Compared to conventional wingfoil boards, downwind boards are significantly longer and very narrow. For comparison: typical foil boards with a volume of around 100 litres range in length from 155 to 170 centimetres (5'1'' to 5'7'') and are on average just under 70 centimetres wide. The downwind board we used as an example, the Naish Hover Downwind 105, is just 57 centimetres wide (22.5'') but an impressive 216 centimetres long (7'1'').
The roots of downwind boards lie in SUP foiling. In order to be able to ride round swell waves with the foil SUP, boards were needed that could accelerate to the required speed even with little thrust. It was an obvious step to combine such narrow and comparatively long boards with the wing as an early starter. We tried out how early you can really start flying and how difficult the narrow boards are to ride - here is our editor Manuel Vogel's experience report.
Fighting the bow wave
I tried out the Naish Hover Downwing 105 as an example of a downwind board and tested it against a common wing foil board of a similar size, which I know from many cross-comparisons is one of the boards that planes very well. Wing and foil were of course identical in my cross-comparison. At first, I went out on the water with the normal wing foil board - in 6 to 10 knots of wind, as a 90-kilo surfer with a five square metre wing and an 1840 Naish foil, I had no chance of pumping myself onto the foil. This is mainly due to the bow wave that pushes my 5'5 wingboard in front of me and which has to be overcome. After a few attempts at pumping with a medically questionable pulse rate, I give up and eagerly switch to the downwind board.
A moving experience
Fortunately, any concerns about failing on the narrow toothpick as soon as you stand up quickly vanish into thin air. Whilst the Naish Hover Downwind 105 would certainly be far too small and wobbly for me as a SUP, the board is surprisingly stable with the foil attached. Due to its length, the downwind board also has above-average stability in the water around the transverse axis. What is immediately noticeable: there is no bow wave! As soon as there is just a hint of wind (4-5 knots) in the wing, the pointed bow cuts through the water and the board makes good metres. When the first mini squall arrives, I start pumping. Because there is no braking bow wave, the board feels like it is travelling one km/h faster with every pump, the relative wind increases steadily and after a few seconds the board actually takes off. The feeling of floating alone over the Kiel Fjord in mirror-smooth water is more than uplifting. My elation lasts until the first jibe - more on that in a moment. Equally impressive is how quickly the board converts wave thrust into propulsion. Even small swells generated by ships are enough - combined with a few pumping strokes - to take off even when the wind feels calm.
Egg dance
Normally I don't have to think about my standard manoeuvres - after three years of wingfoiling and countless days on the water, normal tacks and jibes have become second nature. Everything is different on the downwind board. Apart from the fact that I first have to make sure that I don't accidentally put my 48s next to the board, the first jibes turn into an egg dance. Because there is no leverage on the narrow deck, there is obviously less to counter the forces of the foil. After a few crashes, which remind me of my early days waving, I slowly get to grips with it better. An hour later, tacking, jibing and other foil manoeuvres work - although you always need to pay a lot more attention.
Downwind boards - the (provisional) conclusion:
The advantage that narrow, long downwind boards have over "normal" wingboards in marginal light winds is immense. Regardless of which foil and wing you use, you can actually reduce the wind limit by a few knots. So if you live in typical light wind spots and regularly struggle to get on the foil at all, these boards are a real game changer. To have fun with them, however, you need to be at an advanced riding level. As easy as it is to take off, the manoeuvres are demanding - so these boards are rather unsuitable for wingfoil beginners.
