I’ve been hearing about them for years, but it looks like this year you can actually buy a hydrofoil windsurfer. AHD is introducing the AFS 1. Check out the massive vent in the nose! And the Xtra-cool looking foil!
It seems to me that the big thrill must be in straight line reaching. Most articles and speculation I’ve read suggest that the hydrofoil means greatly reduced wetted surface, and therefore the potential for more speed. But I look at that foil, and there’s a whole lot of surface to it that is underwater. And a conventional board, when ridden back on the fin, doesn’t have much surface in the water at all.
I think the benefit is the smoothing out of bumps. The surface “carrying” the rider is no longer the hull bottom (which slaps into every irregularity on the water’s surface) but instead is cruising below the water like a submarine, where presumably le disturbances are far less. Smooth sailing (unless you broadside a bluefish.)
Check out the video (particularly if you speak French.)
5900,-€
if I had the money i would buy it just to try it :).
http://www.ahd-deutschland.de/ahd-afs-1-hydrofoil.html
Posted by: mille | February 11, 2011 at 06:18 AM
uhh whats that in u.s. dollars?
Posted by: scott k. | February 11, 2011 at 10:24 AM
It's intriguing that it apparently allows planing with a 7.5 in sub 10-knot conditions where one would normally need a big-ass 12.0 and formula board to plane. BTW, if you buy one of these and blog about it you'll be my hero forever. :)
Posted by: James | February 11, 2011 at 11:09 AM
Want to add to cart. ALthough I'd undoubtedly drive it up on a shallow coral head anyway. Looks fun though! Would love to take one offshore and surf some open-ocean swells like the foil guys on Maui!
Posted by: rotorhead | February 11, 2011 at 01:00 PM
According to Google, Mille's price is $7,976.21. Pricey. Perhaps that price is for three of them?
Posted by: Michael | February 11, 2011 at 01:27 PM
Really cool board. Looks like the foil was designed by some CFD (computational fluid dynamics - my favorite thing in the whole world)nuts. btw, I really the theremin sound effects at the beginning of the vid.
I would really like to try one of these boards.
Posted by: Dennis | February 12, 2011 at 07:39 PM
You can buy the AHD foil board from www.windsurfdeal.com in California. Its well Balanced and sails in 7 knots
Aloha
Jurg
Posted by: Jurg | February 20, 2013 at 11:41 AM