What is the skill level at normal windsurfing for the sailors who are riding these foils? They seem to gybe without getting the board wet, so can your average BAF sailor, who gets his sail wet on 20-50% of gybes and calls it a good day when he gets through just 1 planing gybe hope to have enough balance for board control when all of the fore and aft forces are on the foil, not a metre or so of planing surface?

There is a vid of an English guy going out for first time. It takes about 4 mins to get first lift and he has it looking comfy in 20 mins.
This is way faster than kite foiling.
He is doing tacks for turns but with board on water.
When I work out how to get it loaded I'll post it.

Ral inn are there different lengths of mast or are most 900 in length.or are they flying high at 1200.????

there seems to be 2 common lengths 90cm and 100cm or thereabouts.

The Kite foils have come from a racing background and the extra length allows more lean angle for racing upwind.
I freeride the shorter mast looks the goods.
but in learning the first steps are a slow climb till wings breaks surface then crash down so a longer mast gives you more time to react.
the shorter mast is lond enough and lets you start a bit shallower.

there is a lot of info on this link that is good.
kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=196&t=2391074

primarily about windfoiling. and lots of good vids.

Ok thanks .

www.facebook.com/lokefoil/videos/502880606563331/

Select to expand quote

seanhogan said..
www.facebook.com/windfoilbytaaroa/videos/229272454109292/

the pryde proto

Any idea how much wind, how much speed? What's the usual in ten knots?

I've sent him the question, will let you know


Here's a little clip from Horue at le defi, few windfoil images

Used to have a Torquay Sailboards freeride board 150L. Most of the volume was at back and it had heaps of nose rocker. Built super tough and a Tuttle box.
I think this would be perfect for a foil.

Looks like Horue have really come down in price. 1416 Euros. Used to be over 2000 from memory. I am so close to clicking "buy".

I'm sold ...great vids ...the piggy bank already has $300 in it .
im in love with the tattooed girl in the horue vid .i was trying to look at the foil .

It looked like AA was riding a foil in the onshore Defi race.

Select to expand quote

seanhogan said..
A2 did the defi wind funny race on a F4 foil with an 8.6 and managed to finish 6th

yes, it seems

Was a little surprised to see this in a lunch room at work
I think someone had a pretty tight budget for thier foils

I'd say thats the new race version .

Good luck with the US finbox in your board.....

Select to expand quote

NelsonFoils said...
Good luck with the US finbox in your board.....

That's certainly the first time I've seen that.
Maybe the last

Select to expand quote

seanhogan said..
I've sent him the question, will let you know


Here's a little clip from Horue at le defi, few windfoil images

Cool to see the guy(s) on the KA sails doing back loops while foiling

And when the wind drops,,,,,, best use yet I've seen for a Dufor Wing

That's a big Motor !!
think I would have used an electric Trolling Motor
Have you tried it yet ??

Just seen this review/report of a first time Foileur .

Louis LafreniereJun 29
I saw the future, and even demo’d it! I went to the Beach Bash at the Event Site last weekend. LP Foils was there and had demos available. The wind was actually quite light with only a couple windsurfer with large sails planning occasionally. The LP Foil guy recommended I go out with a 5.7! So I gave it a shot. The board I was on was a 110L Mistral Screamer with an LP Foil. The wind was way too light to waterstart and had to uphaul.

The only way to get going was to pump like a mad man pointing downwind. Shockingly however, pumping was quite effective! The “fin” part is 89cm long and gives a ton of leverage. Combined with the lift from the foil, it was actually possible to pump up to a plane in the gusts. I couldn’t fly the foil at first, until I realized I had to be in the front footstrap first to get enough weight on the back and balance the foil properly. The board I had did not actually have a rear footstrap. It did allow you to place your back foot at different places to find the proper balance point. Once up, it is all about balance. Going at planning speed with a 5.7 in 10-15mph wind was a weird feeling. There is very little pressure in the sail with the apparent wind. I never used my harness and there were no reasons to use it.

My first few foil rides were quite short. You really need to balance everything right in all directions, windward, leeward, forward and back. The crashes are pretty sudden and is another reason to avoid the harness. By the end however, the wind had picked up a bit, it was easier to get going and I managed to cross half the river a couple of times foiling. It was a pretty sweet sensation and I’m hooked. I didn’t even consider attempting a gibe while foiling. Instead, I tacked on every transition. Tack was actually easier than normal because of the leverage of the foil did provide more stability. I did manage to waterstart a few times when the wind was better, and you do have to be quite careful not to kick the foil.

I do think foils would be pretty good option for sailing in Seattle. If I could get going in that light wind with a 5.7, I think you get going in very light wind with a 7.8. So I’m now thinking of taking the plunge and buying one.

The board doesn’t matter much as it is out of the water most of the time. I think you do want a board with some with to help get the initial speed and get enough lift from the foil. I still have a 62 All-Star (the original flapper) which I think would be perfect.

Would be able to bring my board to Hood River? This board is in Seattle right now and I take the train down to Portland on Fridays… I’m hoping to find someone who could bring my board down, and I’d then buy a foil and learn in the Gorge on the lighter wind days. I’d then bring it back to Seattle as my light wind rig for Lake Washington.

Send me an email if you can help me!

-- Louis

Couple of questions.

is the existing finbox position the optimal point for a foil, or were they designed to work there because thats where finboxes tradiotionally are?
I would have thought that under the front foot, or even between the feet (but further forward than all these) would give more control

does the shaft of the foil have to be so long?
I guess they are trying to avoid the chop, it just seems very high for minimal reason.

Not sure ...I think it could end up boring and waste of money...have seen big boring kites and foiling ..can wind foiling be better?

The strut has to be long enough to let board stay above chop. Plus if you start powering upwind and leaning the long strut allows for lean angle and water clearance.
The foils are set to go into a std position Tuttle box.
As for getting boring. It is never boring planing around on a windsurfer and this opens up a whole new wind range to operate in plus brings on a whole new set of skills to try and master.

Personally I can't wait.

If that foil does not fit in a sedan then I'm out.

Looks like you need a van. A wagon is not ideal either.

They prob would fit your car Pete, mine fit on the backseat of my ute With a bit of angling through the door.

Yea my foil assembled not attached fits in back of dual cab easy as.

When will there be the first swimmer decapitated?

Select to expand quote

Beaglebuddy said..
When will there be the first swimmer decapitated?

being higher on the water you'll see the swimmer from further away, thus being able to choose to slice him or not !