To be effective wing foiling in light wind , you need to adapt your equipment to glide better and get up on the foil earlier. This involves choosing the right board and foil to maximize your glide. We will therefore detail all the information you need to know to correctly choose the right board for wing foiling in light wind and even ultra-light conditions .
The type of board for wing foiling in light wind
To get an early start, you need to choose a long, narrow board . The wider the board, the more drag it generates. Reducing drag means increasing the board's length and decreasing its width.
If we take the example of paddles. The longer and thinner the paddle, the more the paddle will glide; conversely, the shorter and wider the paddle, the more the paddle will turn but the less it will glide.
Based on this premise, if you want to leave very early, you must choose the right board: long and narrow .
But why?
Drag in water is 800 times greater than in air. It is proportional to the board's frontal contact area with the water. Therefore, the wider the board, the greater the friction area with the water. So, simply put, a wide, shorter board will glide less smoothly than a long, narrow one.
Drag is also proportional to the square of the speed. So the more you want to accelerate, the more a wide board will increase its drag and consequently have difficulty accelerating.
In our range, we have two types of boards that could allow you to sail in very light winds (between 5 and 10 knots).
Firstly, the LW "light wind" range is specifically designed for sailing in very light winds. The LW will also excel in stronger winds for racing or long-distance freeriding and wing surfing in light winds.
The 3 board sizes in the LW range
- 5'7 x 20 x 75 L
- 6'2 x 21 x 90 L
- 6'6 x 22 x 105 L
To optimize your light wind wing foil sessions, choose a board with at least 10L more volume than your weight.
Secondly, there's the DW range , which will be even longer and will allow you to go even further in very light winds. But it will be more suited to downwind and light wind sailing.
There are two board sizes for light wind wing foiling and downwind paddling or wing foiling.
- 7'2W x 22 x 130 L
- 7'2x20x110 L
Personally, to choose the right type of board, I would use this methodology.
- If you only want to do light wind, downwind wing foiling, and a little wing foiling in the waves in light conditions, or do some prone riding, I would opt for the LW range.
- If you want to do light wind, downwind wing foiling and/or SUP foiling (with a paddle), or if you want to SUP foil in the waves, I would opt for the DW range.
Of course, start with a slightly larger foil to make learning easier. If your technique is excellent, then you can choose smaller front wings to maximize glide and the sensation of speed.
How to navigate in light wind with a wing foil?
A little bit of Starting Technique:
- Start almost from a standstill . Pump your wing to gain horizontal speed. Don't try to fly right away; focus on horizontal speed first.
- Then, when you feel you have enough horizontal speed, give two oblique pumps to use the wing's lift to get the board out of the water. At the same time, pump with your feet to help with the takeoff.
Learn to fly over a minimum distance:
- The key is learning to fly in a gust of wind over a maximum distance of 5 meters . This means you need to take off quickly and efficiently. Over a short distance, you'll need to use all your energy to get airborne. If you have to pump your lift over a long distance, it's practically impossible. So conserve your energy to give it your all at the right moment.
- Build up power in your wing. If, while pumping, your wing returns to you too quickly, it means the wing hasn't built up enough power. You need to adjust your pumping technique. Forward and backward arm movements don't work. Instead, you should make figure-eight motions with your arms, especially in light winds.
- Finally, take off on the correct foot (regular or goofy); if you have a preferred side for pumping, start on the correct side.
Observation and Anticipation
When wing foiling in light wind, pay close attention to micro-gusts. You must constantly anticipate lulls or gusts. It's easier to pump with a gust than without. And while foiling, if you see a lull approaching, you should start pumping with the wing and/or board to get through the windless zone. Conversely, if you see a gust ahead, you can accelerate and head further upwind to gain ground and be comfortable if a lull occurs later. Reading the water conditions is therefore essential.
Energy and Technology:
- To improve your technique, choose a calm body of water to facilitate learning how to navigate in light winds with a wing foil.
- Pumping on a wing foil in light wind and choppy conditions is much more technical because the chop will limit the board's horizontal speed. So practice to improve your technique and be able to ride in all conditions.
Flying in light winds with a wing foil requires real learning. Those who excel in strong winds aren't necessarily strong in light winds. You have to adapt your technique, improve your efficiency, and adjust your equipment accordingly.
The opportunity to stand out is there; choosing to fly before others in light conditions can save many sessions, especially for our friends who sail in inland waters.
If you still have questions about this, or for any other inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us !