I’ve had a few sessions now on Peak4 11m and can say that it is a useful light wind insurance policy for hydrofoil that is modest in price and packing volume. However, I would also say it is better suited as a light wind land kite with the ability to propel the buggy or ATB when closed cell foils just won’t fly. The wind range on HF is very narrow.
I attached a screenshot of the nearest sensor from my session yesterday, alternating between 9m Hyperlink regular cloth and the Peak 4. I’m using 30m lines and a 900 cm efficient foil. Our North winds tend to have a lot of lulls when they are tapering off. So for example, on the 9m Hyperlink I can go in 8 knots on a South as long as there are no adverse currents and no waves to slack the lines as I body drag out. But on a North I need at least 10 knots or the kite will drop from the sky in a lull and I have to drag it in. The blue line is the average wind, so I’m guessing lulls as low as 5 knots in the beginning and getting towards 8 later in the session. First half of the session was mostly Peak. Second half, mostly Hyperlink.
Where the Peak4 shines is its ability to stay in the air. Even in the lulls there was no difficulty bring the kite from the side of the window to Zenith. HL in regular cloth for example might require a downloop to recover if it gets too low in this light winds. In 6 knots body dragging out is trouble free. The problem is there is not enough power spike to get on the board. Even doing 3-4 loops at a time just results in the board drifting down wind. Maybe a lighter rider? Maybe it would work if the board was a SUP and you could climb up on to it?
There is a definite range where the Peak4 11 will work on HF and the HL 9 does not. I’m guessing a 1 knot advantage in low end, probably about 7-8 knots for me. Once on the board its easy to get on foil but there is a need to ride a little more downwind to get some speed. Once the foil breaks free, easy riding up and down wind. In the lulls there is a loss of power sometimes to the point of touchdown, but never a fear the kite will fall. The kite easily becomes overpowered riding upwind fast and I’m riding upwind at the lowest speed I can stay on foil so as not to become overpowered.
At 8 knots its hard to ride the swell downwind without slacking the lines and collapsing the kite, but as the wind comes up to 10 I really start to enjoy the Peak’s drift. Back to back with the HL I find the Peak has less fear of getting wet, better drift, but less power spike in a loop and less depower. One advantage of the Peak compared to closed cell is better drying and therefore less sand on the kite and in the car.
At 12 knots the kite is overpowered and Peaks aren’t fun overpowered. Riding upwind is very deliberate and slow. The bar sheeted out and the kite flapping to the point that tips on occasion collapse requiring a correction in both riding and sheeting in the bar. 12 knots is 7m wind for me but if I was out on the 9m HL and the wind came up I would probably keep riding and enjoy the power. With the Peak you are ready to put it away as soon as the wind comes up. There is no sense of danger as the wind comes up, just an increase in hassle and loss of fun.
I’m certain I can go in lower and higher wind with my 13m closed cell foil. But if the wind is not steady Peak4 11 wins in the ability to stay in the air and drift while riding waves. There is no doubt an ultralight closed cell would offer the most utility in light winds and would be worth the cost in a light wind area.