Let's say Im 100kg and I have 2 boards I use for winging. One is a 6'3 90L, and one is a 7'6 120L. The 120L should be better for light winds 8-10kn obviously. However, let's say the wind is 12-15kn, and Im using a large handwing, will the 120L still give me an advantage in being able to use a smaller foil? I'm wondering because I think the 120L DW board is only good in the 6-8kn, and I feel like after 10-12kn, I can use my 90L board. Is that true, or will I always have an advantage of being able to use smaller foils/wings even when the wind is stronger.
I own 1 wing 5.5 m2 for my flat water locale (weight is 90 kg) and switch between a 5'8" midlength (85L) and 7'2" DW SUP (115L). On lite wind days ~ 10 knots, I'll use the DW SUP and switch boards when > 12. I mainly use one foil (Armie HA 1180). Most days the avg wind range is 9-12 knots. With a large wing, you can use a smaller board when < 10 knots. But I prefer a larger board as the 5.5m2 wing is more comfortable for everyday use. In my case, I'm not chasing smaller foil size, so no need to use a big wing. I've borrowed the 980 HA foil and it was ok in lite winds, but enjoyed the 1180 better for ease of start. So the foil being used is important as well for the size of wing needed.
I use a 100L downwind Board and a 83L midlength. DW board for super light wind days (8-11mph, 1130 foil and 6.5m). Also use it on ocean days w nice waves where I want to ride a smaller foil to surf the waves but need the DW board to get up w the small foil (10-15mph) w a 6.5m wing and a 790 foil. Theoretically I can ride the 83L midlength in these conditions but getting up in choppy ocean conditions is much harder and the DW board makes it so much easier.
Select to expand quotemeoweth said..
Let's say Im 100kg and I have 2 boards I use for winging. One is a 6'3 90L, and one is a 7'6 120L. The 120L should be better for light winds 8-10kn obviously. However, let's say the wind is 12-15kn, and Im using a large handwing, will the 120L still give me an advantage in being able to use a smaller foil? I'm wondering because I think the 120L DW board is only good in the 6-8kn, and I feel like after 10-12kn, I can use my 90L board. Is that true, or will I always have an advantage of being able to use smaller foils/wings even when the wind is stronger.
The dw board will always give you access to smaller wings and foils. You just have to decide if the tradeoff of the larger board is acceptable to you based on your riding style.
FYI I have both a 90L 6'5 midlength (KT Super K2) and a 106L 7'2 (KT Dragonfly Surf 2) and I can tell you that even in messy conditions at 20kt plus the longer DW it's a lot of fun.In messy conditions, width matters more than length in my humble opinion. You can charge during carves even with the longer DW since the board is narrow and will rarely touch the rails.
Unless you jump, there is nothing preventing you from keeping a dw board on even when wind picks up.
A foil friend, 110kg and I, 72kg, both have the Armstrong DW 8ft 11in x 17.25 x 108l.
We use it it a big range of conditions and can foil from solid 5kn gusts.
Windwings are, him 8m Duotone Ventis and me 7m Ventis and now Duotone dlab 6.5 2026.
This conversation is very interesting, I'm myself in deep thought about my future choices for light wind.
On one hand, there is the solution of keeping my small, big board (6'4 x 29', 130 liters), for information I am 1m89 and 110kg+ and to supplement with my 7m? North Loft Pro and a Foil type Axis PNG V2 of 1300 or 1400 but in the end I will have a board that is not very fast and not very maneuverable.
Then there is the Mid Length solution, I tried a 6'6 x 24'1/2 of 125 liters but the comfort and balance is quite complicated with my size and weight and I'm afraid that when the wind drops, returning to shore will be super complicated....
And I also have in mind this type of DW board, longer (7'+), I saw the JP M?Winger 7'6 (135 liters) or the AK Nomad 7'6 (140 liters) which are designed a priori for Wingfoil Light Wind, with Strap inserts that seem really nice to me. I suppose that this type of board with more volume than the Mid Length and more length, will slide and take off sooner and therefore will not require mounting large or large slow and not very maneuverable foils.
If there are any of you who own this type of shape, I would like to hear the board models and your opinion on how they compare to the Mid Length, especially for bigger boys.
Select to expand quoteFatben said..
This conversation is very interesting, I'm myself in deep thought about my future choices for light wind.
On one hand, there is the solution of keeping my small, big board (6'4 x 29', 130 liters), for information I am 1m89 and 110kg+ and to supplement with my 7m? North Loft Pro and a Foil type Axis PNG V2 of 1300 or 1400 but in the end I will have a board that is not very fast and not very maneuverable.
Then there is the Mid Length solution, I tried a 6'6 x 24'1/2 of 125 liters but the comfort and balance is quite complicated with my size and weight and I'm afraid that when the wind drops, returning to shore will be super complicated....
And I also have in mind this type of DW board, longer (7'+), I saw the JP M?Winger 7'6 (135 liters) or the AK Nomad 7'6 (140 liters) which are designed a priori for Wingfoil Light Wind, with Strap inserts that seem really nice to me. I suppose that this type of board with more volume than the Mid Length and more length, will slide and take off sooner and therefore will not require mounting large or large slow and not very maneuverable foils.
If there are any of you who own this type of shape, I would like to hear the board models and your opinion on how they compare to the Mid Length, especially for bigger boys.
I am a similar size to you. I have the Cabrinha swift that is 6'9" and 125 liters. I also have a board that is 6'2" by 20" wide and around 90 liters. The 90 liter is 10% more fun but 80% more difficult to launch. I use the Swift in light winds with an 8m ventis and a Naish 1800 jet ha. 9 knots to launch and 7 to sustain flight. I also use it with a 700ha foil and 3.5m wing. I'm always trying to improve and develop new skills so I have many, many, restarts. For me that board is extremely versatile and it works well for sailing efficiently or nice surfing maneuvers. I don't jump.
Mon objectif n'est pas forc?ment de faire de l'ultra light wind . Je dirais que si je pouvais descendre ? 10 n?uds, ce serait parfait.
J'aimerais surtout ne pas avoir ? monter de grandes ailes avant, pas toujours tr?s ludiques, et surtout tr?s rapides.
Ce serait une planche pour aller au-del? du minimum possible (si 10 n?uds, c'est parfait) jusqu'? 16/17 n?uds. Au-del?, je prendrais ma ? petite grande ?.
J'ai vu ta Cabrinha Swift, et j'ai lu beaucoup de retours positifs !
Id?alement, j'aimerais trouver une planche entre 2,20 et 2,30 m, avec une largeur minimale de 7,00 ? 7,30 m et un volume de 135 ? 140 litres (poids + 25 ? 30), et surtout avec des inserts de straps.
