I saw the other foil sail post, but thought instead of hi jacking it, I'd better start my own
So, I'm also interested in recommendations..as I'm thinking about getting a foil sail for my wife for marginal foiling winds.
Shes been foiling for 2 years and has 2 foil boards jp120/135 with all of Starboard foil wing configurations in our collection.
However she is struggling with up hauling and the general handling of a 7 batten np v8 7.2 and 6.2m which she's using as her larger sails on her jp135. Once she's on her jp120 she's on a 6m and below and really happy.
ive convinced her that she needs a cammed sail, but she hates cammed sails and hates me doubly for making her use one..
so she tends to use a np ryde 6.5m on a rdm or Sdm as the mood takes her..but it doesn't inflate and have the power to get her up on the foil, and gives up.
so when I'm foiling around her using her as a gybe mark on my 7.7m v8..she triply hates me.
any thoughts on this. Divorce is not an option
You're set up for 'racing' type foiling: high profile small foils which requires ongoing drive from a large sail, esp cambered sails.
There is a second school of foiling (which many of us adhere to) for riding waves and freeriding: low profile and thick profile/high lift foils (eg Gofoil Maliko, NP surf XL and larger) and very small sails which is used for getting on foil but minimal pull once flying. See the thread on the Slingshot sail/wind/foil size graphing.
Eg: I'm 143lbs, using 3.7 with a 'medium' size foil (eg Slingshot 76, Gofoil Iwa, NP surf XL) at anything above 17-18 knots, and 3.7 with an extra large foil (eg Slingshot 99, Gofoil Maliko 200/280) at 15 knots and above. We use wave sails that depower well.For your wife, I would recommend a VERY large foil (easier to take off, limited top speed) and a very light sail with lots of low end and neutral when flagged (the Naish Lift is excellent)
Freestyle sails are great for foiling, since they are very light and powerful, but they require pumping in light winds. Although you can't lump them all together, since they differ quite a bit in handling. I like my Severne Freek in high wind, but my older North Idols rock in light wind and high wind. Could just be personal preference, though.
The big luff sleeve in the V8 can be quite a pain to uphaul. Getting going after a foil crash often takes longer, and once the mast sleeve fills up, you need muscles and patience. My wife loves our 4-batten race sails, but she won't take them out if there's a chance she might have to uphaul, and never on a foil. She's got a 7.5 m raceboard sail she has taken out for foiling a few times, but that sail is extremely light (feels more like a 5.5). She usually foils on 4.2-5.2 freestyle sails.
I know two women who foil with the Sailworks Flyer 6.0 (2 cam), and two women who foil with the Severne 6.0 (2 cam) foil sail. They have other sails, but I have never seen them out foiling with those other sails.
If she does not use sails for anything other than foiling I would go for the: Severne Foil Glide, Sailworks Flyer or Ezzy Hydra. First 2 have 2 cams for stability, Ezzy has a part of the sail that works like a spring - in the end similar effect as 2 cams. All are super light. I just switched from a V8 7.2 to a Ezzy Hydra Pro 7.0 and the the Hydra is so much lighter to handle - really a big difference. Also in handling on the water. Severne and Ezzy take rdm masts so a gain as well in handling.
G/f loves her 6.7 Hydra sport.
Windsurf surf up to 21, foil from 7-15.
Super light feel when outhauled, powerful when deepdrafted.
Cammed sails are a real pain, especially in lighter winds, as you need a lot of man-handling (pun intended) to puff them around after uphauling and if they sit on the wrong side of the mast...
Plenty of great sails exist without the full length cams these days. And they are soo much easier to handle, especially in low wind conditions. The Ezzy Hydra both std and Pro versions are good examples of those, even light weight and still very efficient !
+1 for the Hydra Sport, or a Taka in smaller sizes. I love the light handling of my Hydra.
Severne Foilglide 7.0. Super light, cam-less. And/or, buy a "easy up-haul" up haul.
You can buy her a nice jazzy uphaul but you can do it with just a piece of rope with a loop on the end added/tied to around a quarter or half way up the uphaul. She wont believe the difference. ..of course make it a pretty colour!!!!
Select to expand quoteBoston! said..
Severne Foilglide 7.0. Super light, cam-less. And/or, buy a "easy up-haul" up haul.
I have a Severne Foil Glide 7.0, it is super light, however mine has 2 cams, which are really easy to rig on the mast.
Uphauling is also very easy, especially vs a sail with large luff sleeve.
It's a great sail for me.
Thanks for all your input.
Availability of any equipment is always a problem. With the Covid lockdown doubly so.
A Severne glide is now on her birthday list.
cheers
RuddeBos,
Your wife will love the Foil Glide.
At the risk of quadruple hate, suggest you try it as well.
Happy foiling, happy marriage to both of you.
Happy birthday to your wife from all on Seabreeze.com.au
