Ha haa, get a 6 m2 Peak4 and you can surf in small waves or flat in 9-11 knots.
Cost small money and can be relaunched (or landed) in odd places, awesome fun in this wind.
Unlikely you get a swim, as it can stay up in 1-2 knots of wind.
A kitefoil with a really big kite is boring - eventhough sometimes the only solution yes.
Sorry, that was off topic - but leading to the fact that around here, even the very best wingers, dont ride when its only 12 knots or below...
Even those who dont do anything else than wing.
It is like, 7 m2's are only used by really heavyweights, and 5.5 or 6 the max size for others.
Really big foilwings, mostly used for beginners, as when you advance, it seems everybody goes to a tad, or a lot (some half size foilwing area) faster foilwings - as the glide and the apparent wind just makes everything more fun, even riding waves is not good with too slow a wingfoil.
Having said that, I find it fun on occasion, but often find myself in the classic old windsurf situation - there is juuuuust one knot too little wind to get up and ride.
I go out anyways now and then, believing in it, and the sun is shining, and I try to convince myself it is good practice even if too little wind...
Sorry, no, it is not - it is incredibly boring and a waste of time, slogging along not foiling, and I curse over myself, having been so stupid.
I couid have taken a kitefoil, takes up a lot less space, and a lot faster to rig and pack - and had fun
I assume really big foilwings, and relatively big wings (as maybe you can not pump if too big?) are the way to lighter wind - but around here with loads of wing foilers now, nobody seeks this.
Although I am amazed at how low the best can go, with a 5.5 and a smaller foilwing and board - good technique
But 11-12 knots, nothing is happening
Whereas in 13 it works.
Peter