It’s fun. I love it, I am basically only riding the 7.3 as it is not windy enough for the 5.4. I even got a second 7.3 on order as I know that’ll be the parawing I need for 80% of my sessions this summer.
that 7.3 takes off in nothing!
Not really, those videos show around 15+kn gusts. So it’s not a great representation of the low end. I think 12kn is the low end for that setup and the wing gets overpowered/deformed pretty easily when it starts to go around 18kn. It’s nowhere as powerful as a 8m cwc, although around the same power as a 6.5m duotone unit, maybe a touch less powerful. I will add a video there where it shows me failing to take off, this will be around the 10kn wind strength
Thats great honest footage & feedback bro. It surely has to be below 15 knots though, that water is like a pancake. Your first clip is just like me trying to get going on my 4.3PR - just being pulled along. I would happily swap my PR for a 7.4 just for something different to do rather than have a mediocre wing session in those conditions.
While pumping hard to get onto foil with a big wing has saved a number of sessions for me, big wings are generally a big PITA in most every way…but can be worth it when it is that or no foiling for much of the time where I live. Knowing I’m not going to get the low end and pumpability with a PW, I still think I might rather get a big PT Skin rather than add a 7M Ventis.
While 777 is getting kudos for doing a decent job on the bigger sized PW’s, this seems like a niche that has lots of room for improvement (and some design challenges), and will eventually get more attention as the sport progresses…lots of folks like foiling who live in places with crappy wind…
What is your weight, board size and foil setup here? I’m 100kg dry and just got the PT Skin 7.3 last week.
Have we ever considered there is a pretty fixed amount of speed needed to get up on foil? Consider a person doing flat water pump up. You need a beast foil say 1.7 meter a skinny long board and some great timing. I think the lowest possible speed is around 6 or 7 kts. the lowest to get on foil. I believe that’s around 6 or 7 kts. Now the question becomes does the parawing actually fly in 6 kts and not hinder your takeoff. In other words is providing any steady pull at this wind speed? For reference 7kts is 8mph. The average distance runner is moving at 5 to 7 mph.
Back to wind, so if you had a constant, steady 8 mph you might be able to fly a big para and get up with board pumping. In all seriousness when is a low wind condition say less than 10 kts ever steady.
I would suggest a combo of gear. Wings for lower wind condition, say 7m to 5 m for wind less than 10 kts and a 5m to 3.5 m parawing for greater than 15 kts.
I personally use my 6m wing until it’s time to get my 4m parawing. I like a mid length board in the 6’8” 115 liter x 23 wide. I am 100kg geared up. I also like foils with some span say 1 to 1.3 meters tip to tip. On the higher aspect side.
I like comfort ![]()
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Just bought a 5m POW to manage the lighter than light winds scenario. Getting stuck while far out to sea is not an option and oftentimes even if its not the most enjoyable, rather use a bigger PW than call the coast guards. Lets see how it goes.
95kg, 8’6 125L and 7’6 90L , 1300/1540S / 75+/120r. I will still need 12kn gusts at least for the 7’3 skin. Low end is similar to the 6.5 duotone unit maybe a touch less.
I’ve had the 5.0 Quest out three times so far. I’m 80kg, board is 95L KT Super K2. Foil for first two sessions was Spitfire 1100, third session was Fireball 1070.
First session the wind was at the top of the range - 18-25kts on the outside. Knew I would be overpowered on the outside but inside was 15-20 and I was itching to try it. Worked really well. Even overpowered, was still manageable, didn’t deform. Nice first impression.
Second session - wind was 10-14 knots. I needed a puff to get going and once I was going it felt great. There’s a bouy I use as my reference point and I was able to easily sail pretty far upwind. Was able to complete a couple of outside footswitches and make the jibes. Sailed through the window pretty well. Easier to maintain line tension than the v1 PRs.
Yesterday wind was 12-18 kts - right in the pocket. Had a great time! Easy to get going even on the low end of the wind range. Able to make my jibes. Able to get good upwind angles. Confidence inspiring session.
Very happy with the purchase!
Edit - the bumps in these conditions have been quite small but I’ve played with retracting and redeploying - very easy to retract with the way they grouped the center bridle lines. Redeploys great as long as I don’t get line hung up on something.