KA72 Fast February - 50km challenge!

Wind Foiling for Distance: A Marathon Sailing Session
Wind Foiling has grown on me as many readers will know, but I've never made much progress covering long distances, a challenge lost on me during my recent racing sprints. Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a marathon sailing session thanks to Dylan and ka72.com Fast Feb Challenge, and I wanted to share my experiences and insights on the equipment, location, and choices that made this adventure possible.

Equipment Choices
Choosing the right equipment is crucial for a successful Wind Foiling session, especially when aiming for long distances. For this session, I used F4 GP 100 Mast, 540 Wahoo and XL210 tail for my foil setup, which provided excellent stability and control under the water. The Phantom 85 board was ideal for getting going, smashing through ocean swell and the occasional touch-down, offering great support throughout the session. The CHS 7.1 Aero sail, designed specifically for windsurf foiling, was perfect for the day's wind conditions, a touch small at the start when a lull coincided with a wind-shadow, but more than capable to handle 10 to 25kts of beautifully building summer seabreeze.

Location and Conditions
The session took place in Botany Bay, a fantastic location for Wind Foiling due to its expansive and relatively protected water and consistent wind conditions, with a pleasing lack of jelly fish! I started the day with a few runs between Kurnell and Kyeemagh, each run being just over 6 kilometres each way. The bay's conditions allowed for smooth sailing, with manageable swells and consistent wind speeds.

Experiences and Insights
One of the highlights of the day was achieving a personal best distance of 100 kilometres. It was a challenging yet rewarding experience, requiring careful management of energy and power consumption. I focused on keeping my hand grip as light as possible to avoid fatigue, which proved to be an effective strategy. It takes some trust, and good harness line positioning to get comfortable not squeezing the boom as if your life depends on it!

Roger, a fellow Wind Foiler, also had a great day on the water. Despite using a brand-new sail with minimal setup, Roger managed to cover an impressive distance but he forgot to check his GPS and only made 48km to my 69km when we stopped. Roger's experience highlighted the importance of having adjustable harness lines and outhaul to achieve maximum performance.After about an hour long debrief with Roger and a few other friends my fatigue lifted and I went out for round 2, as pleasing as the 69 was, I wanted more. I decided to try a few speed runs and laydown gybes as I progressed to the 100km milestone. I had a few nice gybes with the sail at about 20 degrees, but every time I tried for a horizontal sail, I failed to bring it around in time! I'll get there, just need a few more tries with a small 7m or 6m rig!

Conclusion
Wind Foiling for distance is an exhilarating and demanding activity that requires careful planning and the right equipment. The combination of the F4 GP100 Wahoo 540 foil set, Phantom 85 board, and CHS 7.1 Aero sail made for a pleasant marathon session in Botany Bay. Whether you're aiming for a personal best or simply enjoying the thrill of the ride, Wind Foiling offers a unique and rewarding experience on the water.





















I need to go back to work so I can recover!