This season, Starboard introduces a new system: UCS (Universal Connect System). At the same time, they choose to offer fewer complete sets. Especially for racers, complete sets are no longer available, as Starboard assumes this target group prefers to assemble their own set.
We have extensively tested different set-ups for wing foiling and wind foiling over the past period. In this article, we share our experiences with set-ups aimed at light to medium wind conditions. Throughout the season, we will update this article with our experiences in strong wind conditions.
[Update May 16: session with high wind (up to approx. 20 knots)]
Why Light Wind Set-ups?
So far, we’ve had quite a few windy days in the Netherlands, but really strong and consistent wind days were scarce. Therefore, in this review, we focus mainly on set-ups that perform well in light to moderate wind conditions. As the season progresses, we will supplement this article with more experiences in stronger winds.
Our Test Set-ups
- Starboard Wing Board X-15 85 L
- Starboard UCS 95 cm C600 Deep Tuttle mast – UCS 66 cm fuselage – SLX 665 front wing SLX 160 tail wing
- Starboard UCS 95 cm C600 Deep Tuttle mast – UCS 66 cm fuselage – SLX 565 front wing SLX 160 / 130 tail wing
- Starboard UCS 95 cm C600 Deep Tuttle mast – UCS 66 cm fuselage – SLX 465 front wing SLX 130 tail wing
Trimmable Front Wings: A New Step in Tuning
For the first time, you can now also adjust the angle of the front wing. This is a nice addition, but it does make tuning your set-up a bit more complex. When testing, it’s important to adjust only one component at a time. This way, you really discover the effect of a particular change. We kept track of everything in a logbook and often foiled together with regular buddies, so we could compare well.
Remarkable Stiffness of the Wings
What immediately stands out about these new wings is how thin the tips are, but at the same time how extremely stiff they feel. Bending the wings made of C400-carbon is hardly possible. Not even at the thin and narrow tips. These wings might even be stiffer than the more expensive Patrik AEON wings. Despite their fragile appearance, the material feels strong. With other brands, the wings are often very vulnerable.
The fuselage / wing connection is also very solid and forms a very sturdy unit. The movement in the connection is clearly less than with the previous generation fuselages.
Wing Foil Racing: These Are Our Findings
In the Netherlands, wing foil racing is still in its infancy, but it’s growing rapidly in Southern Europe. For our test, we used the Starboard X-15 wingboard with a deep tuttle box. Last year, we raced with the Starboard SLR2 and the Patrik AEON with shorter fuselage.
Review per Set-up
SLX 665 with SLX 160 Tail Wing
This front wing has a wingspan of 100 cm and an aspect ratio of 15! In combination with the SLX 160, you get on the foil incredibly easily. The board accelerates quickly and you immediately feel every pumping motion. Once on the foil, the glide is impressively good and the acceleration is also notably positive. Although the fuselage is thicker than the Patrik foil, you hardly notice this in practice. The glide is even better than both the Patrik AEON and the older Starboard fuselages (Jumbo or Quick Lock). The stall speed is very low and the efficiency high, which is especially noticeable in the transitions. At the exits of a turn, you have more speed. This is where you gain an advantage in competitions.
What really stands out in wing foiling is how effectively this foil converts every gust of wind into speed. The set-up feels large, especially due to the wingspan, which makes it slightly less maneuverable. Above 44 km/h, the acceleration also decreases somewhat. Still, the foil is very stable, even in strong gusts, and feels very predictable once you have it well-tuned. The construction feels rigid and solid, providing a lot of control. The C600 mast is extremely stiff and perfect for race wingfoiling. Even with significant waves, there is little flex in the mast. This ensures very good control.
SLX 565 with SLX 160 tail wing
We love foiling with the smallest possible wings. It gives a looser, more playful feel and creates less resistance. With a wingspan of 86 cm and an aspect ratio of 13.1, this wing is more compact and dynamic than the 665. The take-off is slightly more challenging than with the SLX 665, but still very easy considering the surface area of the front wing. Once on the foil, this setup feels almost as stable as the 665. You’ll notice a higher top speed and faster acceleration. Even with strong gusts, the foil remains nicely stable and high. As a result, you notice that with a gust, the foil accelerates even further very easily.
SLX 565 with SLX 130 tail wing
When we replace the SLX 160 with the smaller SLX 130, the whole setup becomes even more dynamic and faster. The balance seems to be even slightly better, without compromising performance in light winds. Transitions are smoother and you can initiate them a bit more aggressively. The acceleration is truly impressive :). The stability is slightly less, but after about 1/2 hour this setup feels just as familiar as with the 160. The foil feels looser and challenges you a bit more to push your own boundaries. The control, even with higher waves, is impressive.
When we compare this setup with the SLR2 660 and MF 200 back wing (or SLR2 560 in strong winds), the stall speed of the SLX 565 with SLX 130 is even lower or equal. It’s clear to us that this setup is better in all aspects than last year’s setup with SLR2 wings. With a good pumping technique, you can wingfoil well with the SLX 565/160 combo even with about 10 knots.
SLX 465 with SLX 130 Tail Wing
Finally an afternoon with stable and strong wind. With even sun! We’ve never wingfoiled with such a small front wing before. We started the session with the SLX 565 and SLX 130. Then the wind increased further to 16 to 20 knots. We swapped the SLX 565 for the SLX 465. With this wind, it’s easy to get on the foil. Surprisingly easy. Despite the smaller surface area, it’s easy to generate enough speed and pop the foil up. The foil feels extremely loose and playful. It felt a bit like kamikaze, but we actually had good control. Our (sail) wing with 5.5m2 had actually become a bit too big to break our speed record. But this setup definitely has the potential.
Transitions are also relatively easy with this small wing. Of course, your speed needs to stay higher to stay airborne. But it was clearly easier than the surface area initially suggests. Especially beam reach goes easier and more controlled with this setup than the setup with the SLX 565/130, which feels too big more quickly. Upwind and downwind, we find the SLX 565/130 a better setup even in these conditions because we prefer to have more power/lift in the foil then.
All in all, this setup gave us a big smile and we are surprised by the ease with which we can wingfoil this setup. We will definitely use this setup more often 🙂
Favorite setups
| Front wing | Angle Spacer | Tail wing | Angle Spacer |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLX 665 | 1 (default) | SLX 160 / 130 | 0.75 / 0.5 |
| SLX 565 | 1 (default) | SLX 130 | 0.5 |
| SLX 465 | 1 (default) | SLX 130 | 0,5 |
For wingfoil racing, we prefer to have a bit more lift on the front foot. This helps keep the board stable during gusts, prevents diving, and provides extra power during upwind and downwind legs. When racing primarily on a beam reach, we trim the wing(s) with slightly less lift for better control and a higher top speed.
Difference between SLX and MF wings
| Property | MF series | SLX series |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio (AR) | larger | high, but slightly less |
| Stiffness | stiff (C300 carbon) | extremely stiff (C400 carbon) |
| Characteristics | Slightly more focus on low wind performance / best glide efficiency | Focus on high-end performance and control and stability |
At first glance, the MF wings look very similar to the SLX wings. However, there are clear differences. The MF wings have an even higher aspect ratio and are made of C300 carbon, making them slightly more flexible. This results in even better performance in light winds. The SLX wings are stiffer and more focused on high-end performance and racing.
Want to test the SLX yourself?
Do you have questions or want to experience the SLX wings yourself? We have the main sizes available for a test. Feel free to send us an email, and we’ll be happy to schedule an appointment.