Yep, it was windy ![]()
Phantasm PFI 730 (1,437 cm2), Freestyle 87L, Simmer Tricera 3.4m
The music might not be for everyone ![]()

Too much wind in Perth. You have to go out early and get the narrow window before it builds up. Still I outlasted the Olympic hopefuls training on ~7.0 or bigger at FSC. Even more forecast today!
www.seabreeze.com.au/weather/wind-forecast/perth
Very nice! Can you explain the pros and cons of using a 1400+cm2 wing in 28kts? I went smaller last summer (1250 to 1000) to go faster in stronger wind. Maybe I should rethink for certain conditions like downwinding?
Very nice! Can you explain the pros and cons of using a 1400+cm2 wing in 28kts? I went smaller last summer (1250 to 1000) to go faster in stronger wind. Maybe I should rethink for certain conditions like downwinding?
Cheers !!
It's easier downwinding with 1,000 vs 1,400cm2 wings in strong winds and big windswells - less lift and drag means you go faster with better control. The amount of water moving around in the ocean when its 28+ knots is what makes it tricky - you get unwanted lift from everywhere and excessive drag from a big wing seems to make it a little unstable.
However it was still superfun with the PFI 730 and an interesting challenge - so even though I reckon there's no benefit in using a 1,400cm2 wing over a 1,000cm2 in the conditions in the video, it's definitely doable and worth it if the PFI 730 is your only wing ![]()
There's probably an ideal wing size range for swells (perhaps 1,050 to 800cm2 at 80kgs).
I find control issues go up again slightly when I swap to my 720cm2 smallest wing.
I'd be interested to hear what others think?
Very nice! Can you explain the pros and cons of using a 1400+cm2 wing in 28kts? I went smaller last summer (1250 to 1000) to go faster in stronger wind. Maybe I should rethink for certain conditions like downwinding?
There are too many other variables to wing design than area, so I think you need to focus on the characteristics you want for downwinding and find a wing that does that for you, more through trial and error than numbers
Also it depends how much depowered swell riding you intend to do. I need a wing that is fast enough to catch up to the swell but also has a low enough stall speed to ride depowered.
At times i found my infinity 76 was not quite quick enough for open ocean swell (definitely quick enough for bay swell), so used the apollo 60 a lot, but from what I hear the phantasm 1400 has the lowend of the 76 but a higher top speed. Clearly according to JJ's vids it works awesome for swell riding
This summer I used the moses 799 wing (1100) a lot and its great for downwinding
Too much wind in Perth. You have to go out early and get the narrow window before it builds up. Still I outlasted the Olympic hopefuls training on ~7.0 or bigger at FSC. Even more forecast today!
www.seabreeze.com.au/weather/wind-forecast/perth
If they where on red sails [IQ) then they would likely of been on 9.0.
Too much wind in Perth. You have to go out early and get the narrow window before it builds up. Still I outlasted the Olympic hopefuls training on ~7.0 or bigger at FSC. Even more forecast today!
www.seabreeze.com.au/weather/wind-forecast/perth
If they where on red sails [IQ) then they would likely of been on 9.0.
9.0s are they. Usually 2 or 3 With the coach's boat running alongside. They put in the hours. I often see them, mostly when walking the dog. I shouldn't have implied it was the strength of the wind that sent them in. Back to work? They were probably just on a lunch break.
There are 7.0 FGO IQfoil sails but they are for the junior class, on white boards (if Starboard). Men's senior is 9.0, women's senior is 8.0. Looks like the junior has 5.0, 6.0, and 7.0. I didn't know that.
Yes but you can't get past area as being pretty major. I've read the theories on wing loading. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing_loading
Now I'm not sure that the turbulence under windswell is unsettling for us perpetual novices, but if it is, the higher wing loading on a smaller wing should help.
(I'm also mindful that once we get a theory in our head we can go with it convinced we are right and learn/adapt our ways of doing things to confirm it.)
I've been swapping between 1400 and 800 (a recycled Pinkie) front wings and have recently been settling on the smaller of the two as better in 20 or so knots of windswell. If you sail in a windy location you barely notice the difference in the start up threshold.
Experts who have their ride height control well dialled can no doubt push large wings way faster than I can the 800.
I use the large 350 rear wing. I think that helps for start up. Although it is angled for negative lift once up to speed, I think that maybe when pumping up it's at an angle to help with a bit of positive lift.
Azymuth, what do you use to keep your camera lens clear of waterspots? Helping a friend today who was trying to get some GoPro foil shots from a boom mount but has a constant problem of the water spot always being over his face.
Love the music and I prefer a 1000-1100 wing for swell - fast enough to catch something but slow enough not to outrace it. My 800ish wings would always speed by anything juicy. But those are lake swells so their speed may pale to what others get.
Azymuth, what do you use to keep your camera lens clear of waterspots? Helping a friend today who was trying to get some GoPro foil shots from a boom mount but has a constant problem of the water spot always being over his face.
Love the music and I prefer a 1000-1100 wing for swell - fast enough to catch something but slow enough not to outrace it. My 800ish wings would always speed by anything juicy. But those are lake swells so their speed may pale to what others get.
Azy never touches down so no spray![]()
Too much wind in Perth. You have to go out early and get the narrow window before it builds up. Still I outlasted the Olympic hopefuls training on ~7.0 or bigger at FSC. Even more forecast today!
www.seabreeze.com.au/weather/wind-forecast/perth
If they where on red sails [IQ) then they would likely of been on 9.0.
9.0s are they. Usually 2 or 3 With the coach's boat running alongside. They put in the hours. I often see them, mostly when walking the dog. I shouldn't have implied it was the strength of the wind that sent them in. Back to work? They were probably just on a lunch break.
Yes I know the guys all awesome sailors
and being coached by Arthur Brett.
last I spoke to them they only had 9.0 sails.
Azymuth, what do you use to keep your camera lens clear of waterspots? Helping a friend today who was trying to get some GoPro foil shots from a boom mount but has a constant problem of the water spot always being over his face.
Love the music and I prefer a 1000-1100 wing for swell - fast enough to catch something but slow enough not to outrace it. My 800ish wings would always speed by anything juicy. But those are lake swells so their speed may pale to what others get.
Cheers ![]()
I have a GoPro10 which ships with a hydrophobic lens cover - working well so far. Hoping the treatment doesn't lose effectiveness over time.
To not outrun slower windswells - I find tight S-turning superfun with faster smaller wings.
the door - the lens water-shedding capability gets well tested, I get my share of big crashes ![]()
Steve - cheers.
I'm always amazed the full-on conditions the young IQ racers in Arthur Brett's team will go out in.
Music was great....compared to the wind in the mic !!!!
I left the wind noise in this vid 'cause I hoped it would help show how quiet, calm and relaxing it can be carving deep downwind - while the wind and ocean is going nuts ![]()