Adding Footstraps to the Wing Foiling Board

After taking careful note of where my feet end up while winging, it was time to add footstraps.  Instead of using inserts routed and glassed in to the board, I opted to use the NSI Stick-on inserts.  I started with the front two

I pull tested each one to make sure it was holding, and had to reset one of the middle inserts.  I also trimmed the corners of the front two.

Tonight I set the rear inserts.  I need to pick up another strap for the rear - I'll get another Armstrong since they can be kneeled on.  Friday looks to be the next day that the wind will be up - these should be set in nicely by then (resist the urge to go out immediately after installing these - at least that is what the instructions say).

Pressure Testing a Couple of New Wings

Based on the demo wing I used on Wednesday, I decided to pick up a couple of new wings yesterday - these are Ensis Wings.  I got the 6M and the 5.2M.

Here is the 6.0

And here is the 5.2M

The wing span is nearly the same on these two wings - the extra size on the 6.0 comes in the chord length.

0.8M doesn't seem like a lot, but the difference in wind strength required to get up on foil is pretty substantial.  They both survived the initial bladder twist and pressure holding test.  Anyone interested in a slightly used 6.0M Echo Duotone?

Happy Thanksgiving!!!! Repair Day

We did not surf/foil today.  Marlon did some homework and played games with Noe.  I decided I'd use today to repair stuff and do some comparisons.

I'll post pictures of this later, but I repaired the Go Foil pedestal tail, the GL210, the wing foiling board, several of the G10 tail wings, and the HS1550 that Kalani asked me to cut down.

Among all that, I pumped up the Duotone Echo 6.0 and the Ensis 5.2 to compare sizes.  I also compared the Echo 5.0 that I'm borrowing.  There doesn't seem to be too much difference between the Echo 6.0 and the Ensis 5.2 - check out these pictures -

Comparing the 5.2 I rode on Wednesday to my Echo 6.0, it had similar pull.  I felt the Echo was easier to adjust angle-wise because you can twist the boom - can't do that with handles.  The Echo also tacked easier - the dihedral helps on this I think.  One measurement you can't seem to find on any wing is the boom/strut length.  Here are a couple of pictures of the Ensis 5.2 and the Echo 6.0 

The Ensis did get up on foil faster than the bigger Echo when I got hit with a puff - which was puzzling to me.  Perhaps the gusset helps "cup" the wind better.  If I could get that kind of power out of the 5.2, a 6.0 Ensis should have more power than the Echo.  

I also went ahead and placed the Echo 6.0 and 5.0 together for comparison.

There seems to be a more noticeable difference in size here.  I've had the 6.0 out in gusts past 25 (but not much), and I've had the 5.0 out in gusts past 35 (maybe 40) and I could still foil by holding the wing in the 12 o'clock neutral position.

So I really like the Echo with the boom, but until I can get it to flag while I'm on a wave (which it really doesn't want to do while I'm single handing it), I think I'll be adding the Ensis 5.2 and 6.0 to the quiver.

After Work Wing Foiling Session - 11/12/2020

I brought all my stuff to work just in case the wind was blowing - the wind was blowing!  All the same equipment as yesterday.

This picture was taken after I packed up.  When I got there the wind was really gusty - I figured I'd keep testing the 5.0 and rigged it loose.  For all but one and a half runs, I was up on foil pretty quick.  I was nailing my outbound tacks, and focusing on my inbound jibes.  I tried tacking inbound - honestly I think I'm going to nail the tacks before I get the jibe down.  I've been thinking I need to try all this on a skateboard so I can just practice on the turns. 

It was a fun and productive session!

Winging It - 11/8/2020

And while La, Leona and Noe were sailing in Pearl Harbor, I was over at Hickam Harbor using the wing.  I had the GL210 out with the chopped P18W (16" now) and I moved the mast up further forward from the previous marks.  I did that because the wind was marginal.  It is supposed to fill in stronger this week - I was hoping to get the cobwebs off before then.  The wind was up and down - I'd get gust where I could get up from a dead stand still, up onto foil almost instantly, then I'd have to shlog along for whole runs.

I was nailing my outbound tacks (felt good to do these after all the time that had gone by with light winds).  I even got a slow jibe in - I'll keep practicing these even if slow ones.

I went ahead and came in after several runs - according to my watch I went for 6.29 nm and got to 13.4 mph on my fastest run.  Fun session!

Wing Foiling Session 8 - 9/23/2020

The wind was forecasted to be up and from the ENE, so I brought the winging gear to work with me.  The wind was up - but it was more NE than ENE.  The tide was lower (and this plays into the discussion...).  I switched the M200 and Maliko tail out for the GL210 and a P18W.  This combo doesn't lift as easily as the M200, but it does go faster when it is up and with that extra speed it seems like I can pull upwind a little more.  The wind was a bit up and down.  I was out from 3 to 5pm.



I had to fight to get back upwind during the gusts - everything would have been easier if the wind were more ENE.  I tried to make it out to the surf, but got stuck on a shallow spot with a lull.  Couple of scratches on the GL210 (grrrrrr).  I tried to make turns but on the GL210, I wasn't having any luck.  I was able to wing back in to the launch.  I made 8.88nm and got up to 13.1kts. On the beach I ended up talking with Ken - got to see how much grunt the Slingshot V2 6.4m2 wing had (lots).  After my 10th session, I'll stop posting what session I'm on - just an FYI.

Actually - Marlon went surfing at WPB and La and Noe went to Haleiwa to sail on a friend's new (to her) boat - so we were all out on the water on different parts of the island!!!