I'm 95kg, have a 6.5 Slingwing V3 and a 4.5. What should be my next wing down? Was thinking 3.5 but maybe should consider a 2.5 to gap it out. Anyone have any experience/thoughts on their smallest wing?
DC
Im 80kg and my quiver is 7/5/3.5, which gets me from 10-30s and is probably my ideal three size quiver. That being said, I was pretty overpowered this past week on a 3.5 at mid/high 20s gusting mid/high 30s. It worked fine, but the gusts were a lot to manage. Given my current quiver, Im considering adding a 2.5.
If I were to start again with a 4 wing quiver it would be a 7/5/4/3 or an 8/5.5/4/3. I think high 20s gusting to high 30s or 40 would be okay for me on the 3 and given my conditions I probably don't need more high end than that.
If I were you (adjusting for weight) I would go with a 3, which should be an ok gap to the 4.5. I think 2.5 would be too much of a gap to the 4.5, unless you foresee some super high wind riding.
your foil quiver also makes a difference. I'm on two foils for most of my riding - so I get a lot more range than if I were only on one foil.
Just my $0.02
Big one here, but are you also playing with mast positioning in the box? Dropping foil size? 4.5 is probably a good size, not too big.
If you're on 1800cm2 foil at the front of the box. yah you're overdoing it. 20 knots + on a bigger board, you need to shave power somewhere, so move back in the box, go a smaller foil. Even go -1 on your tail if you're already on a small foil. Get a mast shim and reduce foil AoA. The latter are some cheaper options which could save you $$$.
I've found a 15-20% difference between sizes seems to be a comfortable step down for a quiver , without leaving you underdone if the wind is gusty. Which is why having a quiver in nice round 1m increments doesn't work so well when you get to the small sizes . Also depends on how much overlap you want. For my quiver my 5m tops out around 25kts, and my 3.5 only gets started at 25kts. So no overlap. I therefore have a 4ish metre size to give me the overlap
I think as you go to smaller wings the gaps need to be small. Think of it as a percentage difference.
6.5 to 4.5 is roughly 30%, 4.5 to 2.5 is almost 50% ...... I would be looking at 30% or less as you get smaller. So 4.5 to 3.5 would be fine, 4.5 to 2.5 would be too big.
If you mix brands it gets even more complex. I have 6 and 5 Smik and a 3.8 and 2.8 PPC. The 5 and 3.8 are very close but the 3.8 and 2.8 are well spaced. PPC are over size so the 3.8 is at least 4.5 Smik size.
At 105kg I would, in a perfect world, go 6.5/5/3.8 same brand and Smik sizing and have a spare 5 for when I break the 5. It is the goldilocks size for my weight and the conditions I am out in 90% of the time.
I think 3.5 would be good for you at 95kg
I'm 90kg and started with a 3.5 & 5 F One Swings then got a quiver of Smiks 4, 5 & 6 but still have the 3.5 F One.
There is a noticable difference in power and wind range between the 3.5 and 4 so the 3.5 still gets used occasionally.
Having a range of foil sizes helps too, these days when the wind picks up I am more likely to stay on my 4 for longer but use my smallest foil which is an ART899
