I've been foiling for about 20 sessions now max, am a pretty competent sailor on slalom and wave gear but am just after a bit of advice on the foil technique, mainly controlling the lift on an infinity 76 and wizard 125 with a 5.3 wave sail. I seem to be topping out at about 17 knots, and seem to resort to having my rear foot in front of the back straps to control the lift at speed. Mast track is 3/4 from rear, footstraps one hole from front on the front and one from rear on the back ones. I guess it's a case of just getting used to it, leaning forward more and more mfp, but sheeting out in the gusts and moving the back foot forward feels much safer!
Gybes are getting there, infinity 76 is so much fun, that it makes you want to mess about carving which is fantastic when your mates are mowing the lawn with 8.5 freeride/slalom gear in light winds :)
Yup, you're about at the limit.
1st day last year, 5.2 on Naish, found the max at 20mph...me 155 lbs.
Yesterday, 41 foil days later, can barely handle 20 mph on a 5.7, wishing I'd rig a 4.5.
Best SS 76 sailior at 195 lbs., add a full wetsuit, would be on 4.4 in max gusts of 20.
I rig with full downhaul, he's an advanced freestyler.
If you're talking board speed, you have come close to topping out.
My Naish is just as slow as SS 76, and Glide.
Cheers guys, so that seems to be the top speed for the infinity 76, I've bought an infinity 65 so covered for all conditions :) Guess I need to work on more mast foot pressure and keep feet in the straps as well!
Should gain 3mph with smaller wing.
Booms high enough to angle harness lines down when hooked in helps, as does tipping the board, dipping windward rail, to get some airflow on the deck.
Top speed? Prepare for a few hooked in, in the straps launches.![]()
Cheers guys, so that seems to be the top speed for the infinity 76, I've bought an infinity 65 so covered for all conditions :) Guess I need to work on more mast foot pressure and keep feet in the straps as well!
Done 21 knots many times in the ocean with the Infinity 76, 20 knots with the Timecode 68 and 19 knots with the Infinity 84.
They're not slow but that's not the point in my view - all 3 wings are killer at cranking turns ![]()
The wings can handle quite a range in sail size e.g. 20 knot breeze with Infinity 76 have used a 4m right up to 5.9m (Simmer Blacktip wavesails) ![]()
LeeD you are on Naish?
I never foiled.
I'm looking a the naish hoover crossover. I'm at 155 as well.
I do own two SUP already, but the fact that I could use it for SUP and WindFoiling is appealing. I could get rid of my Sealion 8'3 that is not Foil ready (that I considered one of my SUP with another naish.)
For 90% of the time on flatwater, is the crossover is too much to pay in performance compare to the hoover or the Micro-Hover as a windfoil?
Oh, I forget, I will use a 5.3 as a biggest sail and I would like to foil in 10-18 knts.
What do you think?
Don't be afraid to try the front straps all the way forward. You should aim to be comfortable. It is wonderful when you get things setup perfect.
Also don't be afraid to ride with a wider strap spread than regular windsurfing. I foil with a 24" spread. I windsurf a 22" spread.
For 90% of the time on flatwater, is the crossover is too much to pay......
Crossovers can suck...here is why...
When you foil a board with the foil box (track or Tuttle) installed forward, not in the normal at the tail location, the board looses its mind.
It does not track as straight. It becomes harder to pump onto foil, because of poor tracking. It goes upwind poorly. It wants to spin like a top about the foil location when you uphaul. It really feels terrible compared to what a windsurfer expects a board to feel like, and behave like. Sure it works, but compared to a proper board, it sucks.
A proper, no compromise setup, like the Slingshot Wizard just does what you expect and is easy.
Also seeking the perfect crossover.
My Naish 122 is a bit small for slogging out in whispers of breeze to look for 7-13 mph wind...and slog back. It foils fine.
Bit small to SUP in flat water with backwash or residual swells..for this 70 year old. I can SUP my Isonic 111 the same.
Surfs just too big, but ok sub 3' waves.
Windsurf competent, but big, slow, and sluggish compared to equal size windsurf boards.