Front foil size vs wind speed - building my quiver

3 hours ago
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bajafoilguy
bajafoilguy
1 posts
1 posts
3 Aug 2026 3:34am
I am new to this forum and have spent some time searching and looking through threads for info to help me build my quiver of front foil wings. I'm hoping to get some advice on what size foils I should be using for given wind speeds and sail sizes. To start with, my stats:
I am 198cm tall and 107kg, I have been fin windsurfing for 30+ years. I started wind foiling 2 years ago.
I am an intermediate wind foiler, I can readily pump up on foil and hit about 30% of my gybes on foil.
I have a North Pacific board, 145 liters, 220cm in length, deep Tuttle box.
I currently have a Sabfoil Balz Pro 909 (sabfoil.com/en/products/VBALZ_909-370-903_GLD), with a 1000cm2 front wing and a flat 370 stabilizer. I am using a -0.5 shim on the stabilizer.
In 13-18kt range, 5.2sq/m sail, I feel in control and don't feel like I'm fighting to keep from breaching. But as the wind speed picks up, even with smaller sails, I find myself constantly battling to keep the foil in the water, and end up porpoising, slapping the water or breaching. With a Tuttle box, I can't adjust the mast placement, but I have moved the sail mast forward, which I have currently at 113cm from the front Tuttle bolt.
I know I need smaller front foil wings, but I'd hoping to get some input on what would be a good size range for given wind speeds/sail sizes, to fill out my quiver. I am also considering changing to the Gullwing rear stabilizer, as that is supposed to provide more stability.
Any advice would be appreciated and if I missed an existing thread that covers this topic, feel free to point me to it.
Awalkspoiled
Awalkspoiled
WA
545 posts
WA, 545 posts
3 Aug 2026 5:22am
I'm shorter but at 105kg of similar weight. I'd suggest that, if you mostly ride the board flat, before investing in a lot of foils you work on how readily you can heel to windward. It reduces the lift of any foil you are using and will probably add 7-8kt to the top of the range of any foil. It works better on higher aspect foils but will work even with the Balz you have. I'm using a Patrik AIO setup now, and don't need to change off my HA 1120 front wing until it's blowing close to 20, although from 16kt up a 900 is less work.
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