Tuesday 14th may
9-10kts for a few hours onshore
It’s always a surprise getting on foil after a few days of rest… it just seems such an improbable activity.
It was described to me recently as feeling like a baby giraffe.
I went out this day to check out my local run with light wind. This was a NE so the wind has unlimited fetch. This allows the ocean to build more than a limited fetch bay run. I had actually semi planned to meet some out of towners for a run and thought I’d preview it to make sure it was worth their while. I ended up doing two runs, this was the first and not amazing but the following run was much better with having another hour or two of wind building things up plus another kt or so. That extra kt takes this run from being fatiguing to cruisey.
Lots of things need to come together for light wind runs. I just spoke about conditions and then there is equipment. Have an efficient system is key! You don’t want drag slowing you down… once you gain some speed you want things to keep flowing along allowing you time to source more energy from the water or just casually adding bits of your own to keep things moving along.
If you have drag you are constantly slowing down… this is why I no longer use spitfires for light conditions, they are too big, too much chord. Yes they pump and are user friendly but that is not what we are after… if we want to pump well then go to a lake. We want glide.
Something that might be counter intuitive for some will be board size. In light wind you’ll likely have a big foil. You do not need a long or big board to get a large foil foiling. Once up you want as small a craft as possible if you are having to pump or eek out performance. The 7’6 axis is the best board I’ve had in a while for this. It’s light and it’s mass is contained in a 21inch wide frame, that has the weight quite centred and balanced. I think this design shape can also be improved upon. The axis is possibly a bit front heavy with current board knowledge and skills. I might look at building something a bit shorter maybe 20-21wide that is super light for light wind conditions. With this quality and user friendly gear you only need a small bump assis to get your backside off the water.
What else… well everything else… ride high, don’t dive your foil down, use the bumps around you, don’t chase, pump light, stay relaxed, shift weight to increase blood flow, keep efficient momentum, stay focused, avoid debris… all that jazz.
Be good 🤙🤙
Rider weight/height 75kg 188cm/6’2
Ppc carbon adjustable medium paddle
North horizon 7’10 19” 115L downwinder
Axis 1401 artpro 35skinny
Axis advanced+ sillyshort
Axis 75cm high mod mast
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