Hi,
I've been running the IQ foil set with the aluminium mast on a Starboard Foil 147 for about 4 years. I've loved the set up but am not seeing the kind of speeds other have reported on the IQ foil. What kind of difference could I expect if I upgraded to a modern foil course race board? I don't necessarily mean the IQ board, but something similar.
Select to expand quotedohertpk said..
Hi,
I've been running the IQ foil set with the aluminium mast on a Starboard Foil 147 for about 4 years. I've loved the set up but am not seeing the kind of speeds other have reported on the IQ foil. What kind of difference could I expect if I upgraded to a modern foil course race board? I don't necessarily mean the IQ board, but something similar.
I was about to say changing boards will give you nothing extra speed wise, but i just looked up the starboard 147, so i'll change the answer to..it might.
we're talking about the board from the early days that's pretty much just a "foil ready" slalom board right? Most of what a course race board will give you is much greater leverage over the foil (more control) it will also help you wind upwind easier, and give you greater control down breeze. That in return will buy you some extra speed. Not iq foil olympian speed, that takes years of training and.. Just kidding, you have to be an alien to get those speeds
for the record my very average joe speeds are around16-19 knots upwind, best peak 23-24knots downwind on a course race board/iq foil. Others will have gone faster im sure.
Many thanks for that. Yeah it's a foil ready slalom board. I'm doing about 14 knots upwind, 20ish down when everything is dialled in.
I also have the iqfoil setup but the 1000 and 800 front wings instead of the 900. I use it with a free race foil board that is 76 cm wide. what sail are you using? Remember that course/olympic racing is mainly about steep angles so if you want to go fast and steep upwind you need to have a big sail.
if you want faster speeds, don't point that high. Remember the racers are trying to achieve VMG.
like Subsonic said, forget about the speeds the iqfoilers are getting (I believe they are going 30 knots downwind). You could either do what many do, which is keep buying the newest stuff to reach that speed (and much smaller front wings) or try to squeeze as much speed from your gear and your ability.
something that will make foiling more enjoyable and potentially faster is getting a carbon mast. That made a huge difference to me. Try to buy the iq carbon mast, not the original starboard carbon.
I sailed with a formula board before getting a foil board and found all points of sail and maneuvering was easier on the foil board also upgraded to the iQfoil mast and all improved and felt under more control again. Agree that VMG sailing is best. Top speed sailing can lead to expensive crashes. Tough on equipment and body
Many thanks all for the helpful replies. My main focus is maximising upwind and downwind VMG. I'm also a dinghy sailor so the efficiency of the foil upwind is what it makes it so addictive. I'm not that fussed about absolute top speeds as much as speeds I can maintain at efficient upwind and downwind headings. I'm running a 7.8m Severne M3.
How does the stiffness of the carbon mast translate into better board speed? Is it just a case of losing power through the flex of the alloy?
Course race board is definitely worth the investment if you want to chase VMG upwind/downwind. It's what they're all about. Having the extra width there makes a huge difference to upwind angles. It'll be chalk and cheese with the 147.
not sure how stiff the alloy iq foil masts are (i've noticed alloy masts can vary quite a bit in stiffness) but having the foil and board not point in different directions to each other is definitely beneficial. I've sailed behind my mate and watched it happen.
Select to expand quotedohertpk said..
Thanks - will keep an eye out for something suitable so.
If you can get ahold of a local iqfoil racer they may have an extra mast or two to sell for cheap. Especially at the end of the season.
Unfortunately, the nearest IQ sailors are across the Irish Sea and given our neighbour's defection from the EU, I'd be hit with customs and VAT.
Select to expand quotedohertpk said..
My main focus is maximising upwind and downwind VMG.
1 m wide board and the stiffest mast you can get, along with a long fuselage (115-120 cm). F4 mast is the stiffest according to French measurements.
Speaking from experience (previously FW, now WF with race foils 900-1000 cm2, 1 m board, and 9-10 m2 sails), this is the type of gear you'd probably like best. To maximize VMG, unfortunately, you're looking to replace both the board for something wider, and also upgrade the mast to at least the carbon one, or preferably C600 if you'd want to stay on the SB foil. Then come the wings, depending on your wind level.
Select to expand quotedohertpk said..
How does the stiffness of the carbon mast translate into better board speed? Is it just a case of losing power through the flex of the alloy?
I took some measurements of flexion and torsion of the iqfoil carbon and alu mast a while back. In flexion, the measurements with a caliper were very very close. For torsion, not even close. So torsional stiffness is super important. Like Subsonic said, for me it was about control. The board stopped diving when raking upwind and I stopped feeling turbulence when passing a boat wake, for example. I don't remember if it is thinner but it could be so there is less drag (it tapers down at the bottom so there is definitely less drag but I think thickness can make a bigger difference). One is maybe 5 times more expensive than the other but totally worth it.
also, you might want a bigger sail. If you can comfortably broad reach, I think you need a bigger sail to maximize your VMG. And get adjustable outhaul.
