Hello
Just for sharing my experiences on flying in very light wind. I don't refer to good wind conditions (12 knots or more) in which I don't have any problem to fly.
In less than 12 knots I find if I don't get a minimum speed it's useless to pump with my feet. I think it's better to pump with the sail first and, one you have enough speed pump with feet to fly. When I pump hard with the sail and feet and get to fly, my flight lasts only seconds if I don't keep pumping all the time. I've read many times that if you get flying in light wind, a big front wing like mine (1600 cm2 for 70 Kg rider) would maintain the flight easily, but, unfortunately, this is not my experience.
Regarding the tunning I know I have to put the sail mast backward, my foil mast forward and my boom higher.
Regarding equipment, as my front wing is big enough and I don't want to use bigger sails, the only change in my equipment could be substituting my geko 112 x 73 freeride board by an specialised foil board with a big tail. Would it have so much effect if use such small sail (5,5 m2)?
Maybe I think I should fly with 10 knots by pumping and I have to reckon it's not possible for me and my gear. It's not a problem, I'm happy with windfoiling low range. I only want to compete with the wingers around ;). Or maybe I think there are 10 knots when there are are only 8 knots.
I've learned to get going in light wind on my Blast, which is similar to the Gecko, but I think there are some differences in board outline and volume. I'm also ~85kg using the infinity 76, which is similar to the area foil you are using.
Most of my lightwind time with that setup has been with a 6.6 Goya Mark, which is a camless free race design. I'll put a video in of pumping in lightwind below. A little bit more sail may help you counterbalance, but you're 15kg lighter than me so I'm not sure what I would recommend. I've foiled with an 8.0 and that got to be scary when overpowered on that setup.
High boom helps a ton with getting power out of pumping, and the mast track back 1-3cm from what I use when using the board with a fin. I'm tall so I usually put the boom all the way to the top of the luff cutout so you'll need to find the sweet spot.
I wait for gusts and start using the sail to balance ny weight. Then, shoving my front foot more straight and forward I try to coordinate the effort between front and back foot. The shoving the front foot forward to keep the board pushing downwind seems to have the most effect. BUT it took a lot of time and effort to get the coordination down to know when it was worth pumping and when it wasn't.
A foil specific board CAN help, just due to board shape and volume. It'll also help you get upwind better with more rear foot leverage with more tail width. I've only foiled the Blast and the IQFoil board but there's a substantial difference in the two. It would be good to maybe try out someone's Stingray if you can find someone who has one and if they would let you, I wouldn't mind trying one myself.
The Blast tail seems to sink a bit too much compared to the IQFoil board until I get close to the right board speed. I imagine the Gecko is similar. I really have to lean forward on the Blast and try not to weight the rails too much until it's time, which took a while to figure out. I've also got outboard straps set up, which may hurt in light winds. A foil specific board should have more rail volume to let you get in the front strap earlier and help shove the board forward and downwind. It takes a lot more concentration and coordination to do that on the Blast.
If you can get some time on someone else's board to get the feel for pumping it could help a lot, and get to used to the feeling without having to buy more gear. That would help you go back to the Gecko and ride it in lighter wind. I just don't know what's available to you.
In my opinion getting up is the great pro of the big chunky low aspect wings. Staying up hower.... Having a more efficient high to mid aspect wing will allow you to build up appearant wind and help you to keep flying, as long as you time your jibes right & are competent at flying them through the entire turn.
Something you haven't mentioned, what are your sailsizes? I dont think you should need over 5.7 to get up and keep flying in 10 knots!
Keeping up with the wings, not gonna happen I think. I had a sesh a few weeks back while there was an IQ foil national championship at my lake. Was out with 3 mates, all on F-One Strike 5ms and 1480cm2 mid-high aspect foils, they (75&80kgs) on 5'/60L boards, I was on a 5'10"/110L board. We were flying in the same winds as the rear-mid of the fleet on the IQ kit. Front of the fleet is out of our league in terms of low end, but then again, 2 of them are in the world top 5.
Select to expand quoteWhiteofHeart said..
In my opinion getting up is the great pro of the big chunky low aspect wings. Staying up hower.... Having a more efficient high to mid aspect wing will allow you to build up appearant wind and help you to keep flying, as long as you time your jibes right & are competent at flying them through the entire turn.
Something you haven't mentioned, what are your sailsizes? I dont think you should need over 5.7 to get up and keep flying in 10 knots!
Yes, my maximum sail is 5,5m2
