty for the introduction to foiling 101 lesson. Conditions were a bit variable, but that's pretty normal round this part of the coast, more consistent wind offshore, but more swell to contend with too. Went out first on a 5.3 which was probably a tad big when the wind was up, changed to a 4.7 which was a tad small when the wind dropped a bit (also meant couldn't waterstart).

Overall impressions;
Found that getting up on the foil was reasonably easy, but once up control is another matter. Foot straight into the back strap helped with the directional control, other foot in front of front strap to keep nose down. Was able to find some balance to allow a (short) bit of foiling, followed by touchdown (and repeat) without too many dramas.
Swell creates a bit of an issue as you pass over the crest on the way out there's a tendency to keep rising, and on the way in the swell can push you up on the foil unexpectedly. I would think that Lagoon Beach would be an ideal spot to give it more of a try, but that's still a 3 hr round trip from here.

Waterstarting was easier than I thought to avoid collisions with the foil, but the 4.7 wouldn't get me up in the breeze. Uphauling was a bit of a battle in the swell too. Given the lightwind focus I might be inclined to go for a bit more volume, where uphaul is going to be common.

Certainly will keep foiling on the to do list, but will probably wait until the early adopters start the inevitable upgrade cycle when the 2019 range is released, and look at 2nd hand (to fit in with the rest of my gear).
Cheers,
Mort

PS: Had a good blast with Marty when the wind picked back up again to around 20 knots, jumped on the FSW/5.5 and Yeehah!
.... Was well pooped by the time of the wedding and fell asleep with a face full of cucumber sandwiches, crumpets and scones.
Now, I ain't sayin' she a Gold Digger... But she ain't messin' with no broke Gingas!

Sounds like a good go first off.
There are some,local guys,selling
Here is one in tassie!!
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~-183n/2018-Slingshot-Wizard-Foil-And-Flight-School.aspx