Surface following foilboard

[ozchrisb]

Johnn, this would be a micro control kind of thing. You would still use weight shift for most adjustments the wand would just help you at the extreme. And it's not just about surface following, it's also about being able to go very fast. As your speed increases the lift of the foil also increases (by a lot it's). Being able to control the shape of the foil profile would allow for a step function increase in top speed. Other people, i.e. not me, seem to be topping out around 30 knots, we have the power using kites to get to 40ish before cavitation issues start happening. Faster is always better

[wind_rider]

I also see this as a way of getting a higher top speed. An airplane at cruising speed needs a small and efficient wing but it wouldn't get off the ground. That's why you need control surfaces that are adjustable. The latest moth development is a flap with a slot which gives 3x the lift of a current foil for take off and at top speed the flap fits neatly in to a housing just like an aircraft. On a moth you have to lower your ride height considerably from its upwind setting where you will be doing 18 knots to a downwind setting where you will jump to 25 knots. the increased speed is giving you massively more lift. A single fixed foil just seems like the wrong solution both in terms of speed and control (which comes back to speed as crashing isn't fast).

[Johhnn]

Thanks for clarifying. I see what you mean. It will be interesting to see how foilboards develop.

[wind_rider]

Your welcome. Great thread