Tried an experiment this week.... just wanted to see in light winds how small of a wing can I use because we all get caught up in the "must use a huge wing" to get going and of course the downside to big wings is the drag, the canopies are fuller in shape, they are heavier etc. etc. (they are awesome for boosting though).

Very light on the inside with just enough wind to stand up but if I could just reach the wind line maybe I could get this to work and I was very surprised with the results (I am 90kg/200lbs)

Great vid..Nice angle with the camera.

I agree and find huge wings pretty annoying. Outrunning them on gybes, having them sag when luffed..

im getting a lightwind board built for this application. Basically a mini downwind board. I think this is going to become a growing segment of the market for boards.

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Velocicraptor said..
I agree and find huge wings pretty annoying. Outrunning them on gybes, having them sag when luffed..

im getting a lightwind board built for this application. Basically a mini downwind board. I think this is going to become a growing segment of the market for boards.

Sounds interesting, any idea of the board dimensions yet?

And yes gybing big wings can be annoying.

5'7, 21 inches wide, 80 liters (Im 80 kg). Very efficient hull design.

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Velocicraptor said..
5'7, 21 inches wide, 80 liters (Im 80 kg). Very efficient hull design.

I'm very interested in hearing more about this once the board is done. I want to be able to wing in more marginal conditions, although I'm not sure 80l would be enough at my skill level. (I'm also 80kg). My everyday board is a 75l sky wing and I find that when it's light it requires too much energy to stand on the board (either for balance or to keep pumping the wing for forward momentum or both). I generally sit on the board until I see/feel enough wind that i think i can take off. That wastes a lot of energy every time I get it wrong (the more marginal the more times I get it wrong). I would like a board where I can stand with less effort. I have a 103l sky wing inflatable as well. On that board I can stand in pretty much no wind at all, but the board is much harder to take off with. I think the key volume for me will be somewhere in between. Going to be very interesting to hear your experience about how much the hull design affects balance. I'm assuming that a more efficient hull to some extent will allow you to get away with less volume since you presumably get more board speed per knot of wind.

My daily board is 60L so I'm used to a lower volume board. I can make that board work in very marginal conditions with a huge wing, but I think I would prefer a smaller wing and a bigger board in those conditions.


the board that I'm going to be on is not going to be stable. I think there is going to be an inverse relationship between stability and hull speed, unless you are willing to go longer length. 21 inches is quite narrow and I am expecting to do a modified stinkbug start on this board. I don't think I will be able to stand on it very easily without some stability from the wing. The intent is (I) lightwind winging and (ii) more downwind winging in powered conditions, but using a smaller wing size.


my sense is that we are prioritizing different things, but this is all an evolving experiment and I will let you know how it goes!

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Velocicraptor said..
5'7, 21 inches wide, 80 liters (Im 80 kg). Very efficient hull design.

Sounds great and also ideal shape for down winders in the swell.