The new Glide Swift Foil from manufacturer NeilPryde was developed by Nils Rodenblad, who works as an engineer in the America's Cup and previously developed the brand's windsurfing sails. The foil concept is intended to cover a very large target group, from beginners to foil experts, by combining early lift, a good glide and high speed potential. The manufacturer recommends the foil in comparatively small sizes. We have tested whether this recommendation is correct.
On land:
We tested the new foil in two sizes - with the small 800 front wing ("Glide Swift 8") and the 1000 ("Glide Swift 10"). The wings are mounted on a 71 centimetre long aluminium fuselage. The parts fit perfectly, and three M6 Torx screws are used to ensure a secure connection between the fuselage and the mast. The wings themselves are secured using thicker M8 screws. The set includes a matching bag, but there are no individual covers for the wings. Tools and small shims, which can be used to adjust the angle of the rear wing, are also included.
The 85 centimetre long carbon mast turns out to be quite stiff. However, when mounting the foil on the board, the mounting plate of the mast does not allow the screws to be inserted, which means that screwing it into the box takes a little longer. The wing design is quite special: the two front wings have strikingly slim tips, but in the centre, in the area of the fuselage, they are quite flat and have a fairly thick profile.
The rear wing is strongly curved towards the rear; this design should feel like an extended fuselage and thus provide more directional stability without restricting the turning characteristics. The set is currently available with front wing sizes of 800/1000/1200 and 1450 cm2, a 600 front wing is available separately as an accessory. In addition, older foils from the Glide series can also be upgraded with the new components - the components are compatible.
Depending on which front wing size you choose, the aspect ratio (ratio of wingspan to surface area) also changes. For example, the smallest front wing with an area of 600 cm2 is designed to be significantly more elongated (aspect ratio of 9.1) than the largest wing in the range, the 1450 with a ratio of 7.3.
On the water:
Given the relatively small sizes available, we were also somewhat sceptical as to how suitable the new NeilPryde Glide Swift Foils could actually be for the masses. We were all the more surprised by the light wind performance of the wings. Even the 800, but especially the 1000 front wing, produce an enormous amount of lift for their size. If you can actively pump, you can get flying very early - even our heavy test subject (90 kilos) had just under 14 knots of wind with a 4.7 wing to take off with the 800 front wing. In direct comparison, the 800 front wing offers about as much lift as a standard 1000 to 1200 front wing. In terms of lift, the 1000 Glide Swift wing is more comparable to a standard 1300. The flow is stable even when manoeuvring the foil, the "stall speed", i.e. the speed at which the flow breaks off when the speed slows down, is surprisingly low for a foil of this size.
On the straights, the NeilPryde Glide Swift 800 offers good control and you don't have to worry about unforeseen stalls or bugs. If you put your mind to it, you can get the foil up to a reasonable top speed, with the 4.7 wing we managed 37 to 38 km/h in the normal wind range. To get into this speed range, however, you have to push noticeably; all in all, we would have expected a little more speed potential from a wing of this size. Nevertheless, jumps and flips are easily possible, and you always benefit from good control before take-off. The 800 front wing has particular strengths in terms of its manoeuvrability, smooth and tight radii can be achieved and control impulses are implemented well. Conversely, however, a little sensitivity is also required, as the straight-line stability of the 800 front wing is less directionally stable.
The 1000 Glide Swift front wing is somewhat tamer than the 800. Due to the noticeably larger wingspan, the straight-line behaviour is much more stable, which is particularly helpful for less experienced wingfoilers. This means that a little more pressure has to be applied in manoeuvres than with the 800 and the radii are wider. On the other hand, the foil forgives the occasional misstep without immediately making a wild hook. In addition to good lift, the 1000 also scores with a lot of control - even when powered up, the current is stable. Minor riding errors are not immediately penalised with a stall. However, the speed potential of the 1000 front wing is also rather moderate.
NeilPryde Glide Swift Carbon - the conclusion:
The new NeilPryde Glide Swift Carbon foils may not impress with particularly high top speeds, but they also score points in small sizes with plenty of lift, good control and very good manoeuvrability. The 800 front wing is particularly recommended for experienced wingfoilers who are looking for a foil for use in the waves, for freestyling or for playful foil manoeuvres. The 1000 front wing is also easy to pump, easy to ride even for less experienced wingfoilers and also combines a lot of lift with controlled flight behaviour.
Ease of turning, control, lift
Mounting the mast
