We are used to do long downwinders on northeast Brazil, this time we tried with a hydrofoil:
http://www.surfinsemfim.com.br/news/dow ... rofoil_eng
Not easy!
Cheers
Andre
Hydrofoil 120km Downwinder
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Icharus
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Re: Hydrofoil 120km Downwinder
Nice - hitting the lines from lobster creels (pots) is my nemesis on downwinders/upwinders - you are going so fast and there is so much to think about especially in rough seas- My brain often struggles to pick a side to pass on - I need to get better at jumping in order to safely clear them.
I am considering some big trips but what to do about safety is an issue - i have even considered a spare kite and bar might be an option
I am considering some big trips but what to do about safety is an issue - i have even considered a spare kite and bar might be an option
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juandesooka
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Re: Hydrofoil 120km Downwinder
Wow, what an adventure. I love downwinding on foil, the silent carving....but 120km is about 110km more than I'd be comfortable with at this point. 
I am still low-level intermediate, and find it is quite tiring on legs compared to surfboard. Joint pain alone would end it for me.
Also find it interesting to control speed when downwinding.....if overpowered get going too fast, but if underpowered the kite can't drift fast enough and may backstall (and I have the best drifting wave kites out there). I bet you had some active kite flying to keep things working right.
Around here, bull kelp is the enemy. Big patches are easy to see, but a few lone strands can hide under the water, especially when visibility is poor. A quick stop and unplanned eject results.
That is scary story about missing knife....no joke, wrapped in net, things going sour from there, that could be how you die. <shudder> I keep hearing the same story from buddies, when the S**T hits the fan, "oops, forgot my knife / it fell out / blade rusted out". Call me a safety nerd, but I'd have 2 knives on a trip like this, one in harness, one mounted somewhere in reach of your head/neck/shoulders, for if you're too wrapped up to reach your harness.
Next trip: find a GPS watch! That would be an awesome track to have recorded.
I am still low-level intermediate, and find it is quite tiring on legs compared to surfboard. Joint pain alone would end it for me.
Also find it interesting to control speed when downwinding.....if overpowered get going too fast, but if underpowered the kite can't drift fast enough and may backstall (and I have the best drifting wave kites out there). I bet you had some active kite flying to keep things working right. Around here, bull kelp is the enemy. Big patches are easy to see, but a few lone strands can hide under the water, especially when visibility is poor. A quick stop and unplanned eject results.
That is scary story about missing knife....no joke, wrapped in net, things going sour from there, that could be how you die. <shudder> I keep hearing the same story from buddies, when the S**T hits the fan, "oops, forgot my knife / it fell out / blade rusted out". Call me a safety nerd, but I'd have 2 knives on a trip like this, one in harness, one mounted somewhere in reach of your head/neck/shoulders, for if you're too wrapped up to reach your harness.
Next trip: find a GPS watch! That would be an awesome track to have recorded.
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Horst Sergio
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Re: Hydrofoil 120km Downwinder
Hi Andre,
very nice one, thanks for sharing.
Also wind from 10 - 30 knts is something.
Till know I have just done 15 km one line and 90 km in total but not in open ocean with 30 knts. Didn't you have any problems with your neck, which I had after looking for 10 km over the same shoulder?
On my small trips it helped a lot to ride sometimes sitting, which can be very controlled (already started doing the first flying tacks sitting ), but I use a board-foil setup with nearly 1,20 m from board surface to frontwing which gives me a lot of space for my legs while sitting.
I also want to try some longer trips but I am looking for more interesting lines within big lakes with narrows between islands and more technical parts.
http://kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=19 ... 37#p930037
Already training a lot at the narrows in my lakes, it is incredible which Lees and narrows you can pass with a foil.
http://kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=19 ... 27#p940527
Would also be interested to hear how you prepared for example the equipment you had in your bag and so on.
Thanks, Bernd
very nice one, thanks for sharing.
Also wind from 10 - 30 knts is something.
Till know I have just done 15 km one line and 90 km in total but not in open ocean with 30 knts. Didn't you have any problems with your neck, which I had after looking for 10 km over the same shoulder?
On my small trips it helped a lot to ride sometimes sitting, which can be very controlled (already started doing the first flying tacks sitting
), but I use a board-foil setup with nearly 1,20 m from board surface to frontwing which gives me a lot of space for my legs while sitting.I also want to try some longer trips but I am looking for more interesting lines within big lakes with narrows between islands and more technical parts.
http://kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=19 ... 37#p930037
Already training a lot at the narrows in my lakes, it is incredible which Lees and narrows you can pass with a foil.
http://kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=19 ... 27#p940527
Would also be interested to hear how you prepared for example the equipment you had in your bag and so on.
Thanks, Bernd