Select to expand quoteBigZ said..Fatben said..scheggia said..
As many of you mentioned, for me 12-14 kts is already windy - enough to pop up my freestyle board (4'10" ? 21" - 55 L) with a 4.6 wing and my 720S. I weigh 70 kg. For me, light wind means anything from 6 to 10 kts max, and that's where the equipment really makes a difference. In my opinion, the board is the most important element. The longer and narrower it is, the easier it will be to get on foil. Taking 8-10 kts as a reference: - With my downwind board (7'6" ? 17" - 95 L) I can take off with the 720S. - With my midlength (6'2" ? 19" - 72 L) I can take off with the 850S. - With my freestyle board, I can't take off at all. In terms of stability, I'd say it's about 70% from the foil underwater and 30% from the board. Wider-span foils provide plenty of stability. For the board, length and volume matter more than width - and even more so, the hull shape. A sharp, edgy hull offers better stability than a rounded one.
For some, 12 to 14 knots is light wind, but you weigh 70 kg. If I weighed 70 kg, I would certainly see 12/14 knots differently.
So for you, between a Mid-Length board and a DW board, for the Light, there is a real difference and a gain in taking off earlier.
Indeed, for the influence of length and volume, the longer the board, the more it will float, or rather the less it will sink, the easier it will glide and plane.
Regarding the bottom shape, you therefore recommend a shape with very straight and square rails rather than a rounded shape or one with large bevels !?
A neutral volume midlength is more than enough to get going in true 12-14 knots no matter what weight. You don't need a DW board for winging in 12-14 knots.
Total agree, a neutral volume mid length Is more than enough to get going in that wind speed. I'm 70kg and go with 72L if you are 100 Kg you should go with 100L and we will float exactly the same. Your board is an old generation design, it's just too wide to sail fast in the water and reach easily your take off speed. Your foil is also pretty old and has an high take off speed in comparison with the new higher aspect foil.
However, the main concept is that you need to reach the take off speed with your board; the faster is the board and the lower is the foil takeoff speed the easier it is to get going. If you have a good technique you can have these two speeds closer but the lower the skills the further apart should these two speeds be. A fast board (long and narrow) and a foil with low takeoff speed (higher AR as a general rule) the easier will be.
