Select to expand quoteStuthepirate said..snides8 said..Subsonic said..Stuthepirate said..
To get good speeds out of foiling i still think having offset foils (AC50 Style) up towards the mast base and a foil on the fin would best suit. Then you can really exert that pressure from the rail instead of the more upright stance position.
Thoughts?
I reckon you're right Stu, they're a different sensation now, but to see their true potential for windsurfing, they're gonna have to be a different configuration to what's on offer now, something like what you've drawn up.
I recon your missing the point a little..sure speed is fun and people will always push to go faster no matter what they ride or drive..
How ever for me it's not about speed it's about the ride.
speed is relative, in winds under 12 knots my fastest speed board (41cm mistral) is dog slow in comparison to my foil set.
Horses for courses Snides
I suppose i was referring to this application for course racing (Formula etc..)
Something to match the Cats, Kites and Moths where speed and pointing ability are fundamental to performance
Most likely that i'm exited about AC35 starting soon 
Early days yet , but upwind and down wind angles are very good..I usually end up sailing wed nights and clash with the twilight cruisers- I def match these for height! ;)
Against moths I recon we will be close once ' we' get to grips with foiling properly...
against cats foiling or not I think once again when skills get better we will be close...
against foiling kites? Not a hope in hell :(
AC? Yep hanging out to barrack for the aussies again ;)
I've been out there on a standard windsurfer planing in 10-15 knots and a few experienced hydrofoil kite surfers went upwind of me at totally insane angles. The best formula sailor in the world will not get remotely close to a good hydrofoil kitesurfer upwind or downwind.
Hydrofoiling a windsurfer looks awesome fun.
Now using an old Formula Board (Starboard 147)...I have used smaller boards also, but quickly decided the wide Formula Style was the most comfortable for me....Maybe I'm just used to these types of boards?
Ok, haven't tried windsurfing with a foil but have spent about 18 months perfecting a carbon Kitefoil, and it is far from perfect, a windfoil is next.
Stability is closely related to rigidity, you need the most rigid connection between the foil and the board, the more joins, eg wings to fuselage or mast to fuselage the more chance for flex and instability. The best option is a fully rigid foil, no joins, but almost impossible to ship as it is to bulky. The guys building these have had good success.
As for upwind performance, not only are they a massive fin, but they also lift, crank them over to windward and they lift you upwind as well, unlike a straight fin. Downwind can get interesting with speed increasing bloody quickly.
Hi, what do you think about this foil, it is coming to market this summer as a DIY-kit
I stuck the BIC/Ker foils directly into my Starboard Formula Board (old-147)....No modifications.
That said, every expert that I have spoken to said that it is only a matter of hours until the fin box collapses at the front.
I have done about 20hours now and it still seems ok. I think the BIC/Ker is not putting as much pressure on the Box because it has a relatively short mast (72cm).
FYI, in my limited experience this foil is a ton of fun. Seems easy to use and I'm now comfortably sailing up and downwind if quite a large range of conditions. (10-25knots on the same foil)...
This foil scene appears to be gaining momentum very rapidly. I'm tempted to try one next season, but so many options already.... where do you start in making an Informed decision. I definitely think that some demo days are in order.
Select to expand quotesnides8 said.. AC? Yep hanging out to barrack for the aussies again ;)
That gives you a wide range of syndicates to barrack for.
Select to expand quotesailquik said..snides8 said.. AC? Yep hanging out to barrack for the aussies again ;)
That gives you a wide range of syndicates to barrack for.
True i meant the reigning champs
I have ordered the NP alloy foil which cost NZ$1000 and got a 2007 Carbon Art 120L 80cm wide slalom board for NZ$375. So set up for NZ$1375 which is pretty cheap really. The deep tuttle box in the Carbon Art is already reinforced so I hope I won't have any issues.
The NP alloy foil gets some good reviews/feedback from the Scandinavian foiler group on Facebook. Sounds like it is stable and easy to fly compared to carbon foils which are more sensitive/responsive.
Select to expand quoteStev0 said..
I have ordered the NP alloy foil which cost NZ$1000 and got a 2007 Carbon Art 120L 80cm wide slalom board for NZ$375. So set up for NZ$1375 which is pretty cheap really. The deep tuttle box in the Carbon Art is already reinforced so I hope I won't have any issues.
The NP alloy foil gets some good reviews/feedback from the Scandinavian foiler group on Facebook. Sounds like it is stable and easy to fly compared to carbon foils which are more sensitive/responsive.
Let us know how it goes. :)
Select to expand quoteStev0 said..
The NP alloy foil gets some good reviews/feedback from the Scandinavian foiler group on Facebook. Sounds like it is stable and easy to fly compared to carbon foils which are more sensitive/responsive.
Bloody responsive if you ask me !!
But yes indeed very stable !! Only downside is with the medium sized front wing it needs speed to lift,so not really an ultralight wind machine. (unless you can pump it like a madman without having a stroke !!)
Guys, went for my first foiling lesson here on Aruba, and started getting long flights after 2 hours of crashing. Was a a JP 135 with NP Alu, that performed great (Hellcat 5.7). But after the session we started seeing the mast bend and crack at the tuttle. My shop had to go do warrenty procedures... Eventhough it was AWESOME and want to get better, I am concerned with durability of the ALU products. We have heard that in Bonaire some slingshots also started breaking at the mast... How are the NP ALU Masts holding up?
not well locally, quite a few warranty returns, (bent masts) + a lot quickly re-sold to light sailors (not enough lift for heavy guys).
Starboard gt alloy seems really solid. (and and can later be upgraded to carbon mast)
Select to expand quoteseanhogan said..
not well locally, quite a few warranty returns, (bent masts) + a lot quickly re-sold to light sailors (not enough lift for heavy guys).
Starboard gt alloy seems really solid. (and and can later be upgraded to carbon mast)
Ok Cool thanks for the info, yes I am 90 Kilo's so not very light!
same for me, so after 5/6 sessions on the np alloy I sold it to a light weight rider and moved to starboard carbon. Never looked back !
I have had the NP Alu foil for 8 months and done a lot of foiling. I hit 24 knots a few times so there is plenty of speed when 80cm in the air. I have totally trashed it and the G10 wings have held up well considering it was cartwheeling across a carpark in a gust! The NP foil needs proper wind for me at 85kg - 12knot min on a 7.5 but in 15 knots it starts to fly. I have tried the Naish and Slingshot low aspect foils and they get going way easier and earlier than the NP and more manoeuvrable but are slower. The NP works sweet in 15-22knots and is pretty fast with just a Severne Blade wavesail. I know dudes with Starboard and NP carbon foils who are only fractionally faster with max speeds at 25knots but three time the price!
The biggest thing I have learnt is that high aspect foils need more wind and are faster but less manoeuvrable. Low aspect foils are way easier to fly and more manoeuvrable but slower.
Select to expand quoteStev0 said..
I have had the NP Alu foil for 8 months and done a lot of foiling. I hit 24 knots a few times so there is plenty of speed when 80cm in the air. I have totally trashed it and the G10 wings have held up well considering it was cartwheeling across a carpark in a gust! The NP foil needs proper wind for me at 85kg - 12knot min on a 7.5 but in 15 knots it starts to fly. I have tried the Naish and Slingshot low aspect foils and they get going way easier and earlier than the NP and more manoeuvrable but are slower. The NP works sweet in 15-22knots and is pretty fast with just a Severne Blade wavesail. I know dudes with Starboard and NP carbon foils who are only fractionally faster with max speeds at 25knots but three time the price!
The biggest thing I have learnt is that high aspect foils need more wind and are faster but less manoeuvrable. Low aspect foils are way easier to fly and more manoeuvrable but slower.
Thanks for the info Steve... I am torn where to invest. At first I did'nt like the way the Fanatic Gecko + Foil looked but after this video of a flatwater forward loop... Looks like a great free-riding set:
I started on the rs Ali and was a great introduction and a great price tag not knowing any better used it for 6months I'm about 112kgs but was not progressing how i liked but after trying the rsx convertible with bigger wings front and rear it was like a new beginning straight away i could do what I was struggling to do before if your a bigger guy or girl this is a great option even that it was more expensive it far out weighed the former now it has really hooked me. So don't sit on the fence and wonder if you should get into it just comit it is ridiculous hovering above the surface in silence absolutely ridiculous!
I went the cheap route to just see what foiling was like. Horue evo h10 currently just over the magic 1000 dollars thanks to weaker exchange rates but the cheeky frogs put 200 euros on the customs docket ??. Stuck in a starboard deep Tuttle 145 futura and so far a great deal. Next purchase a dedicated foil board, wide but less volume and a lighter carry down the beach!
