88 SPOTLIGHT
Buggin’ out
Bug Fins and Foils windsurf foil
Info: www.bugfins.com/windfoils/ Price: 1,390.00€
WORDS AND PICS: WINDSURFING UK
HAVING LOOKED AT ONE PARTICULAR FOIL PRODUCT IN DEPTH (SEE
ARTICLE ELSEWHERE) WE THOUGHT IT AN IDEA TO SPOTLIGHT ONE
OF THE BOUTIQUE BRANDS OUT THERE PRODUCING THEIR OWN
FLYING GEAR. WITH UK SLALOM SAILOR JASON CLARKE UTILISING
KIT FROM SLOVENIAN BRAND BUG WE DECIDED TO GET ON THE
CASE HERE AND SEE WHAT’S WHAT WITH THEIR CARBON FOILS.
Bug’s foil came supplied in modular
fashion which makes storage and
transport easy – everything bolting
together fairly swiftly and efficiently. It’s
interesting to note how light Bug’s foil
is with a fair degree of flex through both
front and rear wing.
leaving the beach. With solid breeze in
the mix it’s a workable foil that
generates a decent level of speed.
Whilst not the earliest to take off once
up and hovering Bug’s foil is composed
and dependable. Riders need a touch
more power to lift off efficiently but that
extra oomph is much more controllable
than some early take off foils available.
The main wing is 86cm tip to tip with a
77cm fuselage, 96cm high mast
capped off with the rear wing
measuring 52cm. This is the low wind
speed wing with a medium wind option
available coming in at 40cm. The
shapes of both are compact which are
said to give increased stability in flight
whilst remaining composed through
manoeuvres like gybes. A pretty good indication of the above is
just how raked back a rider’s rig can be.
There still needs to be front foot bias but
you can lock down (on wider boards)
much more like in conventional slalom
stance. And it’s a foil that will cope with
slightly windier conditions even when
being on a more powered up sail.
Once attached via standard deep tuttle
fitting it’s obvious before even having
lifted off the foil is very reactive. The
foil’s spring can be instantly felt when Speed is also efficient with top ends
being admirable. As with many foils
you’re not quite as quick as when
windsurfing conventionally, but the
uk
WIND
SURFING
Bug isn’t any slouch either, especially
when bearing off for a bit of downwind
gun running.
Conclusion
Bug’s foil is very much of the
performance orientated type. Fast
and able to cope with a bit more
breeze, while keeping manners, it
suits moderately wide boards best
(too wide and lift suffers). Super light
wind flying is possible (sub-10 knots)
but we found the optimum sail range
to be between 5.2m and 8m. It’s a
well manufactured bespoke bit of kit
that has a big tick in the box for its
modular set up – having easily
interchangeable wings is a plus. For
anyone looking to get into jumping
and manoeuvre orientated foiling it
would also accommodate.