So far I've had 2.5 sessions on my windfoil. 2 were in light wind (the "1/2" was gusty wind in shallow water and I gave up quickly). In the light wind I had a few goes at flying up in the foil. Each time I did this, I accelerated into quite a broad reach with lots of power in the sail and couldn't figure out how to correct it. I have no real problems getting planing on a fin at different angles but with the foil my board would really start to shoot downwind. I tried raking the rig aft and I didn't want to dig the windward rail into the water because I figured that would prevent me from planing and/or flying up on the foil.
big caveat: I've only tried this a few times so maybe I'll just sort of figure it out soon enough, especially with a bit more consistent wind. On the other hand, maybe this is a scenario that is often caused by xxxxxx.
thanks
Most people have the reverse problem. Not being able to foil downwind. My guess this is just a TOW issue.
Windfoils - generally - respond more to foot steering. Moving the sail fore or aft has a much bigger influence on your height.
btw, where is your back foot while you are doing all this? If you are "powered up", what size sail are you using vs what you would be using with a fin?
Select to expand quotePaducah said..
Windfoils - generally - respond more to foot steering. Moving the sail fore or aft has a much bigger influence on your height.
btw, where is your back foot while you are doing all this? If you are "powered up", what size sail are you using vs what you would be using with a fin?
My back foot was on the center of the board beside my footstraps (which are quite far outboard). Yesterday I was using 5.5 and if I was fin sailing I would have been on a 6.5 or bigger. Last week I was also using a 5.5 and fun sailing I would have used a 6.5 although the gusts that day were quite strong.
I agree with sail rake=height control.
Also you don't want to sheet right in until the apparent wind moves forward. Steer upwind using heel pressure on the front foot if needed.
Unlike with a fin you don't push across the board you out your weight vertically through your feet.
Sounds like you might have had too much sail as well but impossible to say. I like to rig big on the foil and I'm still easily 1.5-2m smaller than when finning.
Typically, I unhook and point downwind far enough so that everything gets light but with enough power to keep going. If I have too much power, I just point further down-wind. It took me 3-4 sessions before I discovered how tranquil going deep down-wind is. Well, it's tranquil if you're not over-powered and in steep chop. It's amazing how much bigger the swells look when you're going down the back side.
Select to expand quoteshmish said..
So far I've had 2.5 sessions on my windfoil. 2 were in light wind (the "1/2" was gusty wind in shallow water and I gave up quickly). In the light wind I had a few goes at flying up in the foil. Each time I did this, I accelerated into quite a broad reach with lots of power in the sail and couldn't figure out how to correct it. I have no real problems getting planing on a fin at different angles but with the foil my board would really start to shoot downwind. I tried raking the rig aft and I didn't want to dig the windward rail into the water because I figured that would prevent me from planing and/or flying up on the foil.
big caveat: I've only tried this a few times so maybe I'll just sort of figure it out soon enough, especially with a bit more consistent wind. On the other hand, maybe this is a scenario that is often caused by xxxxxx.
thanks
Shmish,
Time on the foil will fix a lot. It will happen naturally.
When on the foil, steering with your feet is the way to turn from a broad (maybe scary) reach to slightly upwind. If your back foot is in center then use front foot to angle the board, or move back foot outwards.
If you are not yet using front straps, suggest give them a try. Leave the back straps for later.
By the way, a foiling broad reach when learning, if you don't weight the windward rail, can turn into increased pressure on sail side of board =>more broad reach => more pressure on sail side of board, which can lead to board leeward edge touching water => wing / tail coming out of water towards your body. That is dangerous and hurts / scars. Happened a few times to me in gusty conditions.
Thanks everyone. Good suggestions to control board with front foot. I took my back straps off, and rigged smaller. I could (and did) fin sail with 5.5 today but foiled on 4.2. TOW the biggest help. My first high foil was kind of scary and intimidating, that's quite the feeling when you're almost 1 metre above the water, speeding up and about to nose dive. I really wish I had a helmet and might bite the bullet and try to get one online. I was originally planning on travelling to Hood River to get one but we all know what happened with those types of plans.
I was very attentive with my fore/aft balance and did some extended rides after that first big crash. It's pretty cool, still quite intimidating. After maybe 1.5 hrs I took a break and swapped to fin. I wanted a break from spending time in the water.
I think you have your weight too far outboard (for your level), try keeping your weight over the foil and directing the kit will be much easier.
Select to expand quoteWhiteofHeart said..
I think you have your weight too far outboard (for your level), try keeping your weight over the foil and directing the kit will be much easier.
This^^^
practice sailing much more upright than what you might be used to, and avoid pointing the toes.
I've experienced the same thing, and it occurs when you get too low and locked in. Its taken a long time to get my brain and body to not go outboard/Pointed toes/slalom stance every time a gust hits.
more TOW will help.
