Would very much appreciate insights from other 100kg dry (ish) riders who own either the 7m or 8m F-One CWC Aluula (specifically the V5). I’ve been reading a great deal ahead of making this big investment in pursuit of light wind leaning/adventuring. I seem to find many riders making suggestions that read like, “you should get a 7M or 8M wing for light wind" with little specificity on which actual size would be best advised.
So, my question for the dudes and dudettes on here who have either the 7M or 8M in this wing, have you been happy with it? What are your rider/gear/typical wind specs? If you own the 7M, have you ever/or often wished you’d purchased the 8M? And, vice versa…if you own the 8M, have you thought you could have managed well/better with the slightly smaller 7M and enjoyed slightly better manageability?
I’m currently using an (wake/towed) F-One 120L mid-length, 1540cm/9ar front foil and have confident long runs. Ready to ditch the boat, so want to make a high-quality wing investment. Thinking that a 7M would be slightly more manageable size-wise, if it could/will work with my 1540cm front….but maybe an 8M would be more appropriate with my 1540cm front?…or, if my1540cm is insufficient for either of these large wing sizes, what size would be advised and what size for either the 7M or 8M CWC Aluula wings? I live near a (mostly calm) lake where seasonal winds range 8-15 knots. Thank you for opinions/recommdations. Very much appreciated!
1540cm is a nice size foil for starting out at your weight and light wind generally. It will work with any size wing.
Winging is a little more technical with really large wings - especially when trying to make really light wind work inland where it is up and down. They get in your way jibing and they’re a lot to hold when the wind drops. Each size up at the high end is marginally more unwieldy than the one below. I find my 6M Strike to feel unwieldy and my 7M is really a lot. When the wind is light enough for my 7M it often shuts off for long periods inland rending the advantage over the 6M often moot. I’m 80KG. If I had steady coastal winds I might use it more.
Thank you for the response. I do not (have any other wing). This acquisition (of the 7M or 8M) will be my first, and the selection based on what I understand I might need (minimum) for my available wind conditions. I’ve read that starting in light wind can be tenuous, difficult, perhaps frustrating, but I have what I have. I occasionally get 18-20 knot days, but those are rare. So, bang for my learning-buck (I think) is resigning myself to my light wind predicament for now.
I still own and use v2 7m and 8m. I love the 7m, I tolerate the 8m. The 8m gets me up in probably 1-3 kt less, however transitions are much harder, and the 7m can handle gusts in the upper teens pretty easily, where as the 8m starts to feel really taxed. I’m 85kg + wetsuit.
Not sure how different v4/v5 are. I will replace my 8m with a v4/5 8m when the right deal comes along.
I started around your weight, and 6’4" which made an 8m wing no trouble at all.
A stiff (aluula) 7m-8m wing would probably work well for you!
I’ve seen people taking 9m wings into 20kts, and with a small enough LE it could perhaps work - not with my 4psi 8m wing though!
It’s also important to have a 100L or downwind or parawing style board, they make it a lot easier to get up on light wind days compared to the 5’4" x 27" 98L board I started with.
Thank you, D. As you switch between 7M and 8m are you using the same foil setup/size? I’m wondering if the 1-3kn drop in wind speed (using the 7M) can efficiently be compensated for by increasing front foil size by a similar % surface area? Meaning…if the loss of wing sqmeter in dropping from an 8m wing to a 7M wing is roughly 14% decrease in surface area, all other things equal (like aspect ratio staying at 9.5) the front foil is increased similarly by 14%, the 1-3knot loss would be rendered null. In my case, then, if I get the 7M wing (for maneuverability) and increase my foil size from 1540 to 1725 (approx 14%) my light wind capability would be the same as with an 8M. Maybe I don’t fully understand the physics or dynamic. I realize that a larger volume front foil of similar aspect ratio would be a wider span wing and have separate control/maneuverability concerns.
Thanks, Paul. Appreciate your encouraging comments. My mid-length is 6’4”, 22” wide. Not exactly a DW, but hopefully nimble enough for what I hope to do. Curious what size foil setup are you using? I’m only 5’10”…i read mixed reviews about height and issues with dragging wingtips in the water. Some narratives seem to claim that the CWC form factor behaves like a 6m wing of standard (non-compact) designs. Makes me wonder if, at 5’10”, I should avoid the extra width of an 8M??
Where I learned the winds are always super light if there’s wind at all. If I wanted to go out regularly I needed to maximize my opportunities with the gear that gave me the best chance of getting on foil. For my situation it made sense to me to get the biggest wing and deal with the size compromises, the long narrow downwind board and deal with the stability compromise, and the big foil.
I’m 5’5” and 130lbs, and I purchased an 8m wing and I’m glad I did. I don’t find it difficult to use or too big for me at all, you just learn how to handle the size and it’s a non issue in my opinion.
I now have many other sizes but I still use that 8m when nothing else will do. In my opinion if you are trying to learn where the wind is light you will appreciate the power of the biggest wing you can get. Later on you will downsize and be happy to use the smaller wings when it’s blowing harder, but you will never regret having the gear and experience to go out when it’s super light. I still love to cruise around when almost nobody else other than the kiters can get going, and the 8m plays a big part in that.
I change foils a lot depending on conditions (wind and swell/chop). So yes, when really light I’ll size up the foil too. But a smaller foil is always more fun, for me at least. I prefer a bigger wing and a bigger board, with a smaller foil.
agree with the folks here. At your weight, 8m is probably the call. You don’t say your height, but if you’re less than 6’0” tall, you’ll have to really work to keep the tips out of the water. Totally do able. But just a bit harder.
Just chiming in in support of those who battle to get time on foil with light conditions…my biggest wing is a 6.5M Slick, but I did go DW board and huge lifty foil (Sab Leviathan 1350) and learned to pump the snot out of the wing and board…it’s that pumping that is limited by bigger wings for me at 5’8” (only 65kg, btw)…
While we are at it…what are people liking these days for big lifty foils???
Those 1st gen Leviathans totally sucked aside from getting on foil early…tons of drag, pitching moment, and little maneuverabiity
Think a 1540 will be plenty of lift for you under wing power with either 8M or 7M. You’re probably thinking about it right, but I don’t know how much use you’ll get out winging a 1725 if you already have a 1540.
You could get the 8/7M and a 5.5M instead - then a 980, 985 or 1030 for better wind later on. Everything is way easier with better wind, smaller wings and medium size foils, especially when learning to jibe.
You’ll quickly improve your ability to pump the wing and foil to get going. Keep that in mind at the beginning.
Thank you, Fluid. Really helps a lot to read your experience re (human) form factor and success with the larger wing alongside so much narrative about big wing difficulties if one isn’t over 6’. Gives me confidence in leaning towards going with the 8 for my most prevalent (available) conditions.
Yes, I_Draw, have been thinking about seeing if I could acquire a pre-loved 1725…if that upsizing would enable my going with the 7m. However, kinda now thinking, based upon compendium of your’s and everyone’s VERY helpful input, that I’ll have more fun on smallest front foil I can with the largest wing needed to get lifted in my light wind conditions. Leaning towards the 8m and seeing how the 1540 I have works out.
I guess if it doesn’t, I’ll be looking for responses to SpokeyD’s question about what big, lifty foils are liked these days. For me, in the case of 1540 won’t work often in my tepid-wind conditions, Other than trying the 1725S, what other “big/lifty” foil options are adaptable to my Code mast that would work in light wind and perhaps (also) open up new frontiers for me in giving a little dock starting a try.
To take a stab at answering my own question about big lifty foils that are still friendly and perform reasonably well…I’ve been wondering what to add that is a step or two up from my Uni P200 for super light conditions…
It looks to me like it’s either Code S or KT Instinct…the latter not getting much attention as it is pitched as a beginner foil (not a turn off for me…easier is easier)
And that has me thinking about jumping to all one brand (Cedrus makes these changes so much less painful)…I think a quiver of KT Nomads and bigger Instincts could be the go for me…I’ll wait for the snow to melt and see what spring has in store for new foils
If your in the 100kg club or abv in light winds you can’t afford not to have a 8m CWC.I usually use mine with Axis 1250 Fireball or 1180 spitfire with a down wind style board works really well for us heavier riders, way to go for what your describing your use for. If interested I have a 8m V4 8m w/aluula LE in good shape I can sell if your in the states pm if interested.
It’s important to have a lot of sail initially while you build up your technique, go for the 8m. It won’t be ,much worse to handle than a 7, and will give you a little bit more where it matters. Then you can jump to a 5 or 5.5m for proper winds (14+kts). Along the way, your wing pumping skills and board pumping skills will develop to the point you might use the 5.5 a lot more than the 8, but still keep it as a session saver.
I was lucky to have the kitefoiling option in light winds, so I didn’t hold onto the 7m boring truck that I had.
Thank you for the perspective, Alex. With no wing experience and this being a first purchase, I’ve no sense of the degree of “not much worse to handle” re sizing. So, thank you (and everyone ++). Consensus seems to be put the $k into a must have 8m for my size. Certainly not among the most critical monetary decisions in life, but time is time, and arguably the most valuable commodity we have (I think). I def want to make the best of it when on the water….appreciate the forum’s perspectives and assistance with that in mind.
Thanks, Dougd. I actually took the plunge on the 8m CWC about an hour before your post based on the collective input received here. So, in a week or so I’ll be set to commence the adventure.
Never tried the V5 8m yet, hopefully they still have soft handle option as the hard/boom handle can be a issue if your winging in the waves as bit more potential for board damage with wing/handle, but should be a great wing for you and hoping F1 8m cwc still has the low-end grunt that V4 has as V3 was a bit of a disappointment for me personally