92 SPOTLIGHT
Flight control
Foil & Co AFS-2 windfoil
Info: www.ahd-boards.com and www.kaisports.co.uk [email protected] Tel: 02380 840777 Price: AFS W85 - £1069,
AFS - W95 (AFS-2 ++) £1699, AFS105.R - £1899 (many complete board and foil packages available from Kai Sports Ltd)
WORDS: WINDSURFING UK PICS: JAMES JAGGER
AS WITH ALL THINGS WINDSURFING THE WORLD OF FOILS MOVES FAST.
AT THE TIME OF WRITING FOIL & CO (A SUBSIDIARY BRAND OF AHD)
HAVE ALREADY LAUNCHED THEIR UPDATED RANGE OF MONOLITHIC
CARBON FOILS AND NEW WEBSITE – WWW.AFS-FOILS.COM.YOU’D
THEREFORE BE FORGIVEN FOR THINKING THE BRAND’S AFS-2 IS OLD
HAT, WHICH COULDN’T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
Having spent considerable time with
the first gen AFS-1 we’ve since had
opportunity to play with the AFS-2 and
AHD SL2 132 foil ready board (see
review elsewhere) extensively. When
testing equipment it’s important to go
in depth, across as wide a range of
conditions as we can. And with the
AFS-2 we’ve certainly achieved that!
From the moment we coupled up the
AFS-2 our experienced flights in
comparison to the AFS-1 were night
and day. Having previously been told lift
wouldn’t be quite as early as with the
AFS-1 that much does ring true.
Although the actual amount of time it
takes to hover is minimal.
Featuring a 70cm universal wing,
complete with 92.5cm (new W95 is
now 95cm) tapered mast and 85cm
fuselage the AFS-2 is a significant
uk
WIND
SURFING
piece of carbon. A high aspect foil, with
thinner and longer wing spans, it bolts
to board via standard deep tuttle. Foil
& Co use star head fixings for extra
leverage when tightening.
With around 12 knots we used a 6m to
see how things panned out first run.
Happily we were taking flight in gusts
without issue. And straight away it
became apparent the amount of control
the AFS-2 delivers is unparalleled.
Following on from that initial session
we chucked the AFS-2 at everything
from 10-25+ knots. In all instances,
even when a tad over gassed, the AFS-
2’s composure and good manners
were ever on show. Of course, you can
over foil on almost any of these toys,
but it takes a lot for the AFS-2 to
cavitate and cause those unnerving
drops from the sky.
Another tick in the AFS-2’s box is its
speed. Due to the foil’s construction,
and fixed mast/fuselage lay up, you get
minimal, if any, torsional twist. You can
feel this on some, especially if
swapping from one foil to another. The
AFS-2, however, remains rock steady
and delivers superior efficiency. How
did we measure this? When flying next
to riders on standard slalom kit it was
obvious the AFS-2 easily kept up and in
some cases outran.
Going round corners requires a degree
of concentration as there is some push
back from the foil. That said after a few
attempts progress can still be made..
Conclusion
Foil & Co’s AFS-2 is the most
controlled windfoil we’ve used to
date. Easy take offs, speed at flight
and able to cope with fluctuating
conditions it’s no wonder some of
the PWA pro lot are using this
brand’s foils. Superb manufacturing
techniques, with top drawer
attention to detail, cap off a great
product from the French foiling crew.