mikesids said..
I've been trying to crack the DW code for a few months now with mixed success. Mid length hybrid board with a foil drive mounted as high as it will go, and a variety of high aspect foils . Main issue has been getting the foil to ride high for extended periods in our most common conditions - 15 kts, gutless short period thigh high bumps with not much power. Similar disappointing ****e that happens around the whole world when the forecast doesn't kick in like it's supposed to from what I have read ! Anyway , I discovered from my GPS watch recently that my issues are largely when the swell and subsequent boardspeed is running at around 9-10kts. My regular large HA wing is fine at 11+kts of board speed , fully engaged, stable and easy to keep high on the mast but is a mission at these slower speeds. And super high span wings just won't carve like you really need them to in these conditions. So I reckon what us punters really need is glidey wings that will pump well, turn well for their size, but be fully engaged and ride high at these lower speeds - as mentioned , for me it is around 9kts. I certainly don't want to spend my whole time desperately pumping a small area super high aspect wing , trying to prevent it from stalling. I tried a Spitfire 1180 last weekend and bingo - long runs at slower speeds, and it carved pretty naturally. The Code 1300S looks good as well, slow but forgiving and manoeuvrable . And the new Armie HA's sound similar too. Hallelujah for the emerging generation of forgiving glidey wings that work for us punters in real-world ( crap) conditions at our local !!
Interested in people's thoughts.
Armstrong APF1675, the slow stall speed is ridiculous.
