# Sanding down graphics on foil wings

**URL:** <https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/sanding-down-graphics-on-foil-wings/5998>\
**Category:** Downwind Foil\
**Created:** [July 3, 2024, 3:37pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/sanding-down-graphics-on-foil-wings/5998 "2024-07-03T15:37:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![noripplez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cdc98d/32.png) [@noripplez](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/noripplez)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 3:37pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/sanding-down-graphics-on-foil-wings/5998/1 "2024-07-03T15:37:32Z")

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Hey all you smart folks! I was towing behind a boat with the Cab gen 2 h1050 with the mono bloc 180 rear wing…just getting used to the foil and sorting mast position. I noticed as I got to faster speeds (whipping turns) that, though the rig remained pretty stable, I felt I reached a speed where I felt significant drag. The graphics on the those wings have a noticeably raised texture to the touch. And there is more of this possible drag-inducing graphics on one side of the wing than the other… Think it’s worth trying to sand them off? I remember Kane talking about this a while back. Anyone here sanded off noticeable-to-the-touch graphics? Thanks!

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**Author:** ![jondrums](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ea924/32.png) [@jondrums](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/jondrums)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 7:16pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/sanding-down-graphics-on-foil-wings/5998/2 "2024-07-04T19:16:07Z")

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you won’t notice, but go ahead and sand them and find our for yourself, won’t hurt anything. The top surface of the front wing from leading edge back to about 2/3rds of the chord should not have interruptions that could trigger a flow separation. scratches, graphics, imperfections on the bottom side of the wing make absolutely no difference (high pressure side of the flow, no worries about separation).

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**Author:** ![noripplez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cdc98d/32.png) [@noripplez](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/noripplez)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2024, 5:12pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/sanding-down-graphics-on-foil-wings/5998/3 "2024-07-05T17:12:25Z")

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I’ll give it a try and report my findings…thanks for your thoughts, Jon.

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**Author:** ![AnacortesRigging](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.progressionproject.com/anacortesrigging/32/4936_2.png) [@AnacortesRigging](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/AnacortesRigging)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/sanding-down-graphics-on-foil-wings/5998/5 "2024-07-06T16:49:40Z")

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> [@jondrums](#):
>
> you won’t notice, but go ahead and sand them and find our for yourself, won’t hurt anything. The top surface of the front wing from leading edge back to about 2/3rds of the chord should not have interruptions that could trigger a flow separation. scratches, graphics, imperfections on the bottom side of the wing make absolutely no difference (high pressure side of the flow, no worries about separation).

Not saying you’re wrong that people won’t really notice, but certainly imperfections in the foil do make a difference. It may be small enough to be imperceptible for most foilers. But SailGP, Americas Cup, Moths, kite foilers are all extremely protective of the foils, to the extent that the foils cannot be touched by bare skin because the oil on your skin can affect performance. A LOT of resources have been put into these foils and their care. They know what they are doing.

It’s likely that the speeds we ride the aren’t critical in terms of foil finish and imperfections. But saying it makes no difference is simply wrong.