br44 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 25, 2022 2:19 am
nothing2seehere wrote: ↑Mon Mar 21, 2022 11:42 am
For those who push the low end of the Peak, any tips for better upwind. Its the only kite I've ridden where in low wind I can't keep upwind even though I can up onto the foil (e.g. was probably 15-18knots on the 4m Peak and 1100 front wing). I can't remember really having this problem with other kites. Its normally a case that where I can get onto the foil I can ride back upwind. Maybe its a skill thing and I'm used to having power in the harness but definitely felt like I couldn't get any apparent wind.
Yes: try another foil. Sounds like you’re on a surf wing. A Higher Aspect wing, maybe bigger maybe not (surface is just one factor), should allow you to go upwind easily even in lower winds. Another factor is speed. Paradoxically, a smaller and faster foil ridden at a lower Angle of Attack may allow you to go upwind better than a larger slower foil that is closer to stalling.
Recently I tried 1050 Surf, 1450 HA, and 850 MA. The 2nd wing (and surprisingly the 3rd as well) performed better than the 1st wing in low winds.
I do understand this indeed.
I have a 1200 cm2 wavefoil AR 3.6 only, couldnt be worse upwind and couldnt be more fun - but have never had any problems when using 5 or 6 m2 Peaks, even if I "sink" start (so low wind, the board is almost to your waist, and you have to wait for a small puff and loop/fly the board to the surface and struggle to get going), I can go upwind.
If the 4 is relatively new, I think it is simply a matter of time, as you are not sheeting it "perfect".
Takes a lot of time to learn (intuition and time) as it is so sheeting sensitive.
But you are right, with the 4 you CAN generate a huge amount of peak power because of its massive lovely acceleration, so indeed it IS possible to juuuust get up foiling, and working the kite when up, and not really go upwind.
It is great as then you can get ashore foiling even when too low wind for the 4
I think it is a combination of you not having used it sufficiently for perfect sheeting yet, and a fact that it can start in less wind than you can go upwind when on or below it lower limit
Take a bigger size Peak is my advice, or you can use a higher AR foilwing, but they turn a lot worse so not my cup of tea.
Peter