After a very light wind summer, today was 24 to 30 knots with a very angry sea state. I felt completely overpowered and was flying the wing in neutral most of the time. It was great fun but I wasnt making the most out of the conditions.
I'm 78kgs, 4m and 1450 mid aspect foil from 15 knots, 5.5m and 2100 mid aspect foil 8 to 10 knots to 15.
I feel comfortable on the 4 and 1450 upto 22/23 but know I'm not being very efficient beyond this. I perhaps only get 23+ knots for 5% of all sessions. Do I get a 3m or would or a smaller foil to make the 4m doable???
Did you feel like you lacked control of the wing and were just having to dump all of the power? If so, you needed a 3m, and the smaller foil wouldnt really help you.
Did you feel like you just had too much lift and were moving too slowly, but had adequate control of the wing? If so, the smaller foil would help.
From the sound of it you need a smaller wing and the smaller foil isn't the issue.
Im a similar weight and I can comfortably fly a 4m into the upper 20s. Things get a bit less efficient in the 30s, but Ive flown it into the mid 30s and still been well in control of things and having fun. Im on a ~1250 sqcm high aspect foil which could have similar lift to your larger area mid aspect (who knows). I'm pretty surprised you would feel that overpowered on a 4m in that wind.
Select to expand quoteVelocicraptor said..
Did you feel like you lacked control of the wing and were just having to dump all of the power? If so, you needed a 3m, and the smaller foil wouldnt really help you.
Did you feel like you just had too much lift and were moving too slowly, but had adequate control of the wing? If so, the smaller foil would help.
From the sound of it you need a smaller wing and the smaller foil isn't the issue.
Im a similar weight and I can comfortably fly a 4m into the upper 20s. Things get a bit less efficient in the 30s, but Ive flown it into the mid 30s and still been well in control of things and having fun. Im on a ~1250 sqcm high aspect foil which could have similar lift to your larger area mid aspect (who knows). I'm pretty surprised you would feel that overpowered on a 4m in that wind.
I felt like I needed to dump the power and just bring it down ever now and then for a boost. I think perhaps a more HA smaller foil would help. I think it was perhaps the sea state which was all over the place due to wind direction, tide and sand bars. As you say a 4m should feel OK in that wind..
I'm 88kg and in 20+ kts I'm on a 3.5m or even a 2.9m. I prefer using the smaller hand wing whenever possible. I feel it keeps me more "honest". With the smaller wing, I need to have my technique dialed in to ride well. With a large wing, I can get away with junk and develop bad habits.
Select to expand quoteGoofcat said..
I'm 88kg and in 20+ kts I'm on a 3.5m or even a 2.9m. I prefer using the smaller hand wing whenever possible. I feel it keeps me more "honest". With the smaller wing, I need to have my technique dialed in to ride well. With a large wing, I can get away with junk and develop bad habits.
I notice this between my wings. Often I feel faster and more alive using the 4m than the 5.5m in wind that either wing can fly in. Evan though the bigger one is significantly larger. Having it fully powered up and charging rather than dipping in and out.
