On the foil but unable to go upwind!?

[edt]

that current!

[Foilsnowsurf]

I have had gradual sea grass build up on the mast or wings with dramatic performance degradation, stopped and had it fall off. Took a couple of cycles before I saw what was happening since the grass was floating below the surface,
Of course, worst tourist distraction performance was tourists talking and forgot to take the wing protector off . While foiling is possible, you have a really far back foot position because of the drag, and the laughing of your buddies on the beach should be a tip off.

[Peter_Frank]

If you said it was marginal winds, with an efficient foilkite and faster wing, yes, it can definitely happen that you can not go upwind when on the mere verge of "just" being possible to foil, especially if not a big wing.

As others have said - you will shift the wind window a lot with speed, and with good gear and technique you MIGHT just be able to foil, but without going upwind.

Have tried this myself, and seen race mates too, in this very situation.

But as you said you felt powered, above is hardly the case, but more likely one of, or both of, two things:

1. Strong current, that goes without saying, but I assume you dont have current since you dont mention this yourself as by far the most evident ?
2. Microbubbles in the wind - so there is less pull and no efficiency, even though you feel powered.

PF

[PullStrings]

A 12 ram air in 6-9kn is not much kite by any means...you had to loop it twice to get up foiling...right there that's a sign how poor quality that hot wind was..dive kite into thin air

Usually if there is zero current and we think we are going upwind and we are not.. we need to think first of the board efficiency to do so...then the kite size follows

Too bad no one else was out to compare with.....not too many people are turned on by light wind condition

Seen guy (hot summer) walking back (shame) no current wind 8 kn with 12 sqm ram...his foilboard was very efficient ... he went in and put up 18 ram...and what kicking ass upwind right away

Love beneficial current....example 3 days...strong side side on wind NNE...current going South 3 knots..then next day side side on light wind SSE 8 knots blowing against 2 knots of current

[PullStrings]

2. Microbubbles in the wind - so there is less pull and no efficiency, even though you feel powered. PF

I like that...and i describe it like that...it's like swiss cheese ...full of random holes.........now...i prefer cheddar cheese wind....rock solid....dense....yummy !!

Imagine a kite surface that would not be woven airtight...meaning some wind would pass through instead of catching it....at the extreme example.. a kite made out of fish net..ha..ha

[plummet]

Interesting reply's men thanks. I think it must have been Peters "microbubbles" or I think I might prefer Pullstrings "swiss cheese" term. Wholy light wind combined with the hot hummid conditions reducing the power of the wind. There was times I could feel the lull and pumped the foil to stay on the plane. But also other times that I felt powered.
Also to make matter worse i'm using an inefficient pocket board, So that takes a bit of grunt and downwind tomfoolery to get on the foil in light winds. My wing is mis aspect arpund 550cm 2 So its not a light wind set up.
I don't think its poor mixer set or poor inefficient foil construction as I've recently done a full mixer reset measuring from the bridles at the kite. Also ive been upwind and these conditions before albeit in probably 10-15 Deg see colder temp.

[Bille]

Can i have one of those Plummet stickers please ; i'll pay shipping !!

Bille

[plummet]

Can i have one of those Plummet stickers please ; i'll pay shipping !!

Bille

It's not a sticker!.... old school masked, and painted.

[Bille]

Can i have one of those Plummet stickers please ; i'll pay shipping !!

Bille

It's not a sticker!.... old school masked, and painted.

DANG --- it woulda looked Cool, on the leading edge of my
hang glider !!

[plummet]

Can i have one of those Plummet stickers please ; i'll pay shipping !!

Bille

It's not a sticker!.... old school masked, and painted.

DANG --- it woulda looked Cool, on the leading edge of my
hang glider !!

Indeed the legless guy with plummet on his f
Glider. The puns are rife!

Get out the masking tape and spray bomb then.