FORUM : WING FOIL IN LIGHT WIND !!!

Jérôme is equipped with a 6’6 Zuma, a Front wing XXL, an 80cm mast, a 45cm Surf Stab and a 5m Classic Wing. On our Forum, he asks for some advice to be able to sail with a Wing Foil in light wind. Here is the answer from L’Ours: “Hello, The number one factor is technique. Béryl flies in this wind with a 5m2 and gets going off a breeze at 10/12 knots. But he pumps like a demon on the wing AND the foil. The wind speed does the rest. With a weak technique (which I don’t know), you would need a 9m2 for the same wind and an energetic pumping. Note that the hot wind carries less too, and will therefore make the problem worse. Your Board, Foil and wing are perfect. You need to eat some to synchronize everything and fly in a few meters on a micro gust. Everybody knows how to launch in an established wind and long ripples. The key is to be able to fly in two pumps off the peak with a small gust of up to 5m long. For me the key elements are : 1/ To leave almost stopped. You pump much harder starting from zero. Sometimes even by using the rebound of the volume by sinking the tail you launch yourself harder. 2/ Pump at 45° to use the lift of the wing. 3/ Pump with the widest possible arm movements. Small strokes are useless. You have to try to bring the air to yourself (imagine this). 4/ Push off the Foil as soon as possible to give it speed. The worst mistake : letting yourself gently drift away from the coast while waiting to cross a gust that will never come because you’l find yourself in the wind stream. Personally I drop everything, remain at a standstill, or I cape. To rest, I sink the tip of my Wing while standing on the Board ready to go (back to windsurfing mode). And search the wind for the next gust so I can go get it. The real trick : yes, we take off 2nds earlier on the right foot (regular or goofy) because the thrust on the Foil is crucial. The worst frustration : launch, fly 2m, and stall because of a too low speed… Think about storing power in your wing. It must be used as the bedrock that you hold on to project the Foil into motion with your arms. If it’s pulled too easily towards you when you pump it : it’s DOA… It’s up to you.” Advisor : Patrice Guénolé and GONG-GALAXY.