How are you managing the FD remote and the parawing handle during takeoffs? Are you using the FD to get up on foil first, then deploying the PW? Or are you flying the PW, then throttling the FD to get up on foil?
I’ve tried both and have had minimal success - but there are those days when it isn’t windy enough to consistently takeoff on PW alone, but it is still windy enough to make FD not optimal. Packing a PW is not even noticeable so why not bring it out. It just having to manage the remote (not getting it tangled in the bridle lines) and/or keeping the PW properly tensioned.
I have a 5.4m 777 P.T Skin incoming in ~2 weeks, will try to post my impressions as soon as possible. Have only tried flying one on the beach and it seemed very nice, felt easy to stash despite having to pull in the lines twice. I previously had a BRM Ka’a 5,4m which I never got along with; the low end was barely better than my 4m Frigate, the high end and upwind angles terrible. Hope the PT skin is a better product.
My remote is attached to a reel leash on the back of my waist, I drop it and it is pulled in behind me. You still need enough wind to comfortably fly the para and balance on the board so a board will volume over your body weight makes things easier.
I get the para flying first, then stand. Reaching behind me I grab the remote, weight forward and pull the trigger. Get up to foiling speed and gently lift off. Once foiling test the wind strength my shutting off the motor, if you can keep going, drop the remote and para away.
Gybes are difficult as the para will quickly drop as you turn downwind, probably need to learn to tack. Definitely the para can be left onshore and Foildrive alone used, but we all like trying different stuff so why not. My biggest use for combining the para and Foildrive is in stronger wind learning the pack away. Hop on a swell, pack the para, no need for a relaunch until the end of a run as the trigger is there for dead spots.
The kanaha has better upwind angles than the ka’a, but I would agree that the angles are much worst the big parawings.
Right now, I tend to use bigger foils in light wind, even if I can ride a smaller foil; bigger foils give you more area to edge against, plus being slower in the turns is beneficial.
Same! I was planning on buying one until I heard the lab rat episode with the 777 founder and he said they’re close to releasing a new hybrid skin one that should combine thw best of both single and double skins. Figured I’d at least wait until that’s out to decide
I’d doubt that a hybrid parawing would be good for light wind though. Out of extensive experience with foil kites (hybrid/single skin/double skin) I’d guess a hybrid parawing in comparison to a single skin would have a better total wind range, while having a similar low end, ease of flying and upwind angle, but worse for packing. That might be a worthwhile sacrifice in a high wind model, but I’d doubt it would be worth it for light wind.
12kn gust for the 1300s and -5L sinker 6’3 board. I have recently started using a +35L dw board and the 1560, but haven’t determined the new low end yet. I’m 95kg+
Is it fun or cumbersome? I really want to get a PW for Light wind but I just can’t see it being worth it… I’ve already invested in a smaller PW which I can’t use as it isn’t windy enough so a bit wary now.
Depends on the kind of bumps you’ll have access to in LW (and how light you consider LW).
I get out and have fun in LW a lot, I can foil in 8-9 knots but in order to have fun doing upwind downwind I need 10 knots. This is with a 4.7m Frigate, 1340 sqcm foil, and 5’8”x19’“ at 85L board (75 kg).
You can see a good variety of different levels of LW here, all fun for me:
