I am riding with the Starboard race foil, the best foil there is! It is working very well. When training in the winter I have been playing with the angle of the foil and have found my perfect settings. In a new discipline like this you try and get as many measurement points as you can to understand what is happening. We found out that one of the main points of feeling good on the water during a session is connected with the angles of the foil. We are checking that all the time. There is a certain angle that it needs to be which I can’t tell you right now (Laughs)! It depends heavily on the board and the scoop it has etc. It also depends on the foil you are using and your style and some of this you have to find out for yourself. I would just say go out and if it feels good on the water check the angle and write it down. We have an electronic angle measurement tool to help us record settings.
I am using the Starboard foil board. Honestly with this board I think we really have an advantage. That board is so easy to foil. From the first time I stepped on it I was so comfortable. From one moment to another you keep the control. You are able to push and concentrate on other things than controlling the board. That helps in racing a lot!
I am using the GA slalom sails. We tested them a lot and sometimes when it gets a bit windier the slalom sails work really well. I am happy with the 9.4m as it is exactly the same sail I use in slalom. I have a touch less downhaul. The slalom sails work fine for me at the moment. We will see how that develops in the future. I also have my boom slightly higher and the harness lines a bit to the front. If you have them the same as in slalom you tend to over sheet the sail. With the lines more in the front you have more back hand pressure, which helps you get upwind and lifting. There are a lot of tiny details to learn how to get the best performance. I have tried a few different foils and boards and the Starboard is the most radical race board and wide in the back. It looks very aggressive and racy but it is actually the easiest board of all. You have the most comfortable stance and it is the easiest to control. Any day I foil I will take this board over any other!