Those who know me on "NW Windtalk", there is no need for introduction. I have been windsurfing recreationally for 40+ years (Europe, Australia, USA) and "got into foiling" about 2 years ago.
In last 2 years I have spend $1000s of USD on brand new foiling gear including Exocet RF 91, Slingshot Flyer 280, several Slingshot foils (i76,i84,i99), SB Race M1000 & 800, 115++ Fuse (3 foil masts for each SB & SS) etc., etc.
I have also learned & realized that there is a Ton of Foil Industry BS, deceptive videos to promote hydrofoils, even BS about Slingshot Flyer 280: "In the lightest puff of wind on a mountain lake .".
Part of my struggle was also the notion that "Heavy Dudes" like myself (at 225LB / 100+kg) supposed to be screwed in light winds (1mph to 12mph wind), also Foil industry only focusing on lightweight sailors, including 50% discount only on smaller boards (e.g. Windance - Hood River)
You can find hundreds of post on "NW Windtalk" searching the forum by my user ID:

I put so much time in my Research, Testing and Posting it all there:
groups.io/g/nw-windtalk/search?q=posterid:1834200

Pick whatever topic you like from me experimenting from "bi-plane" (using 2 i76 & i84 SS foils) both in Windfoiling and Electric Foil Convert configurations to Orbital Science vs Windfoiling, Graphs, Analysis, Pictures etc., etc.

Getting to the point:
After all of this last 2 years struggle, I finally figured out what works best in 1mph to 20G25 mph wind for me for maximum mileage and using single gear set. Yes, same sail from 1mph to gusting to 25mph.

The biggest surprises you will learn:

1) My "pure foil boards" sit dry at home while the most efficient board for BAF (Back & Forth - broad to close reaches sailing) is 2003 Starboard Go 180L board.

2)My "pure foil boards" sit dry at home while the most efficient board for UP/Down is 2012 Starboard Formula 167L board

3) After experimenting even with bi-plane (SS i76+i84) at 3600cm2 I came to realization that it is not about max lift that can keep me going, it is about highest hydrofoil efficiency with SB Race Foils that can get me there.

4) Whether I wind foiled with Slingshot Flyer 280 using SS Foils "Shovels" or other boards like Exocet RF91 I was going the same speed "Pure Foiling" as "Foil Assisted Planing", the same I found out using SB Race foils. It is because while "foil assisted planing" I hang out in the harness more on long lines and transfer a lot of my weight through the sail mast base. I am driving the board more forward by this commitment rather than "pure foiling", being up right, using shorter harness lines.

5) I found a single sail (out of my 24 windsurf/windfoil collection I have), with a specific mast (outside of the manufacturer recommendation), tuned the way nobody can believe how it can be working with minimum outhaul and minimum downhaul and I ride the 25mph gusts without being driven into the water by "Being wrestled by Angry Bear" and it is 10.8m sail !


You want to see the proof? Here are two videos and also my detailed posts on NW Windtalk with Graphs, Pictures, the Analysis:


"Taken FOR a Ride" vs "Taken ON a Ride" along with a "Teddy Bear" - Lk Wa Coulon 2/19/21 41+miles - Count Your Whitecaps ;)
groups.io/g/nw-windtalk/topic/taken_for_a_ride_vs_taken/80915037

"Windfoiling the Alternative Way in particular for "Heavy Dudes" for Max Distance & Speed in 1-20MPH":


Downhaul & Outhaul adjustment to control Power & Stability of your Windsurfing / Windfoiling Sail - do you want to "wrestle a bear" and WIN !
groups.io/g/nw-windtalk/topic/downhaul_outhaul_adjustment/80877714

"2/23/21 Hail & Rain Patrol - Coulon Lk Wa - "Wrestling Angry Bear" - Bear Wins - too much downhaul "



My last Report (Feb 26th 2021): 44 miles in 6 hours while for many Windfoilers that day was not even worth it to rig a sail so many stayed on the shore or at home.

My feedback & Report (part 1) ?:
groups.io/g/nw-windtalk/message/71467

Latest analysis for Wind Speed vs my GPS Watch Speed is here with graphs and analysis: (part 2)
groups.io/g/nw-windtalk/message/71481

BTW: It is still Winter (Seattle, WA USA) and over January & February roughly going twice a week I have already raked 343 miles on Lake Washington. If I continue with this trajectory, I will rake 2000+ miles in one year, just on Lake Washington.

Not bad for "Heavy Dude" that suppose to be screwed in Light Winds.

LeeD said..
I'm sure you were one of those windsurfers who had ONE sail, around 6.0, for all conditions.

Well, when I started windsurfing, there was only one sail and what I remember it was either 6.0m or 6.3m.
Here is a picture of me from year 1980 from what I remember, Polish Great Lakes "Mazury".

Yes, I know many people are sick of seeing me in Speedos. BUT that is one common theme that continues through whole my life and unless someone jurisdictions "ban Speedos" I am going to use them as long as they still stay on my hips

and try to point your front foot forward, you still have the bad habit now, it might increase your wind range to 30 mph.

More speedo footage please

I can't watch 2hrs.

What foil size for your weight in very light winds?

powersloshin said..
and try to point your front foot forward, you still have the bad habit now, it might increase your wind range to 30 mph.

Hi powersloshin,

Well, looks can be deceptive and sometimes there is a perfect explanation for anything you see and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.
Sorry I am not all the time on WWW because I actually spend more time on LWW (Lake Washington Water) having great TOW.You can see it in my last report:
groups.io/g/nw-windtalk/topic/80991931

What will astonish many Windsurfers/Windfoilers that my single setup for 5-20mph G25mph can be still efficient at the low end of wind ~5mph where my average board speed is in ~4mph (fully displacement / buoyancy mode) without centerboard / daggerboard, AND I am cranking still decent upwind angles (and I am 225LB /102kg in gear). Check that link above.

Getting back to powersloshin comment:

What is the function of front foot being angled forward ?

From my perspective:

1) so the sailor can brace himself and do not get pulled forward in gust and prevent him/her from what we commonly call "face planting".

2) it is part of a "right posture" to look what is ahead "like Mr. Riding with Cookie" promotes - When a person is up right and does not transfer a lot of his/her weight via harness lines.

3) Pure Ergonomics - If you ride in specific setup, like myself, for ~7 hours continuously (check the link above), it feels comfortable and you do not get any soreness afterwards and you do not take even any single fall or drop the sail - that means you are doing it right. I have the same effect riding in 10-20mphG25mph winds as in the videos.


Secrets that may not be visible in my videos and requires additional explanation:

1) I am using purposefully the extreme configuration of Starboard Race foil.
Fuselage is called 115++ (or plus plus). That puts front wing much much further than regular 115 and much further that 115+ (single plus).
More details from Starboard:
starboardfoils.com/pages/2021-raceplus

Full Disclosure: I do not have any business relation with any Windsurf/Windfoil Manufacturers nor any Shops/Retailers. I do not get any discounts. My opinions are based purely on my analysis and my gear performance that I purchased at full prices.

2) I am not adjusting my harness lines neither by position (forward-backward) nor in their length (up down)
So how is it possible I can ride efficiently like this ?
a) I am holding to my uphaul line with my front hand instead of the boom when riding close reach /beating courses (like some Racers do)
b) my harness lines are perfectly balanced for beam reach
c) I am using second set of shorter harness lines for "pure foiling" and when i want to be more up right (see the videos)
d) I have a right sail and perfectly tuned for my wind range from 1mph to 20mphG25

3) My front foot does not transfer much weight to the board
How is it possible ?
Well, the way I ride, I do transfer major part of my weight through back foot (some call it heavy backfooted) BUT at the same time I am transferring a lot of my weight through my harness lines (through sail mast base pressure), therefore my front foot I can move around without creating much pressure.
What my style of riding does, it really allows me to avoid catapults or faceplanting because my back foot is "anchored" in the back footstrap.
Do you want a Real Proof that I transfer A Lot of my Weight through the harness lines ?
Here is the picture of the thickest harness lines on the market by Chinook being ripped / torn by me, just by riding hard in the harness lines.
That is a combination of "Heavy Dude", riding large sails in stronger winds:
BTW: The plastic tubes were replaced many times, that is why they look still good here.



Summary:
Now when you take into account that I am using 10.8m sail, extreme forward front wing with long 115++ foil fuselage , my fixed harness lines, also that I am transferring so much weight through harness lines, it comes down to pure Ergonomics.

Last but not Least:
I'd rather Have Fun Windsurfing / Windfoiling focusing on Practical Matters than focus on Pageantry and "Looks".
Here is another example:
My HPL Carbon boom (in the videos as well) looks ugly because I fixed all the foam cavities / damages with just regular aqua-seal that has the same softness.
If I give my boom to a blind person, he or she would say: "what a nice job, such a smooth surface with the same sponginess / softness everywhere". My hands are calluses free and I ride many hours at a time. That all that matters to me.

duzzi said..
Volume and sail size. At my 72Kg weight the largest sail I can manage in (real) 25 knots is a 6.0. Call it 6.5 after a double burrito lunch give me a Futura 71 and I should be able to sail in 1 to 20.

I am not really sure I understand what you are doing with the foil? How do you set it up for "foil assisted planing"?

First part:

Please have a look at my posting at NW Windtalk that explains how you could use indexing your weight to sail size ratio to match what Darius & I are doing in what we call "Lawn Mower Riders Style" or "Mileage Collector Style" or "Roamer" or "the Explorer".
Ratios, Multipliers & Science - More Analysis for Geeks - Re: Monday 12/28/20 - light N wind & Sun patrol
groups.io/g/nw-windtalk/topic/79300663

Second thing: Try to find a sail that is a wide wind range sail: either has sufficient leech twist and/or lose leech to drive you forward in the gust rather than give you "angry bear effect twist" as explained: it made ALL the difference between 2 videos I provided (1h - 4 falls mid to max downhaul vs 5h37min no falls with min downhaul).
Check also the analysis in the links from original posting.


Second part:

I am answering your question how different shims can make my configuration work exactly how I want:

1) "stable foil assisted planing" - that requires me to put both foot in the footstraps (shift the weight back), use shorter harness lines (be more upright - less sail mast base preasure), then nudge the board (foot pump) to go from "foil assisted planing" into "pure foiling". Otherwise the board never gets the "elevator effect" like "shovels" do.

2) "eager foil assisted planing" - with different shim - here is where I need to keep some attention and make sure I have enough pressure either in front foot or the harness lines (transfer to mast base pressure)More details on specific shim configuration in the following link and what they do:

groups.io/g/nw-windtalk/message/71458

i too am a heavyweight @ around 100 kilos depending on the time of day/year lol :-)
unfortunately i have not had the opportunity to try foiling ...
on the other hand, I have tried longboards, freerides, wide freerides and shortboards
narrow and longer seems to work best for me i.e. Mistral Equipe 2 XR
20 kph is my wind minimum
and about 50 kph max on the same sail
if I know winds stay low, I can go with a ten meter 2 camber freerace sail
if the winds will fluctuate with planing potential eight meter freeride sail HSM SPF 8.5
however, i do need to add an adjustable outhaul
here's 12 - 20 knots ...

I'm pondering foiling but if I need a 10.8 in light winds I'm not interested.
As a heavy guy, with a large freeride and biggest commonly avail foil (2000cm2 ish??) what is the smallest sail to FOIL. Seems you're talking about being usable in no wind, I want to know about easy / comfy foiling not dogging around also.

There has always been solutions you just gotta pick your poison.

Longboards, wave sups, long waveboards and now foils...

Which is easier, cheaper and lots of fun is up toctje individual. For me foiling is last and costs 4 times the other 3.

Why not just go surfing or ride a mountain or build your own board, so many options exist.

Surely you can progress your skills just as much with a big sail as with a small sail? The Formula guys hanging onto 11.5s seemed to be pretty skilled to me.