Asking especially those who do upwind/downwind, what helps keep the pedal down going deep downwind powered up? I'm a bit apprehensive because it feels like I'm really forward and fear ventilating going over a swell. I end up either depowering or sheeting out too much.

Any suggestions/experiences appreciated.

Paducah said..
Asking especially those who do upwind/downwind, what helps keep the pedal down going deep downwind powered up? I'm a bit apprehensive because it feels like I'm really forward and fear ventilating going over a swell. I end up either depowering or sheeting out too much.

Any suggestions/experiences appreciated.

Having the right wing helps - Slingshot Infinity 76, Time Code 68 and Infinity 65 are all awesome downwind and upwind in big conditions.

Perhaps it's counter-intuitive but if it's windy or the swells are big - "going for it" downwind (i.e. speed) aids control as you have less sail pressure to deal with. Weight forward is paramount with all 3 wings when shooting down a wave or swell.

The Infinity 65 is the easiest to turn downwind in 30 knots, the acceleration is instant - you lose pressure in the sail almost immediately so you can concentrate on carving the swells.
Brilliant wing - turns like a demon and super quick - 80% of the lift of the 76 even though it's only half the area - SS have nailed it


SSW 23-33 knots, Wizard 105, Simmer Blacktip 3.7m, Infinity 65 - best-ever river session

Paducah said..Azymuth, thanks but was looking for input more from those riding race wings - should have been more explicit. SS make nice foils for sure.

No worries - you're gutsy riding swells on a race foil

Regarding footstraps, If we're talking race setups it depends a lot on the board too. On a current 'square' style board it's pretty hard to stay in the rear straps down wind when lit up as the rear straps are so wide. You also typically need more weight forward that having you feet in the rear straps can provide. No problem when it's lighter but you'll still probably find your VMG is worse when you do it.

As others have said, stay sheeted in, chase the apparent wind and keep the speed up. Sheeting in keeps the nose pressure down and the rig in control, sheeting out on a powered up race setup downwind is dicing with death. When you're doing it right you will be going fast, so you will have a fair amount of lift so you will be way forward. This does seem sketchy but if your setup is tuned right is very stable.

We regularly sail with 7-8 of top level racers together (some PWA/Olympic), lining up and comparing speeds, some of the key points for me:

Downwind foot in or out the straps makes only a slight difference in speed. In the straps gives more speed but higher angle, out the backstrap gives a little less speed but lower angle. Things change when you're pumping downwind, in the straps you can pump harder. I feel in the straps has a higher VMG when powered up, if you can handle the power (for me medium wind, 10.0 in about 10-12knots, 9.0 in 14-16 knots), but lower VMG if you are under or overpowered, due to having to sail a higher angle underpowered and being out of control overpowered.

Staying hooked in is a must, it increases power, but also allows you to hang your weight in the sail / pushing down on the mastfoot. INCREASING STABILITY! To keep the lines at the correct place for up/downwind you NEED an outhaul kit. Trim your lines to be in the correct position for upwind (you can practically always give full outhaul upwind, independent of windstrength). If you did it right the power should be on the front hand when going downwind, meaning you can trim the balancepoint by letting off outhaul. (Releasing outhaul shifts power in the sail back - creating balance over both hands downwind)

Same as upwind, bending the knees or bending at the hips decreases power enormously. Fastest is to stay completely straight and extend yourself from the rig as far as you can, as long as you can without being overpowered. In theory it should be doable in any wind by correctly doing the next point..

Sheet in going downwind, independent of windstrength, go more downwind if you have too much power, go up if you have too little. The goal is to find the line where you are powered up (able to keep the board flat), but not overpowered.

Lastly, use the gusts downwind to power up / launch yourself into "the next gear".

As for trim, things dont change much..

Trim range for various settings:
Mastfoot 3cm further forward in high wind
Downhaul 4mm tighter in high wind
Outhaul thighter 1-2cm upwind, downwind no idea, dependent on where my lines are!
Harnesslines move back when wind increases by max 1cm
Harnesslines a little longer when its windy, max 2 inch.
Mast rake .5degree more when its wavey, not per se when its more windy
Stab angle = same independent of windstrength, max power
Straps = same, although I'm at maximum width for the straps, and step further back(half out of the front strap) in light wind, and sometimes out of the strap on the rail in front of the strap with the backfoot in light winds to be able to keep myself straight without sailpreassure. (I need sailpreassure to be able to sail with both legs completely straight and both feet in the straps) so I dont really always use my straps when its light? Kinda like:

My tips are:

- let off the outhaul a cm or two just before I bear away,
- back foot comes out of the strap and goes to the centre of the board just in front of the rear strap (I shift it forward slightly if I need less lift)
- stay hooked in to the harness and lean hard forward with front foot in the strap.

Once im in this position I work the edge of the breeze to maintain speed and lift on the foil. If I'm overpowered I bear away more, and if I'm losing speed and lift I head up towards the breeze to get more power in the sail.

I use Starboard GT-R foils and race sails. Hope any of this helps. If you have any questions feel free to pm me.