Dutch Olympic windfoil proposal: https://www.sail-world.com/news/211632/The-top-windsurfing-nation-backs-Windfoil-for-2024
Actually some pretty cool ideas including various race formats. They retain the Techno 293 as a youth development class.
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Dutch Olympic windfoil proposal: https://www.sail-world.com/news/211632/The-top-windsurfing-nation-backs-Windfoil-for-2024
Actually some pretty cool ideas including various race formats. They retain the Techno 293 as a youth development class.
Wind range stated to be 6-35 kt. I'm wondering what sail sizes they are using.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
See below - one sail, a couple of wings and a big fin.
The proposal: http://sailing.org/tools/documents/088182024OlympicSailingCompetitionOlympicEquipment-[24281].pdf
Equipment Criteria Proposal for Men Windsurfer Board concept: Convertible - • 1x board, racing-racing wide-style board approximately 100cm wide; • 1x foil (possibly 2x front wings) .; • 1x end, approximately 68cm in length. • 1x Sail (sail size to be determined). Sail size for Men: 8.0 to 9.0 m2. Sail size for Women: 7.0 to 8.0 m2. Same board for Men and Women
I could believe 9.0 in 6kt easier than in 35kt. But then I am only a mere mortal.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
That's with a fin. Pretty much the same thing for RS:X That's likely 35 kts in the gusts rather than steady but still. Most of the other sailing classes will be still on the beach.
What those men and women can do is amazing.
Where are the 2024 Olympics anyway? Is 35kt a realistic possibility?
Unfortunately, it seems the Olympics is always many years behind the sport - they went with the Lechner instead of race longboards, then stuck with IMCO until long after Formula arrived and then went to the RSX which really was never representative of the sport. (IMHO of course.)
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Paris for the main events. Marseille is the sailing venue*. The Olympics have a complex set of requirements (leaving aside the issues of governance and corruption for the moment). As they have just a short time to run the games, they've valued a dependable outcome over cutting edge performance, ie equipment they know will work 99% of the time. That's why longboards and the RS:X with its centerboard were chosen over more "sporty" kit.
Also, the long cycle of preparation, training and qualification means the equipment needs to be frozen years ahead of the event so it isn't a surprise when the Olympics do roll around, the equipment isn't exactly near the cutting edge.
The virtue for us as windsurfers is that France is a hotbed for sailing, windsurfing and, especially, foiling so have a real chance of medaling on both the men and women's side.
*Although I've seen at least a mention of moving the potential kiting and windsurfing events to the surfing venue of Biarritz on the Atlantic coast assuming surfing makes a return after Tokyo.
I've probably asked this before, but to get foiling do you have to get planing first or can you get up on the foil before planing starts? Does pumping help? Does a foil lower the planing threshold?
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
1. It definitely helps to be planing
2. Yes, you can pump up directly to the foil from subplaning. You don't pump magically into the air but you do drive both the sail and board up and out. It takes some physical exertion which is why I've decided to shelve my 2024 Olympic aspirations.
3. Pumping helps but isn't required to foil. Most people do it anyway. The reason is that you begin to realize that the wind that's just enough to schlog in would be enough if you were on top to go screaming along. "F!#$ this" you think, and start pumping.
4. Yes, the foil will promote earlier planing just the same as a formula does over a freeride - more lift.
If your question is more aimed about the Olympics - pro level foilers can get out of the water ridiculously early. If it is aimed about us rec punters, pumping is absolutely not required. But you'll end up doing it either a little or a lot depending on your desire for another flight. I pump like a monkey if it's not windy so that tells you about me.
I was more interested in rec sailing. It seems people can actually get up on foils and keep them going on wake boards simply by "pumping" the board. For windsurfing it seemed to me that pumping probably became sort of counterproductive once you up on the foil but might be useful in getting up in the first place. It also seems possible that pumping techniques for a foil board might be somewhat different than for a conventional board and the pumping (if done at all) while up on the foil might be a different technique than what is required while trying to get up on the foil. The video showed pretty vigorous pumping - I usually try to just hang on the sail and rock my legs back and forth. (Last time I went pumping crazy I injured my right quad and it still flares up from time to time.)
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Pumping the board itself works, too. It helps get my Starboard GT out of the water in very marginal conditions. It also helps when going through minimal lulls. It's harder to do than a sup/surf/wakefoil because on a wide windsurfer, you have to get your weight back over the center of the board. The Horue guys pump just about anything and their foils are all pretty much the same design across disciplines - just the mast/fuselage varies.
But, pumping isn't required at all for rec sailors although most will end up doing some simply because the boards are so much more efficient off the water. If you are lazy or tired, you can just wait for a puff and then glide across. The hard part is when you turn around and are waiting to go again. You see plenty of wind to keep you in the air but not enough to get going passively - so you tug on the sail once or twice... or three...or four. It's like winter sailing. None of us wants to but last week was so much fun we want to do it again this week even though it's two degrees cooler. Rinse, repeat and now it's January and you ask yourself, "How did I end up here?"
At your size and with a big wing, I think you'd have a blast in 10-15 with no more than a 6.5.
Starboard needs to come up with the "START Foiling" board/foil etc.....
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
https://www.nbwindsurfing.com/shop/Windsurf/Windsurf-Boards/Foiling/p/Slingshot-Foil-Package-x31388498.htm
https://www.nbwindsurfing.com/shop/Windsurf/Windsurf-Boards/Foiling/p/2018-Fanatic-Foil-Package-Gecko-FoilFlow-H9-Foil-x33183145.htm
for the more aggressive
https://www.nbwindsurfing.com/shop/Windsurf/Windsurf-Boards/Foiling/p/2018-Starboard-Foil-Package--Foil-122-w-GT-Alu-Foil-x36149857.htm
Don't get too weirded out on the equipment issue. For the early adapters, we had to make it up as we went along. That's no longer the case. For 95% of foilers, their biggest regret is not starting sooner.
Four more years of a board no one (but the Danish head of World Sailing, apparently) wants
but kites finally get in via foil.
Dear World Sailing Council:
Why do you hate windsurfing?
Randy
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
I, and others, may have been hasty in reading the captions on World Sailing's video literally. From the Aussie forums:
Nice that they're working on gender parity. Maybe Mixed Kiteboard Racing will adopt this format to boost TV viewing?