I got a 2 cam 7m foil sail, it is a lot lighter than a freeride sail, and all made of x-ply. I use it for the lightest wind on big foil wings. All other smaller sails are cammed or wave sails. I love the koncept 5.8 and 4.4 3 cams, still pretty light in the hands: compared to the wave sails are a lot more stable in the gusts and powerful in the lulls.

I'm suppose I'm really asking about sails in the sub 5m range for flat water with good wind chop or rolling swells in15+knots. I'm currently using older wave sails with no real complaints.

The early freeride foil sails where not a great upgrade over regular wave or freestyle sails in small sizes, which is where I think the consensus that freeride foil sails do not add a lot

I have not tried any of the newer freeride foil sails eg severne foil freek. Maybe they are awesome, but I am happy with what my sails are doing, its probably more important to rig your sails appropriately for foil than what you ride. If you are having average success with your current sails I would think that you are not being held back by them. More likely you will get more out of focusing on your foil set up

Panno said..
I'm suppose I'm really asking about sails in the sub 5m range for flat water with good wind chop or rolling swells in15+knots. I'm currently using older wave sails with no real complaints.

I don't think there'll be much benefit to a foil sail for that kind of riding.


Most of the freeride foilers over here have bought a foil specific freeride sail for those days when the wind is light but they still want to go out for a cruise (emphasis on the word cruise), which to me makes sense.

The tighter leech/higher aspect probably would be more of a hinderance than a help when you're ripping around on wind swells.

Andy Brandt of ABK Board Sports recommended I get wave sails for foiling because they are ON/OFF in terms of power. I do have a 4.5 Aerotech Phantom and it is easy to use because of that. My Areotech no cam Freespeed sails 5.8/7.2/8.0 work great for foiling, 100% X-ply and light but very durable (have hit sails many times with hands and knees with no damage), but the power let off is not so abrupt when sheeting out, so have to be more careful in gusty conditions.

Grant has a very important point there about geometry and front foot pressure. He, and many others, like to bias their foot pressure far to the front, say, 70%, he once mentioned. This is fine, but my old thighs can't take it for very long.

The thing about compact geometry to keep the sail more upright and be less prone to pitch porpoising is pretty important. Also less prone to porpoising when you luff the sail and turn the power on and off. I think it matters quite a lot in ocean conditions where you are constantly moving around and changing direction on the waves. It also makes for easier jibing.

For flat water (yes, the Gorge has flat water in many spots), the conventional geometry of sail mast base 42" in front of the strut leading edge and front wing at the mid point between feet, works for me and does not burn out my legs.

But, oh my, foil designs have gotten so much better and more fun over the past couple years.

My .02
My 2 cam 4.5 sailworks flyer is my favorite. Has a pretty wide range and is lightweight. Goes upwind great. Can really crank upwind when overpowered to maintain control. I also have 2 no cam wave sails. A 5.2 and 3.6 fringe. The 5.2 is hard for me to manage in my variable winds. The 3.6 is a lot easier, but ithe wind needs to be consistenty high to keep from slogging.
It has a much narrower wind range. I think I would like it more if we had consistently high winds. There is not much sail below the boom and I can't generate the kind of speed or sail as high into the wind as I can with the flyer. I wish they made a smaller flyer, but I have to go with a smaller sail when the winds get over 24 knots, so wave sail it is.