Bought a 5.2 last week, but just starting to a have fun windfoiling.
Hoped to start this week, but it's now 2;30pm and almost dark outside...and 3-8 knots.
Will wait a couple days...Naish Hover 122 with ws fuze full forward and 1220 front wing.
I windfoil with mast full back, giving 4" movement forward for winging.
Wind just started to blow yesterday, air Q around 220.
It's now 3 hours from wind time....we rely on thermals, which are time related...blowing 4-8 at the Gate. Grim.
Well, it's been 2 weeks and finally got a day in with 1-8 mph breeze, too light for anyone to get up on wing or wind foils....but I needed to try.
Naish Hov 122 and 5.2 wing.
Easy to kneel 45 cross, wait for gust, and flip wing. Tail dragged 50% of the time, so hard to stay upwind sitting or kneeing.
Gust of 7+ came in 5 second bursts, so quickly to knees and staying on an across the wind path.
Jibes easy but clumsy...and downwind.
4th attempt, out 200' jibe on knees, back to within 30' of launch..tail of wing dragging half the time..less than 5 knots for most of the run.
At least I now think I can stay upwind, can jibe wing, and not needed, go from sit to both knees flying the wing, with help from one hand.
I am old, very stiff, and never had balance.
I had 4 sessions so far on a 92l board that is way too small for a beginner weighing 78-80 kg...so take my advice with a bag of salt.
Struggled to get up on my feet when on both knees. Then I changed my starting method to one knee up:
1-climb up the board one hand on the board and other pressing on the wing,
2-put upwind knee up while still using the buoyancy of the wing - I could flip the wing if needed in this position but sometime I did it while sitting on the board
3-fly the wing gently to turn upwind and standup
This made it so much easier for my 53yr old knees. And it is much easier to stay upwind when sailing standing.
Wow, I was 53 in 2003.
Still can windsurf but these new sports...windfoil and wingfoil...take some time to learn.
I still sail 85 liter boards and sub 5.5, 75 days a year.
Today, calm at dock and 5-10 outside, I windfoiled instead, as breeze rose to 5-17 for an hour.
Another day on hold.
I'm still struggling on an oversize heavy board with a 4M windwing an xl foil. Haven't got it up yet. But I was surprised to find what I thought was 20 knot wind to be 16 knots when I measured it with an anomometer.
Also I haven't had enough sessions yet to get more confidence in pumping more aggressively. But I can finally tack upwind with foil submerged.
I found wind up to 10 knots a chore & very fatiguing on shoulders having to hold the windwing up while waiting for any wind gusts to get me going.
I'm 60 years old & find it hard getting up from my knees unless using one hand on the board whilst the other hand holds onto the front of windwing. Which I find is easier than standing up with both hands on the windwing.
Select to expand quotebhc said..
I had 4 sessions so far on a 92l board that is way too small for a beginner weighing 78-80 kg...so take my advice with a bag of salt.
Struggled to get up on my feet when on both knees. Then I changed my starting method to one knee up:
1-climb up the board one hand on the board and other pressing on the wing,
2-put upwind knee up while still using the buoyancy of the wing - I could flip the wing if needed in this position but sometime I did it while sitting on the board
3-fly the wing gently to turn upwind and standup
This made it so much easier for my 53yr old knees. And it is much easier to stay upwind when sailing standing.
Is the wing upright when you are up on one knee? Do you put your legs parallel with the length of the board or across it like on the Naish videos?
The ability to slog back in light winds seems like an important skill to build.
Select to expand quoteGrantmac said..bhc said..
I had 4 sessions so far on a 92l board that is way too small for a beginner weighing 78-80 kg...so take my advice with a bag of salt.
Struggled to get up on my feet when on both knees. Then I changed my starting method to one knee up:
1-climb up the board one hand on the board and other pressing on the wing,
2-put upwind knee up while still using the buoyancy of the wing - I could flip the wing if needed in this position but sometime I did it while sitting on the board
3-fly the wing gently to turn upwind and standup
This made it so much easier for my 53yr old knees. And it is much easier to stay upwind when sailing standing.
Is the wing upright when you are up on one knee? Do you put your legs parallel with the length of the board or across it like on the Naish videos?
The ability to slog back in light winds seems like an important skill to build.
This was the video that gave me the idea.. I think it answers both your questions.
