Mast ventilation - all the rage. But what the hell is it?

[Matt]

here is a great video of mast ventilation

Facebook

[Wouzel]

I’m grateful someone got a clip of that. Clears up any misconceptions that ventilation is only a high speed wing/kite issue. Agree with above. Masts are so sensitive to production abnormalities it can happen to anyone. Just gotta know what to look for.

[AnacortesRigging]

@Eriefoiler

I’ve felt mast ventilation is pushing very hard upwind in short period chop (wing or kite). It occurs in these circumstances because when the board is leaned over hard the mast acts as a lifting surface (moving with non zero angle of attack). Moving through chop introduces air onto the low pressure surface on the bottom side of the mast (when leaned over) - which can propagate down the entire mast. It feels like the foil suddenly falls out from underneath you.

This The feeling I get isn’t the entire foil suddenly falling out, but rather I loose stability in the angle I’m riding and can’t get the mast vertical again and my weight back up on top of the foil. The result is falling backwards as the board tips over to weather. Just like in this clip: https://youtu.be/BlCuVZK2aqE?si=va_T-QX5QpgCB2VE I experience this when riding upwind, leaned over and in choppy water.

[nilsmango]

that facebook reel is not working for me.

[Matt]

mast ventilation