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Tell us about your current set up and
why you chose it?
I ride a 161L Starboard Formula circa 2010 and an RRD
ALU 85 foil (update – Gus has just invested in a 2019
Tabou Rocket Plus 133L). For 15 knots I rig a 7.8m North
E-Type. That sail is survivable up to 20 knots if you rig it
hard but I usually change down to a 6.4m GA Hybrid for
comfort. There wasn’t much choice in the board. I had
wanted a large iSonic but they are highly sought after. I
settled for a well loved frigate of a board. Under my
ownership it has a few modifications to footstrap positions
and the nose!
If it’s border line foiling and windsurfing
what do you usually decide to plump for?
Foiling. I’ve traditionally rigged for the lulls and that hasn’t
changed. I find that foiling dramatically extends the wind
range of a single sail. That means less messing around on
the beach.
The choice of foil was the RRD or the hot pink Neil Pryde
RS:Flight. I went for the RRD because everyone I knew had
the Neil Pryde. The opportunity to experiment with different
kit seems like an excellent excuse to be contrary. As luck
would have it, I think I selected the foil that bests suits my
board. Starboard tend to put the fin box behind the
footstraps and the RRD’s long fuselage gets the front wing
in just the right place.
What factors dictate the above?
I want to spend my time learning and experiencing new
things. Foiling gives a great education without requiring the
precise conditions that aerial and carving moves require on
a traditional fin.
As a recreational windsurfer/foiler
what’s your opinion of how the industry
is pushing the discipline?
I’m actually quite impressed. Generally the industry makes
me frown as the marketing tends to lack information that
differentiates one product from the other, even within the
brand. That has changed with foiling. 'I think this is because
foiling helps recreational sailors become more sensitive to
performance variation across products. It now makes sense
for the design goals to be more clearly marketed.
If you had unlimited funds what you
stump up cash for?
A Patrik Air Inside formula board and a 133L Tabou Rocket
Plus. My board has had a little too much sun and isn’t very
tough any more. I’d also like to play with a narrower platform.
If you could dictate any type of
equipment change/addition/tweak to
make things easier what would you
suggest to brands?
A mechanism for adjusting the stabilizer on all foils would
be excellent. I feel like this would help everyone tune their
foils to their board for enjoyable sailing. It would sacrifice
top speed but I feel like that is more than worth it.
I was initially concerned that we’d get too many racing
products because the PWA made it look phenomenal
(some of the best fleet racing I’ve ever watched). In the
longer term, I don’t think that is where the money is, as
falling through your sail at 25 knots is really off-putting for
the mere mortals. Brands have realised this and are now
shipping slower, forgiving freeride products in addition to
race foils. Some of them have really nifty modular designs.
There also seems to be a desire to make foiling ‘work’ with
most of your existing boards. I think that is a very healthy
way to minimise the cost of entry.
What about others you see foiling? Is it
all camaraderie and bants or are you
not seeing too many newbs?
Pretty much everyone I sail with either wants to try it or has
gone out and invested already. It is encouraging to see so
much enthusiasm. I think the windsurfing community is really
excited about going out for a splash on those magical hot
summer days when the whole family can enjoy the beach.
uk
WIND
SURFING