I use a fish shape surfboard in waves on those light wind days with a 17m kite. (some would say it a waste of time but I find its better than sitting on the beach looking at it).
When I use the same board with a smaller kite I can get back up wind pretty easy but with the 17 I don't make too much ground at all.
Using 5" fins FCS, will longer fins help?
If so any ideas which fins would suit.
Sounds to me once you're going the apparent wind is pulling you downwind. Try trimming your kite to find the sweet spot. Could be the kite itself though.
Your 17 is sitting far back in the window, maybe a design feature you cant overcome by trimming, happens with a lot of larger kites
How much have you depowered your kite?
On the large kites, depowering puts them right back in the window.
Sheeting excessively while trying to go upwind will also have the same effect in light wind, stalling the kite and dragging you downwind.
Try building up a bit more board speed before heading upwind, and sheet in less, let the kite come as close to the edge as possible and let it do the work. only sheet for a moment when you feel a gust hit to get a bit of extra upwind drive.
Select to expand quoteAndyHansen said..
How much have you depowered your kite?
On the large kites, depowering puts them right back in the window.
Sheeting excessively while trying to go upwind will also have the same effect in light wind, stalling the kite and dragging you downwind.
Try building up a bit more board speed before heading upwind, and sheet in less, let the kite come as close to the edge as possible and let it do the work. only sheet for a moment when you feel a gust hit to get a bit of extra upwind drive.
Spot on
Thanks guys, I'm awear of trimming the kite to help it to fly towards the edge of the window.
The kite I'm using is pretty low aspect and drift nicely down the line so maybe it's just not windy enough, just thought longer fins might help abit on those really light days.
Once the wind picks up a couple of knots I can edge alot harder and it goes ok.
^^^^ +1 all the above!
I know you already have the kite but your current kite might not suit you or your style. But I know of a kite that you will defintely like, and it goes upwind easily in light stuff, the new Zephyr. If you liked last years model then you'll love the new one.
Sorry, not a very techie help, but pretty much guarantee you'll go better.
Robbie 
ps life is too short to stuff around, go get the right gear and have fun!!
Yeah I agree Robbie, love the new Zephyr. Zephyr kills it on the flat or mowing grass but it's not as good as the one I'm using in waves. Can't have everything I guess.
Might loose a few keg's and get a more dedicated light wind wave board.
Select to expand quotehigh as a kite said..
Yeah I agree Robbie, love the new Zephyr. Zephyr kills it on the flat or mowing grass but it's not as good as the one I'm using in waves. Can't have everything I guess.
Might loose a few keg's and get a more dedicated light wind wave board.
... meh to the loose a few,,,,, thats the hard way, easy way, get both, Zeph and 5'5" Nug, you can't loose! 
Try shorter lines which will loose a little bottom end but helps move the kite more to the edge and give quicker turning. Or just edge harder.
Fins will help, I recently replaced front fins on a quad with MUCH larger ones and enormous increase in drive and upwind ability to the point where I now love the board, not a fish though, more traditional performance shape. I'd recommend trying larger before going a new board.
Select to expand quoteHardcarve1 said..
Try shorter lines which will loose a little bottom end but helps move the kite more to the edge and give quicker turning. Or just edge harder.
Doesn't work like that, big kites don't move quick and the last thing he wants to lose is bottom end.
Select to expand quotePuetz said..
5'5" Nug, you can't loose!
Is the Nug better than the chop top Robbie?Select to expand quoteSlashrockson said..
Fins will help, I recently replaced front fins on a quad with MUCH larger ones and enormous increase in drive and upwind ability to the point where I now love the board, .
Yeah might try some longer ones Select to expand quoteVB MAN said..
Doesn't work like that, big kites don't move quick and the last thing he wants to lose is bottom end.
+1 ^^^^
Or you could Mod your bridle, a bridle is 80% of how the kite flys and feels, adjusting a cm on a few points will make the kite sit forward more
Select to expand quotehigh as a kite said..
dedicated light wind wave board.
Less rocker will help. It is amazing how far upwind you can go on a skimboard in really light wind, they have no fins.
Select to expand quotehilly said..
Less rocker will help. It is amazing how far upwind you can go on a skimboard in really light wind, they have no fins.
Agree Hilly, less rocker is the way to go on a surfboard, but I was hoping for a quick fix on the board I have at the moment.
I probably will take my skim board to Bali this year for the ponds but I'm not good enough on it to ride the waves at Ocker Point.
Select to expand quoteVB MAN said..Hardcarve1 said..
Try shorter lines which will loose a little bottom end but helps move the kite more to the edge and give quicker turning. Or just edge harder.
Doesn't work like that, big kites don't move quick and the last thing he wants to lose is bottom end.
Does work have done it for many years.
Select to expand quotehigh as a kite said..Puetz said..
5'5" Nug, you can't loose!
Is the Nug better than the chop top Robbie?Slashrockson said..
Fins will help, I recently replaced front fins on a quad with MUCH larger ones and enormous increase in drive and upwind ability to the point where I now love the board, .
Yeah might try some longer onesVB MAN said..
Doesn't work like that, big kites don't move quick and the last thing he wants to lose is bottom end.
+1 ^^^^
... long story short, demo'd Nugget while Airush was in dry dock with cracked fin boxes (longer story), and was shocked how much fun it was. Then leap of faith, got the 5'5" initially for the missus, took it for a ride and it did all that the Cypher did, but with better upwind and bottom end. Loved it so much I didn't give it to the missus, kept it for myself.
Totally amazing and really really recommended you try one. Plus, no need to muck around with fins, they truelly got it right on the Nug, and I reckon the Nug will bring out the best of your current kites abilities.
Robbie
Thanks Robbie,
sounds good but getting a demo on one is going to be a battle down here.
Select to expand quotehigh as a kite said..
Thanks Robbie,
sounds good but getting a demo on one is going to be a battle down here.
could ask one of the guys to bring one down to robe over easter if you want me to try for ya?? gonna meet up with u anyway to give you the skim back so may as well ask around?
I agree with robbie, I was amazed to get going in 10 knots on a 10 meter kite and the nugget
how long are the lines on the 17? having shorter lines puts the kite further upwind but will sacrifice a little bit of power. you might find that helps the upwind ability. reduce the lines by 2 - 3m
Select to expand quotelovelife said..
could ask one of the guys to bring one down to robe over easter if you want me to try for ya??
If you can that would be great E. Knowing Robe the wind will be light
Select to expand quoteCharl dv said..
how long are the lines on the 17? having shorter lines puts the kite further upwind but will sacrifice a little bit of power. you might find that helps the upwind ability. reduce the lines by 2 - 3m
That's something I haven't played around with yet charl, will try this weekend.
Select to expand quotehigh as a kite said..lovelife said..
could ask one of the guys to bring one down to robe over easter if you want me to try for ya??
If you can that would be great E. Knowing Robe the wind will be lightCharl dv said..
how long are the lines on the 17? having shorter lines puts the kite further upwind but will sacrifice a little bit of power. you might find that helps the upwind ability. reduce the lines by 2 - 3m
That's something I haven't played around with yet charl, will try this weekend.
you'll find it loses a bit of power, but flying and turning speed increases as well as position in window so it's a bit of a balancing game. play around between 1 - 5m if at all possible.
Select to expand quoteCharl dv said..high as a kite said..lovelife said..
could ask one of the guys to bring one down to robe over easter if you want me to try for ya??
If you can that would be great E. Knowing Robe the wind will be lightCharl dv said..
how long are the lines on the 17? having shorter lines puts the kite further upwind but will sacrifice a little bit of power. you might find that helps the upwind ability. reduce the lines by 2 - 3m
That's something I haven't played around with yet charl, will try this weekend.
you'll find it loses a bit of power, but flying and turning speed increases as well as position in window so it's a bit of a balancing game. play around between 1 - 5m if at all possible.
Mate what kite are you on? longer lines just gives you a longer down stoke (which gives you longer power delivery for each down stroke), and takes longer to travel through the wind window when tacking. Also give you more time to downloop if you kite stalls out in very light wind.
Longer lines does not effect the kite angle or how close it gets to the edge of the wind window, unless you using damn think lines the drag caused by them is minimal.
Draw it out if have a alternate theory.
Doing a road trip this weekend and will have heaps of time to try both long and short lines along with bridle settings..
Select to expand quoteAndyHansen said..
Longer lines does not effect the kite angle or how close it gets to the edge of the wind window, unless you using damn think lines the drag caused by them is minimal.
They most definitely do. Try 40m lines and tell me they don't...
I notice the difference between 20s and 24s when riding freestyle quite a lot. On 20s I almost need to ride a size bigger than 24s as the kite gets pushed further forward in the window when doing tricks. This same theory will let you go up-wind slightly better as well, but as mentioned it's a balancing game because if you go too short you will also need a bigger kite (which will go upwind worse).
To help with the initial question though I think it's all in your technique. Cruising in light wind takes a lot more concentration on how you weight your board and the position you and your kite are set in. With your equipment you should easily be able to hold ground in light wind. Practice makes perfect so get out there!
Select to expand quotesir ROWDY said..AndyHansen said..
Longer lines does not effect the kite angle or how close it gets to the edge of the wind window, unless you using damn think lines the drag caused by them is minimal.
They most definitely do. Try 40m lines and tell me they don't...
I notice the difference between 20s and 24s when riding freestyle quite a lot. On 20s I almost need to ride a size bigger than 24s as the kite gets pushed further forward in the window when doing tricks. This same theory will let you go up-wind slightly better as well, but as mentioned it's a balancing game because if you go too short you will also need a bigger kite (which will go upwind worse).
To help with the initial question though I think it's all in your technique. Cruising in light wind takes a lot more concentration on how you weight your board and the position you and your kite are set in. With your equipment you should easily be able to hold ground in light wind. Practice makes perfect so get out there!
Agree. What short lines do i find in light wind is to move a larger kite to the edge of the window a little more so you can get more speed and more apparent wind. The lighter the wind the more apparent wind you will generate and for large grunty kites this is especially a problem. I find speed is the best light wind weapon and the faster you go the more chance of punching through the light spots. My North rhino 2 20m taught me all about apparent wind and the challenge of not getting dragged down wind, and while kites have developed greatly the rules are still the same I find.
^Correct. But you have to define "short lines" as for me that would mean 10-13m which I'm guessing you're not talking about.
I think 25-27m are a good length for really light days on a 17-19m kite. You get the positives of a longer power stroke and use of the wind a bit higher off the water. 20s are a bit short for good light wind performance IMO and I would only go as short as 23 on a 14m+ kite.
I still ride my 04 17m Fuel occasionally and I have no problem going upwind. I think some people just aren't used to the feel and pull a larger kite gives thus they tend to get taken downwind more with it instead of edging in a way that pushes against the kite without stopping you completely.
Select to expand quotelovelife said..high as a kite said..
Thanks Robbie,
sounds good but getting a demo on one is going to be a battle down here.
could ask one of the guys to bring one down to robe over easter if you want me to try for ya?? gonna meet up with u anyway to give you the skim back so may as well ask around?
I agree with robbie, I was amazed to get going in 10 knots on a 10 meter kite and the nugget
A while back, I was looking into getting a Fat Lady as we get lots of marginal days here on the Sunny coast - my biggest kite at the time was a 2012 10m Reo....anyway ended up getting a second hand 5'0 Nugget first because I don't like slow kites especially in the surf. I'm 75kg & with a10 Reo could ride (downwinders) in 10 knots, now I have a 2014 12m Wave & can ride upwind (in small surf) in 13 - usually the only one out.
12m is still a small kite. I can guarantee you wont be out riding when I can be on a surfboard and a 17m. There's lots of guys around here that preach "10m is all I need" spiel on occasions and it's not until I get the old 17 out again on a light day that they see how wrong they are.
Don't underestimate big kites in light wind, no matter what your 10 or 12m kite is it wont get you out in the same stuff as a 17 or 19m kite. Bigger is better.
Yeah, would love to test the Nugget with a big kite - I was thinking Big kites would be too slow, making it harder to ride waves.
