It looks like most people using high aspect ratio foils prefer outboard straps. Is this a function of people who use high aspect foils tend to carry more sail area and need the leverage to keep the board level or do high aspect foils generate more leverage (tilting) on the foil mast and we need to be more outboard to keep the board stable? Not sure that makes sense.
Normally my straps are very inboard and this works great for the infinity 76 and Apollo 60 wings, but when I use the infinity 65 I feel like I want my front foot more outboard because it feels like the board is trying to rail to leeward at times. Balz's straps are way inboard and his wing is high aspect so it might just be a skill thing.
Skill, power, direction, ease, maneuvers, speed, all in the equation besides preference.
I think it's more down to the style of sailing you're doing. I can be riding swell at third and want the straps inboard and then on the exact same gear at HMB harbor and want them out.
Evidence shows the last post as a real possibility.
Naish, for instance, sells low, medium, and hi aspect wings for wingfoiling, which is often strapless or inboard.
Maybe the outboard straps on racefoiling gear is mostly a sail thing? I don't reckon i could sail race gear with inboard straps....
I think if you want to point higher, you want to be as much outboard as possible. The thing is, Sailor who like to go fast and point high will benefit more from high aspect ratio foils and they will use wider boards than the one that is more turn oriented.
I use my formula board with an infinity 84 and a starboard iqfoil and when I want to point upwind I am on the rails with both foils and if I am just reaching, or goofing around overpowered, I put my feet more inwards (and a little bit more forward too)
I have the AFS Wind 95 foil with F1080 and F770 wings which are higher aspect, always outboard front strap (Goya Bolt 135), but with the F770 I actually move my front foot arch right onto the rail when in flight, on the water my foot would catch water in that position. Guess I am pulling the sail farther over and need the rail as leverage, the F770 wing (top) is close to a slalom wing. Now if I want to go upwind, which is easier with the F770, then I really pull the sail over and lean the board over.
Stay strapped, pivot your heel inboard.
I'm size 11 and never have a heel drag problem.
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Select to expand quoteLeeD said..
Stay strapped, pivot your heel inboard.
I'm size 11 and never have a heel drag problem.
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Size 12 in 3 mm boots, I get on the rail because it feels right! But that probably has to do with my Goya Bolt (80 cm) not being as wide as a foil board.
I've used the same foil in everything from a formula board to one with completely inboard straps, sails from 8.5m-3.7m
At one point I even put a race foil into a 66cm wide board with a 4.7.
The difference comes down to sail size and maneuverability. The bigger the sail the more leverage required but then you trade maneuverability.
Winging is a completely separate dynamic.
Go with what feels good
It's a personal thing kind like harness lines
With every session your outlook and needs will change
We all have our own style
Spring is almost here along with the wind and swell
Foiling strapless on an 85 cm wide board, I find myself moving my feet inboard or outboard depending on power and wind angle. Most of the time, by back foot is near the centerline, and the front foot a bit inboard. But when going upwind in strong gusts, I move the feet to the outside footstrap positions; that's the only way to keep the sail sheeted in and control the power. This is on i84 and FWind1 foils with a 5.6 m freestyle sail in 12-20 knots. I'm going slower than the wind except at the low end, and the sail is quite a bit smaller than a race setup.
With a race setup, board speed would be a lot higher, so apparent wind would be much higher, too, on upwind angles. Add to that the larger sail and the change in apparent wind direction (more from the front), and you get a lot higher forces. Transmitted through the mast foot, they want to push down the leeward rail, and lift the windward rail. So you have to stand further out to get the leverage to keep the board level (or, for upwind, tilted down to windward a bit).Select to expand quotethedoor said..
Normally my straps are very inboard and this works great for the infinity 76 and Apollo 60 wings, but when I use the infinity 65 I feel like I want my front foot more outboard because it feels like the board is trying to rail to leeward at times.
I assume that you are using the i65 when it's windier than when you use the i76. The i65 is also noticeably faster than the i76 (and probably also than the Apollo 60). More wind speed, more board speed, more apparent wind => higher forces => you need more leverage.
With my setup, there's one thing I noticed: in lighter wind, it is pretty easy to open the sail up a bit to control power. But in strong gusts, that does not work nearly as well, since the sails become to unstable. What works better is to stay sheeted in when stronger gusts hit, but that also requires the feet to move to the outside. But this may be sail specific, so may not apply in your case.
Select to expand quoteboardsurfr said..
I assume that you are using the i65 when it's windier than when you use the i76. The i65 is also noticeably faster than the i76 (and probably also than the Apollo 60). More wind speed, more board speed, more apparent wind => higher forces => you need more leverage.
Yes definitely (my current peak speeds are i76 ~ 16knts, Apollo 60 ~ 17 knots, and i65 ~ 19knots). On the i65 I am either in stronger wind or carrying more sail
I ride single backstrap on my 105L 72wide foilboard w a high aspect foil. Double backstrap breaks foils when landing jumps.
I can ride with my backfoot anywhere, especially with such small sails, although I'm often on the edge of the board if I want to go very fast or point upwind.
Even going downwind on the racing kit its sometimes nice to put the backfoot further inboard.
In the end, I think its neither a sail nor a foil thing on its own, its a stance thing (which is influenced by both, and other factors). If you have a low / outboard stance you want outboard footstraps, if you have an upright stance your straps can be closer to the centerline. Especially an outboard stance with footstraps inboard can cause backpain. (A lot of people riding converted slalomboards have this problem)
A misunderstanding a lot of people have is that you cannot ride upright on a high aspect foil, its the other way round, a low-aspect foil doesnt like being pushed with an outboard stance, but a high aspect foil does really well with either and can thus take either strap position.
Select to expand quoteWhiteofHeart said..
A misunderstanding a lot of people have is that you cannot ride upright on a high aspect foil, its the other way round, a low-aspect foil doesnt like being pushed with an outboard stance, but a high aspect foil does really well with either and can thus take either strap position.
Thanks for pointing that out. Based on postings from a wing group, high aspect foils are becoming more popular for winging. Winging requires an upright stance, so that confirms what you say.
Select to expand quoteWhiteofHeart said..
I ride single backstrap on my 105L 72wide foilboard w a high aspect foil. Double backstrap breaks foils when landing jumps.
I can ride with my backfoot anywhere, especially with such small sails, although I'm often on the edge of the board if I want to go very fast or point upwind.
Even going downwind on the racing kit its sometimes nice to put the backfoot further inboard.
In the end, I think its neither a sail nor a foil thing on its own, its a stance thing (which is influenced by both, and other factors). If you have a low / outboard stance you want outboard footstraps, if you have an upright stance your straps can be closer to the centerline. Especially an outboard stance with footstraps inboard can cause backpain. (A lot of people riding converted slalomboards have this problem)
A misunderstanding a lot of people have is that you cannot ride upright on a high aspect foil, its the other way round, a low-aspect foil doesnt like being pushed with an outboard stance, but a high aspect foil does really well with either and can thus take either strap position.
How outboard do you have the front strap? That seems to be the one where I feel like I need more leverage.
