I know this is a hydro foil but the ability to sail just on a fin seems to me the fastest way of sailboarding - reduced surface to surface friction because the board is completely out of the water. It doesn't happen terribly often but when I hear the howl of air flowing through my fin box whilst using a trapezoidal fin, I know I'm really moving and the board is completely out of the water. Your thoughts?
With a standard fin, the "end plate" effect of the board's tail touching the water is the big issue. That is what stops ventilation (not cavitation) of the fin on the low pressure side, and hence spin out.
Clarence
If you have air flowing thru the box, you don't have a seal and its going to get messy.
Do you have the rubber washer on the top of the fin bolt/s?
I am using an old style U.S. Box so no washers necessary. The fin is around 36cm and I still have good control at high speed and with the board out of the water. It's a Mistral Diamond Head (1984). But I have 20 or so other boards.
^^^ interesting contribution.
What's the windsurf foil speed record? Or the kite one for that matter...?