Filled in. Marvelous 8.0 day. Made tracks from LL Islands to LLSC and back.
Best sight of the day is someone on an inflatable SUP who had picnicked on the Three Sisters going back to Aqualand under the full sail of two umbrellas.
Was looking over the Gilmer reports. No way I would have gone with what they were showing. Kind of blown away that there was that much wind. Both yesterday and Sunday over delivered. Something to keep in mind the next time we complain about the forecast falling short.
Was looking over the Gilmer reports. No way I would have gone with what they were showing. Kind of blown away that there was that much wind. Both yesterday and Sunday over delivered. Something to keep in mind the next time we complain about the forecast falling short.
I was very dubious of the forecast (even after they fixed it)....recency bias? I probably would not have gone had I known the readings from Gilmer in advance. Anyway, I did go out and took another crack at Windfoil+Foil Drive. While I have been getting the hang of it with Wingfoil, and found e-foiling relatively easy, I had been struggling to really take advantage of FD with Windfoil. However, I've learned a lot since I last tried the FD with Windfoil (early June) and decided yesterday to try again. (I have done cheatfoiling with my little inflatable sail, thats really a lot more like Wingfoil.) It turned out better than I expected.
The wind was gusty, shifting and much the time not very strong. Likely due to picking the closest launch I could find (mainly because of the lack of trust in the forecast) It was the kind of day where wingfoil would be a pain because the lulls were fairly deep so it would probably be necessary to hold the wing up (rather than holding it down) much of the time. I used the Naish 5.7 Lift and the Yellow Submarine. Clearly not a high performance setup. I started out with all "flights powered more from the motor than by the sail, but the wind did pick up and enough that most of the time the motor was shut off after take off. So I'll probably keep trying to Windfoil on days when there is not enough wind to keep a wing in the air. Here's a short vid, it's possible to see the motor. In this flight I think it was only used for launch, the folding prop does create some extra drag when not spinning but didn't force me off the foil. (In flights when that seems likely to happen, there is always the trigger....)
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What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
That is incredible. Thanks for sharing the video. We've massively made windsport more accessible. It takes a few more add ons but so many days have become available to us.
Nice video Randy. Was that at Galt's? I need to start thinking about foiling / efoiling.
No - at Lake Lanier, I launched from Little Ridge Trails park. Yeah - give foiling a whirl. Webguy and others can tell you everything you need to know to get started.
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What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
imho, understatement of the year. Will absolutely increase your TOW here in Atlanta by large amounts. There is a learning curve but the windfoil gear from the last three or so years and windfoil gear from last couple will make it easier. Stuff is pretty well sorted and the changes now are incremental. The majority of us here foil now because it's so effective.
For intermediate and better windsurfers, the quickest path is windfoiling. For others, wingfoiling. If you can barely use a harness and footstraps, you have sufficient windsurfing skills. Langdon, Hamdi and, now, Haizar skipped the annoying "intermediate" stage that's so hard here in Atlanta of enough consistent days to get comfortable using harness and straps as they are really optional (but recommended) on a foil. Wingfoil, of course, requires neither but better wingers do end up often using both harness and straps, too.
Webguy, Thanks for the info. Tricky part is what equipment would work for me. As I might have kids using it makes me wonder if inflatable route like this is an idea for me (but maybe with inflatable sail vs wing):
I'm 6'3" 190#, and like to always at least be able slog back if the Allatoona wind totally dies. I'll be launching from the sailing club so I can drive right up the the water, and they have a permanent power inflater that with an adapter should be able to inflate anything.
I'll be in Hatteras next month so opportunity to look at or demo some equipment.
Inflatable is great. There are generic inflatables at the good online retailers (our friends at NB, Isthums, etc) and there are still some deals to be had on wings. There probably will be more closeouts this fall on wings.
I'd be wary of the Amazon package as you have zero idea of the quality of the foil (or the other bits either). The information on the page lists very little actually useful info (e.g. foil wing area) and frequently uses the word windfoil when this is obviously wingfoil kit. You'd be better off buying a used Slingshot, NP or bunch of other stuff. Wingers upgrade their stuff frequently so there's a bunch of stuff to be had if you are patient. MacKite recently had a killer deal on NP Foil Glides, for example.
When you are in OBX, you'll definitely have the chance to see some better gear and get some thoughts from the experts as far as sizing, etc.
Dots (NW) from 11-3 pm. What else do you need to know?
At van Pugh and the wind is just filling in. Not quite caps yet
Filled in. Marvelous 8.0 day. Made tracks from LL Islands to LLSC and back.
Best sight of the day is someone on an inflatable SUP who had picnicked on the Three Sisters going back to Aqualand under the full sail of two umbrellas.
Was looking over the Gilmer reports. No way I would have gone with what they were showing. Kind of blown away that there was that much wind. Both yesterday and Sunday over delivered. Something to keep in mind the next time we complain about the forecast falling short.
I was very dubious of the forecast (even after they fixed it)....recency bias? I probably would not have gone had I known the readings from Gilmer in advance. Anyway, I did go out and took another crack at Windfoil+Foil Drive. While I have been getting the hang of it with Wingfoil, and found e-foiling relatively easy, I had been struggling to really take advantage of FD with Windfoil. However, I've learned a lot since I last tried the FD with Windfoil (early June) and decided yesterday to try again. (I have done cheatfoiling with my little inflatable sail, thats really a lot more like Wingfoil.) It turned out better than I expected.
The wind was gusty, shifting and much the time not very strong. Likely due to picking the closest launch I could find (mainly because of the lack of trust in the forecast) It was the kind of day where wingfoil would be a pain because the lulls were fairly deep so it would probably be necessary to hold the wing up (rather than holding it down) much of the time. I used the Naish 5.7 Lift and the Yellow Submarine. Clearly not a high performance setup. I started out with all "flights powered more from the motor than by the sail, but the wind did pick up and enough that most of the time the motor was shut off after take off. So I'll probably keep trying to Windfoil on days when there is not enough wind to keep a wing in the air. Here's a short vid, it's possible to see the motor. In this flight I think it was only used for launch, the folding prop does create some extra drag when not spinning but didn't force me off the foil. (In flights when that seems likely to happen, there is always the trigger....)
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
FoilDodo
That is incredible. Thanks for sharing the video. We've massively made windsport more accessible. It takes a few more add ons but so many days have become available to us.
Well done!
Nice video Randy. Was that at Galt's? I need to start thinking about foiling / efoiling.
No - at Lake Lanier, I launched from Little Ridge Trails park. Yeah - give foiling a whirl. Webguy and others can tell you everything you need to know to get started.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
imho, understatement of the year. Will absolutely increase your TOW here in Atlanta by large amounts. There is a learning curve but the windfoil gear from the last three or so years and windfoil gear from last couple will make it easier. Stuff is pretty well sorted and the changes now are incremental. The majority of us here foil now because it's so effective.
For intermediate and better windsurfers, the quickest path is windfoiling. For others, wingfoiling. If you can barely use a harness and footstraps, you have sufficient windsurfing skills. Langdon, Hamdi and, now, Haizar skipped the annoying "intermediate" stage that's so hard here in Atlanta of enough consistent days to get comfortable using harness and straps as they are really optional (but recommended) on a foil. Wingfoil, of course, requires neither but better wingers do end up often using both harness and straps, too.
FoilDodo
Webguy, Thanks for the info. Tricky part is what equipment would work for me. As I might have kids using it makes me wonder if inflatable route like this is an idea for me (but maybe with inflatable sail vs wing):
https://www.amazon.com/Spatium-Windfoil-Hydrofoil-Inflatable-Surfboard/dp/B0BXSFJKMY/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=windfoil%2Bboard&qid=1695352290&sr=8-1&th=1&psc=1
I'm 6'3" 190#, and like to always at least be able slog back if the Allatoona wind totally dies. I'll be launching from the sailing club so I can drive right up the the water, and they have a permanent power inflater that with an adapter should be able to inflate anything.
I'll be in Hatteras next month so opportunity to look at or demo some equipment.
Inflatable is great. There are generic inflatables at the good online retailers (our friends at NB, Isthums, etc) and there are still some deals to be had on wings. There probably will be more closeouts this fall on wings.
I'd be wary of the Amazon package as you have zero idea of the quality of the foil (or the other bits either). The information on the page lists very little actually useful info (e.g. foil wing area) and frequently uses the word windfoil when this is obviously wingfoil kit. You'd be better off buying a used Slingshot, NP or bunch of other stuff. Wingers upgrade their stuff frequently so there's a bunch of stuff to be had if you are patient. MacKite recently had a killer deal on NP Foil Glides, for example.
When you are in OBX, you'll definitely have the chance to see some better gear and get some thoughts from the experts as far as sizing, etc.