I've been impatiently waiting for enough wind to break out the ART799 with the wing but recently the stars aligned and I managed to get out for a session. The foil met all of my speed expectations even if I wasn't crazy powered up. My daily driver has been the ART999 for the last few months and I've really enjoyed that wing with the 375p tail. The 799 did take a bit more to get up on foil but that was expected. I weigh 72kg and rode the following setup:
- Axis Froth 75L
- Unit v2 4m
- 799/375p
- Ultrashort fuse
- 960 carbon mast
- Breeze was in the low teens (12-14kts).

Staight line Speed: as expected, the foil felt faster than the 999. Not by leaps and bounds but definitely less resistance. Managed 17.7kts according to my apple watch (waterspeed) but that was in the choppy ocean. Hoping this foil can get me up to 23kts as my best with the 999 is 21.7kts.

Stall speed/Maneuvers: with a little less glide than the 999, I did touch down a couple times through my tacks but after I realized that I could turn harder, I foiled through all subsequent tacks. During a couple sloppy tacks, I did have to pump the board a little to avoid touching down. While stall speed is higher than the 999, I think it balances out given the higher speed and ability to turn harder. No problem through the jibes.

Jumps:
With the breeze dropping I didn't try too many jumps (I'm no crazy aerialist) but takeoffs seemed easier and the landings a bit more smooth with the smaller surface area. The higher speed of the 799 also helped with the airs.

Overall:
Very happy with the 799 and I cannot wait to get it out on a proper day when we have at least upper teens and a bit of swell to ride. Will stay on the 375p as the only other tail I have is the 460 which I don't feel will pair well. Curious to see if anyone else is winging the 799 with a 300p or 325p and what they think.

I hope to try the ARTs next. I was on a HPS880 / 375P this week and clocked 23MPH / 19.9 knots in 15 knots average wind. I feel I could have pulled 25MPH with a slightly bigger hand wing, as I wasn't fully powered. To add to that, if I had a 325P I would have used that as I felt the 375 was more than I needed. I'm 82kg.

Have hit 25kn over 2secs on a proper GPS with the 799 using a 6m wing.

It does get a bit twitchy and can explode anytime so I use a longer fuse (short) than usual plus the 380 stab for pure speed runs.

The initial lift is rather extreme on the 799 (especially with a kite) compared to the other ART wings.

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Alysum said..
Have hit 25kn over 2secs on a proper GPS with the 799 using a 6m wing.

It does get a bit twitchy and can explode anytime so I use a longer fuse (short) than usual plus the 380 stab for pure speed runs.

The initial lift is rather extreme on the 799 (especially with a kite) compared to the other ART wings.

@alysum What are you using as a proper gps? Garmin watch?

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gneve said..

Alysum said..
Have hit 25kn over 2secs on a proper GPS with the 799 using a 6m wing.

It does get a bit twitchy and can explode anytime so I use a longer fuse (short) than usual plus the 380 stab for pure speed runs.

The initial lift is rather extreme on the 799 (especially with a kite) compared to the other ART wings.

@alysum What are you using as a proper gps? Garmin watch?

I'm thinking the same. I using a GoPro, but I expect to buy a Garmin watch soon.

Hey, how do you like the fat on the Axis board... Looks like you have booties, but I'm wondering about it, barefoot.

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gneve said..

Alysum said..
Have hit 25kn over 2secs on a proper GPS with the 799 using a 6m wing.

It does get a bit twitchy and can explode anytime so I use a longer fuse (short) than usual plus the 380 stab for pure speed runs.

The initial lift is rather extreme on the 799 (especially with a kite) compared to the other ART wings.

@alysum What are you using as a proper gps? Garmin watch?

Motion are proper GPS devices. Garmin would also certainly be better than the terribly inaccurate Apple watches.

If you go by The GPSTC group criteria there's only 2 approved devices readily available. The GPSTC is a speed based windsurfing set of categories you can compete in anywhere in the world if you have an approved device. Those devices are the Motion and the Locosys GW60. I suggest googling both and have a look at the reviews. Lots of pros and cons but both are considered accurate. I normally use my Fenix 5 to record each of my dingin sessions. In the last mth my f5 recorded a 28knt 2s. It's fair to say I won't be claiming it. This week I ran the f5 side by side with the Gw52, a superseded gw60, but approved and accurate. The f5 recorded an 18knt 2s and the gw52 15.9knts.

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flatchat said..
If you go by The GPSTC group criteria there's only 2 approved devices readily available. The GPSTC is a speed based windsurfing set of categories you can compete in anywhere in the world if you have an approved device. Those devices are the Motion and the Locosys GW60. I suggest googling both and have a look at the reviews. Lots of pros and cons but both are considered accurate. I normally use my Fenix 5 to record each of my dingin sessions. In the last mth my f5 recorded a 28knt 2s. It's fair to say I won't be claiming it. This week I ran the f5 side by side with the Gw52, a superseded gw60, but approved and accurate. The f5 recorded an 18knt 2s and the gw52 15.9knts.

I buying the f5

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flatchat said..
If you go by The GPSTC group criteria there's only 2 approved devices readily available. The GPSTC is a speed based windsurfing set of categories you can compete in anywhere in the world if you have an approved device. Those devices are the Motion and the Locosys GW60. I suggest googling both and have a look at the reviews. Lots of pros and cons but both are considered accurate. I normally use my Fenix 5 to record each of my dingin sessions. In the last mth my f5 recorded a 28knt 2s. It's fair to say I won't be claiming it. This week I ran the f5 side by side with the Gw52, a superseded gw60, but approved and accurate. The f5 recorded an 18knt 2s and the gw52 15.9knts.

Interesting stuff. That's a big difference! I expected the Garmin to be more accurate. I do want to order a Fenix (whatever the current version is). I'm using GoPro's GPS. I don't expect it to be super accurate, but I'm looking at various videos within the session to more or less have a better idea of how fast I'm going.

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FoilWays said..

gneve said..

Alysum said..
Have hit 25kn over 2secs on a proper GPS with the 799 using a 6m wing.

It does get a bit twitchy and can explode anytime so I use a longer fuse (short) than usual plus the 380 stab for pure speed runs.

The initial lift is rather extreme on the 799 (especially with a kite) compared to the other ART wings.

@alysum What are you using as a proper gps? Garmin watch?

I'm thinking the same. I using a GoPro, but I expect to buy a Garmin watch soon.

Hey, how do you like the fat on the Axis board... Looks like you have booties, but I'm wondering about it, barefoot.

@foilways I mostly ride barefoot but do loosen up the straps to accommodate booties when the water and air temps drop. I've been loving the Froth. Plenty nimble and still big enough if I need to schlog back to the beach. I don't do any crazy airs but that would be the only reason for me to downsize at this point. Not sure what you mean by "fat". If you mean the deckpad, no complaints. If you mean the v-strap (North) they've been pretty good although not super adjustable.

One can squeeze a bit more out of Axis ART series with some sand paper:

Still trying to figure out how to get a few more knots out of my setup. I ride the 799 with 375p tail on the 960 carbon mast. I'm getting similar to speeds between my 999 and 799 which has me thinking about a smaller stab. I've maxed out at just over 21kts but routinely stay around 17-18kt. Anyone winged or proned the 799 or 999 with a 300p or 325p?

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gneve said..
Still trying to figure out how to get a few more knots out of my setup. I ride the 799 with 375p tail on the 960 carbon mast. I'm getting similar to speeds between my 999 and 799 which has me thinking about a smaller stab. I've maxed out at just over 21kts but routinely stay around 17-18kt. Anyone winged or proned the 799 or 999 with a 300p or 325p?

Cut a coke can and get a few slivers of material to make a shim to go under the front wing. -1 shim for tail.
You'll hit higher speeds at the cost of a bit more manoeuvrability.
Axis isn't a speed foil, so do keep this in mind. You're pushing the setup as much as you can.

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I use 325p for 899, 799 and 699.

I've been on the 699 the last 2 days on Lake water, it is simply amazing.

A little more effort to get up foiling if under 15kn but once up it glides for ever.

Just curious if anyone has compared the advance vs the normal fuse on the Art series. My flawed logic would suggest no difference other then yaw which shouldn't effect the straight line speed. One of the speedy guys here suggested a short fuse is better then a long fuse for speed as there is less drag. Looking at the pro racers, most of those guys are using windfoil type fuses, ie very long.

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flatchat said..
Just curious if anyone has compared the advance vs the normal fuse on the Art series. My flawed logic would suggest no difference other then yaw which shouldn't effect the straight line speed. One of the speedy guys here suggested a short fuse is better then a long fuse for speed as there is less drag. Looking at the pro racers, most of those guys are using windfoil type fuses, ie very long.

You want a long fuse for pitch stability 70cm +
Serious speed and things happen very quickly, you need that bit more control. Notwithstanding at that length you can be full noise and never concern yourself with altitude

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King Crash said..

flatchat said..
Just curious if anyone has compared the advance vs the normal fuse on the Art series. My flawed logic would suggest no difference other then yaw which shouldn't effect the straight line speed. One of the speedy guys here suggested a short fuse is better then a long fuse for speed as there is less drag. Looking at the pro racers, most of those guys are using windfoil type fuses, ie very long.

You want a long fuse for pitch stability 70cm +
Serious speed and things happen very quickly, you need that bit more control. Notwithstanding at that length you can be full noise and never concern yourself with altitude

Sounds like the Short black fuse at 704mm is the go.

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gneve said..
Still trying to figure out how to get a few more knots out of my setup. I ride the 799 with 375p tail on the 960 carbon mast. I'm getting similar to speeds between my 999 and 799 which has me thinking about a smaller stab. I've maxed out at just over 21kts but routinely stay around 17-18kt. Anyone winged or proned the 799 or 999 with a 300p or 325p?

I'm using 999 and 899 with 300p, its very pitch sensitive at first but with everything you will get use to it. Feels a little less drag and more twitchy and turns than 375p.

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I've been windwing the ART 699 for the last few days. Today, due to lighter on/off wind I put the ART899, what a surprise the 899 felt slow and jybing took considerable more effort.
After a few runs I settled back into the 899 and all good with a top speed of 35.5kph in nominally 12kn wind.

I am an ART fan as they are very kind to my 76 yo body.?

I ended up ordering a 325p stab and a buddy 3D printed some shims. Will be trying to dial things in if the wind cooperates.

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SilverFoilSurfer said..

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One can squeeze a bit more out of Axis ART series with some sand paper:

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Anyone done the work in this video, if so was there much improvement?

Holy Cr@P

Two things... DON'T use a hard sanding block to do this, use a flexible block or you'll introduce flat spots all over the place, and... Break up the glue bond of the sandpaper before using by drawing the back side over a sharp edge twice at 90 degree angles.

Better yet, just don't do it!