127 posts
The start method is a major point of difference between the Quest and PR or Frigate. If you try to start like those wings I agree it feels gutless and dead.
My start technique is to get on the board to my knees, then front foot up only , then turn the board deep off the wind (broad reach)with the wing stalled back holding in the downwind hand, it starts pulling hard like a spinnaker, the board quickly gets to just below foil speed with bump assist, then quickly stand and a couple of board pumps and away.
127 posts
I have 6 session on my 4m Quest after a year on Pocket Rockets and it has totally fixed my % redeploy rate.
I usually only go a relatively short distance upwind then DW so don't have time to fully pack down and will often just hold the wing in one hand and the bar in the other. With PR my rate was never better than 80%. From day one on the Quest using exactly the same technique it's about 99%. The bar and the 2 bridle attachment is brilliant and the white kill lines work a dream. Even turning hard both ways not trying to manage the package it never seems to tangle.
Upwind performance doesn't feel great because you are going slow (especially compared to PR) but when you look at the track data it's actually makes very good angles only a few deg less than a wing session I did immediately after. So for surfing waves it's plenty good enough.
I think the wind range on the FONE site for 4m is about right. I've used mine with a KT S K2 in 14-19 knots and also 22- 28 knots it's a mellow ride even at the top end.
I bought this before the PR V2 was announced which sounds like the answer to everything atm but the Quest has certainly improved my enjoyment of Parawinging its a great wing for allot of people.
127 posts
I assume you will be doing upwind/downwind off the western reefs of Lord Howe, such a nice place. I wouldn't go bigger than the 870 because you will have proper ocean bumps moving fast. I'm 85kg and use my 870 for light wind winging and parawinging. I sold my 980 as the 870 renders it totally redundant. It gets up the same or easier, glide is next level giving you much more time to pack the parawing away while the foil auto glides and it's much faster.
If I was riding fast ocean bumps I would want the 770 or maybe 670 so the 870 at your weight will be ideal. I ride mine with the 130 surf tail and it turns surprisingly well once you shed the speed a bit.
