stoneweg said..
I started to wing foil a year and a half ago with a Neilpryde Glide Surf 19, but I don't get any faster than 25 km/h. I was looking into the F-ONE foil wings and thought the Phantom could be a good upgrade for me. I weigh 80 kg.

How fast will the Phantom 1480 go? I would like to reach speeds above 30 km/h. Is it easy to get up in light wind (with light wind I mean like 10 knots)?

Thanks for any advice!

At 80kg you could also consider sizing down your foil as 1480 is pretty big. I'm 75kg and spent my first year or so on the Phantom 1280 even in light winds as I found 1480 produced too much lift which I found uncomfortable. Two years in I've moved to SK8s and absolutely love them - probably the best thing I've bought so far.

If you want speed by the Fone eagle, for sure would have to be Fone's fastest wing. The phantoms are low aspect and orientated around surfing in their smaller sizes, on the eagle 990 without even trying to go fast just riding swells i hit speeds in the mid 30's, being 80kg you could go an 890 or even 790 in higher winds.

At your weight this is certainly possible on a 1480 Phantom. It's just a bit of a dated design and you should at least consider a seven seas of similar size. There would be only upsides vs the Phantom unless you're going to be surfing right in the pit of breaking waves.

I have the phantom 1480, but I weigh 50kg.

I have been able to take off with 6/7 knots multiple times with wings ranging between 4.5m and 6.5m. With 8 knots I can take off with it at almost 100% of certainty (sea conditions not being seriously extreme). Even if you are 80kg I am fairly sure you can take off with 10 knots, just need the right wing (and board can make a huge difference too).

Instead my top speed with it is uncertain because at the time when I was using it, I was using the phone's GPS and it was unreliable cause it would randomly lose signal and therefore my top speeds would shoot up to insane values but looking at the graph it was easy to see that the most common speeds during the sessions would range around 14-15 knots as the median point (~27km/H). So I don't know what kind of foil is the neil pryde you have now, but for the phantom your current top speed is a very accessible speed.

To give you an idea of my experience pushing the phantom 1480 to the max, I raced with a motor boat at full throttle that depending on the conditions of the sea would range between 18 and 23 knots as max speed, and I would keep the pace. I believe my top speed with it has been around 20 or 21 knots. Unfortunately that time the gps of the phone glitched out and it marked 29 knots. But that's impossible because my main foil now is a 700 sqcm and my top speed is 24.2 kts, and just out of feeling I can tell with the phantom i haven't been able to go that fast.

The reason why you can't push a foil to the max speed is usually because speed produces too much lift and you are unable to hold down the board with your weight. Being 80kg you can surely push the phantom to more than 20 knots, but I have noticed that around 20 knots you can feel the foil producing quite a lot of friction against the water and it's not much of a great feeling because the whole thing starts vibrating. Also I'd guess the stiffness of the mast will make a difference because I had the aluminium mast and I had the feeling that the vibrations lower the efficiency a lot while also making the ride harder to control.

I agree with the advise that a foil with more glide is better in gusty conditions and light winds. The phantom has an aspect ratio of 6.2 and I would get something around 8 or 9 AR if I were you (not that AR is the only factor contributing to glide, but it's certainly very influential).

If you're worried about take off in light winds remember that thickness around the leading edge and higher volume are quite important and some foils with 1000cm2 might take off easier than a 1400cm2.

Hope it helps bro

stoneweg said..
Thanks for the comments!

Since some of you recommended me to look into newer F-ONE models, I checked out some videos about the Seven Seas. It all looks great until I watched a video of clayisland on YouTube (forum policy does not allow me to post the link yet).
He reaches only 18 mph (= 29 kph)... am I missing something or is the SS really slowed than the Phantom?

I am not obsessed with speed, don't get me wrong, but I also don't want to spend more than 1000 ? to end up below 30 kph...

The 1480 is an older design but will likely do what you want. Consider a Phantom-s 940 or a Seven Seas 1200. Both good options, with the Seven Seas offering you a medium between glide and that easier shape. Most of these foils will very easily get you over your desired speed goal. You may need to consider a smaller stab, negative shim or cut the stab you ride smaller. This can help reduce lift and assist in speed. A 940-s with a monobloc 180 could be a really good combo for you!

I have phantom 1280 and 1480 and Sk8 950. The 1480 feels very slow, and the Sk8 is significantly faster than the 1280. I never ride the 1480, as the 1280 is enough to get going in light wind at 75kg. The Sk8 needs wind and speed to get up on foil but is an awesome foil when flying. For your conditions and purpose, I would wait for some reviews of the brand new Seven Seas v2. Thinner profile and a bit higher aspect than it's previous version, and availability in the new size 1300. I think that one should be on your radar.

You should be able to get almost all foils over 30 km/h. The only foil I have ridden with a hard stop at 28 km/h was the Duotone Aero Lift 2400. I see the biggest difference between foils (as long as it's not about racing) in the cruising speed, which is significantly higher with fast foils. For us recreational foilers, however, the top speed is more determined by the conditions (wind, waves) and skill.

Thanks for all your answers! I ended up buying the Phantom FTC 1480 since it was an offer (someone mentioned discounts), 930 ?. I know it will not be a huge step from my current Foil, but I don't want to risk the light wind take off. If I manage to get out with 10 knots of wind and get a bit of a better top speed than my NP Glide 19 then I am already happy for now. Next step is then a second smaller foil for stronger winds.

Thanks again buddies, there has been some good advice!