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Parawing as alternative in Light Wind Winging

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Created by Ingenuity A week ago, 17 Jan 2025
Ingenuity
32 posts
17 Jan 2025 4:39AM
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Can a 6.2m or 5.1m BRM parawing replace a 6.5m wing in light wind winging? Or is it a struggle in light wind with a parawing? Want to learn for winging for now then dabble with DW later. Thanks for any feedback.

foilthegreats
633 posts
17 Jan 2025 5:14AM
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I would say no, being under powered on a parawing is no fun. You just can't generate power to get up on foil like you can with a wing. I've had many sessions on the BRM 4m with KT 7' 100L and AFS Silk 1050/152 in under powered conditions but with bumps/waves assist to get me up on foil. Really similar to a SUP paddle up in bumps but using the parawing to get the board into position and giving some forward momentum while pumping the board hard to activate the foil.

Jethrow
NSW, 1255 posts
17 Jan 2025 8:47AM
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I think it's only a matter of time before a parawing will be the light air go-to.
The shape has SOOO much potential to be more efficient.
As an ex-sailmaker, every-time I look at the fat leading edge of my 6.5 wing I can't help but think "there's gotta be a better way".

TooMuchEpoxy
317 posts
17 Jan 2025 6:30AM
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Jethrow said..
I think it's only a matter of time before a parawing will be the light air go-to.
The shape has SOOO much potential to be more efficient.
As an ex-sailmaker, every-time I look at the fat leading edge of my 6.5 wing I can't help but think "there's gotta be a better way".

I'm waiting for reports of a parawing being a better wing-ding than a wing-ding but it's not happening yet!

CFL Foiler
99 posts
17 Jan 2025 8:12AM
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foilthegreats said..
I would say no, being under powered on a parawing is no fun. You just can't generate power to get up on foil like you can with a wing. I've had many sessions on the BRM 4m with KT 7' 100L and AFS Silk 1050/152 in under powered conditions but with bumps/waves assist to get me up on foil. Really similar to a SUP paddle up in bumps but using the parawing to get the board into position and giving some forward momentum while pumping the board hard to activate the foil.


Have to agree, at least these single skin gen 1s are no replacement to a wing. My 5.5 strike v3 has way more low end pump then my 5.1 BRM and the v3s are known to not have great low end for a wing.
maybe once the double skin parawings come out they will have and advantage but in low wind I think and inflatable rigid wing would be preferable to a bridled kite. Just less to deal with in the lulls and as I said wings atleast right now pump way better, its not even close.

hilly
WA, 7436 posts
17 Jan 2025 11:47AM
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Agree with above. I have been surprised how hard it is to get going on a parawing and when you do you have heaps to power from apparent wind to deal with. My experience is with BRM so it will be interesting to see what the D Wing is like when it arrives.
What I want is a parawing that gets me up on foil like a 4m but when up behaves like my 2.9m when foiling. Unicorn

Donathon
54 posts
17 Jan 2025 5:47PM
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I am thinking the reverse, I use an FOne 8m in the summer, 8knts of wind cruising around, I am 88kg and 5'1" board. I was thinking the opposite a Parawing for nuking days, when everyone is on a 3m, I could be on a Parawing

Nikita
QLD, 216 posts
18 Jan 2025 7:15AM
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The parawing definitely needs more wind to get going than a wing of the same size. The reason is because you can't pump the parawing. And I really tried.
On a steady day I could get going on a 4.0 wing with a few strong pumps. But when I switched to a 4.0 BRM, I couldn't get going even after 20mins of trying. Switched back to wing and got foiling again.

bigtone667
NSW, 1516 posts
18 Jan 2025 9:06AM
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I need to be reasonably powered up on 4.5m wing before I pull out the 5.1m BRM.

It is not a light wing option, ie 10 knots.

hilly
WA, 7436 posts
18 Jan 2025 7:52AM
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bigtone667 said..
I need to be reasonably powered up on 4.5m wing before I pull out the 5.1m BRM.

It is not a light wing option, ie 10 knots.


2.9m needs a solid 20+ knots and the 4m a bit less. However I am at the beginning of my parawing journey and like wings you get more efficient with experience. I think I am using too small a board and foil for easy lift off as well. If you use a long narrow board with a large foil you could lower the threshold a bit.

Microsurfer
131 posts
18 Jan 2025 8:15AM
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hilly said..

bigtone667 said..
I need to be reasonably powered up on 4.5m wing before I pull out the 5.1m BRM.

It is not a light wing option, ie 10 knots.



2.9m needs a solid 20+ knots and the 4m a bit less. However I am at the beginning of my parawing journey and like wings you get more efficient with experience. I think I am using too small a board and foil for easy lift off as well. If you use a long narrow board with a large foil you could lower the threshold a bit.


Ok that's the thing I need to know. I've got a 8'4 DW with a big foil & I absolutely love riding it- I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything by riding a big board (I've got smaller boards & foils if I need them for rougher windier days).
I want to get a 4.2M Dwing as I think it's the best compromise on size & pack down but am unsure if it is going to work in 13-18knots which is our typical good days. Anyone tried a longer board in these winds?

hilly
WA, 7436 posts
18 Jan 2025 8:24AM
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Microsurfer said..if it is going to work in 13-18knots which is our typical good days. Anyone tried a longer board in these winds?


You would need a solid 18knot gust to get up. Once up you would be fine.
EDIT you might be being optimistic especially learning, I need a lot of wind to start off but that will improve with experience. From website:

RANGE

3m
20kt-30kts
4.2m
15kt-25kts
5.5m
10kt-20kts


* The wind range is based on an 80 kg rider and is for reference only. Be sure to also factor in your skill level, weight, foil selection and board choice.

mcrt
630 posts
18 Jan 2025 4:15PM
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hilly said..

Microsurfer said..if it is going to work in 13-18knots which is our typical good days. Anyone tried a longer board in these winds?



You would need a solid 18knot gust to get up. Once up you would be fine.
EDIT you might be being optimistic especially learning, I need a lot of wind to start off but that will improve with experience. From website:

RANGE

3m
20kt-30kts
4.2m
15kt-25kts
5.5m
10kt-20kts


* The wind range is based on an 80 kg rider and is for reference only. Be sure to also factor in your skill level, weight, foil selection and board choice.


Bigtone667 posts here that the Dwing 4.2 feels as big as the BRM 5M with similar overlaid area...

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Wing-Foiling/Wind-Wings/Flow-D-Wing-Parawing-Thread?page=1#19

I am waiting for a Takoon 4m.Also hoping it will be enough from 15kt upwards.
So many ifs...the joys of early adopting :(

hilly
WA, 7436 posts
18 Jan 2025 7:12PM
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mcrt said..

hilly said..


Microsurfer said..if it is going to work in 13-18knots which is our typical good days. Anyone tried a longer board in these winds?




You would need a solid 18knot gust to get up. Once up you would be fine.
EDIT you might be being optimistic especially learning, I need a lot of wind to start off but that will improve with experience. From website:

RANGE

3m
20kt-30kts
4.2m
15kt-25kts
5.5m
10kt-20kts


* The wind range is based on an 80 kg rider and is for reference only. Be sure to also factor in your skill level, weight, foil selection and board choice.



Bigtone667 posts here that the Dwing 4.2 feels as big as the BRM 5M with similar overlaid area...

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Wing-Foiling/Wind-Wings/Flow-D-Wing-Parawing-Thread?page=1#19

I am waiting for a Takoon 4m.Also hoping it will be enough from 15kt upwards.
So many ifs...the joys of early adopting :(


Beta testing

I hope a 4.2 Dwing and a 2.9 BRM covers me for parawing. If there is swell I will ding.

bigtone667
NSW, 1516 posts
19 Jan 2025 12:32PM
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hilly said..

Microsurfer said..if it is going to work in 13-18knots which is our typical good days. Anyone tried a longer board in these winds?



You would need a solid 18knot gust to get up. Once up you would be fine.
EDIT you might be being optimistic especially learning, I need a lot of wind to start off but that will improve with experience. From website:

RANGE

3m
20kt-30kts
4.2m
15kt-25kts
5.5m
10kt-20kts


* The wind range is based on an 80 kg rider and is for reference only. Be sure to also factor in your skill level, weight, foil selection and board choice.


I reckon the low end on the 5.5m is very theoretical.



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"Parawing as alternative in Light Wind Winging" started by Ingenuity