Kane De Wilde (88.5kg) says in this clip (at 1 hour 13 minutes), that he can get foiling in 6 knots of wind with a 3.5m wing and a 1000 sq cm foil, on his downwind paddle board (but he doesn't mention if that is in waves or flat water). He says the board (his is a custom) is a very big factor - he talks about board design at 23 minutes.
This might be the 5' 11" by 25" blue with white stripes 110 to 115L board Kane says is insane for gliding into waves. It might also be the board he says would have the best low end.
Last edited by ronnie on Tue Apr 20, 2021 3:34 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Yes but Kane can also beach start and pump into waves even without a wind wing... Power to weight ratio, hydrofoils reward it heavily! Once he's up, that smaller wind wing has less area to drag. I think he's also favoring hydrofoil wings which are harder to get starting lift from but will have less drag as well once he's pumped to speed and pulling aparent wind.
Yes but Kane can also beach start and pump into waves even without a wind wing... Power to weight ratio, hydrofoils reward it heavily! Once he's up, that smaller wind wing has less area to drag. I think he's also favoring hydrofoil wings which are harder to get starting lift from but will have less drag as well once he's pumped to speed and pulling aparent wind.
They also talk about a Rob Whittall (Ozone) interview in which he says he goes up on foil with 4m/10kt.
Rob ain't no kid anymore so maybe it is a more attainable goal for us mere (and ageing) mortals