A Scottish Downwinder

Issue 15 / Thu 23rd Feb, 2023

Articles
Issue 15
A Scottish Downwinder

The AFS team head to Scotland in search of wild downwinders and to say they score is an understatement.

A few years ago, I heard rumours of a group of hardy Scottish foilers sending it across wild oceans & lochs on their wings. Fortunately for us, they invited AFS foils to join them. the result of that was a simply stunning film released just a few weeks ago: A Scottish Downwinder. I’m a huge fan of long-form films over the 30-second reels we’re so used to seeing these days. AFS UK Brand Developer Paul Wakelin was lucky enough to be on that trip and has written all about the experience. Be sure to have a read, watch the film, and get inspired to downwind!

OK, Scotland in October, quite a punchy call but what do they say… “no such thing as bad weather with the right equipment?!”

Armstrong Foils | View in Mag

Prolimit | View in Mag

I was instantly sold on Oban. Locals, Andy Corbe, and Patrick Winterton’s Facebook trip invitation: “102ft Tall Ship sailing through Scottish waters seeking out the best downwinder routes of the day…"

Joining was the AFS team, Europe’s leading Carbon Foil manufacturer, simply poured fuel on the fire. Over a few calls and emails the plan developed into a full-blown, bespoke, promotional film epic. In early November, our hastily gathered but eager team, combining French, German, and British talent and enthusiasm, all headed North. Our very own AFS Scottish Downwinder, just minus the Tall Ship!

Adventurers Andy and Patrick have been pioneering downwinding routes amongst the stunning seascapes of western Scotland since they started wing foiling in 2020. They have ridden more than 1000km since starting to track their downwinders in October 2021.

Their foiling mode has primarily been wingfoiling, self-taught to ride the waves with the wind, flagging the wing… It is a very different, special art from sailing angles down, across, or upwind.

Keen to experience their playground, over the trip we were also further exploring the concepts of downwinding under SUP and Wing Foil. Primarily riding and getting to know the new Blackbird, the brand new and next-level AFS Downwinding board, we also had our specific wing board, the Fire, along with our smallest, the Fly, a go-to freestyle/prone surfboard.

Naish | View in Mag

AFS Foils | View in Mag

The Team: AFS Pro riders Alan, Bruno, and Richard.

Bruno Andre, Brittany based waterman, a gentleman, and AFS’s chief tester, over 30 years in the Board and Foil business, and still on the water most days. An inspiring foiling machine. Bruno Andre received the nod from the Hawaiian legends way back in 2007-9, having developed on from the principle of the high-speed foils that the likes of Laird Hamilton and co were using at the time. The key that unlocked the door was to create a foil to work at lower speeds, the AFS1. Bruno basically invented efficient low-speed foiling, SUP foil surfing, in Brittany, France. France continues to be the hub of the explosion to market of foil sports that we’ve enjoyed from 2015 onwards…

Richard Boudia, AFS International Business Manager and Pro rider, for the last five years, quietly at the forefront, has dedicated himself to the art SUP foil downwinding. For many years a fierce, professional competitor within windsurfing and then kitesurfing. Richard now focuses his highly developed skills on the discipline of downwinders… He has, along with the AFS design team of Tanguy Le Bihan, Bruno, and all the in-house experts at AFS, delivered the Blackbird; a fully focused, downwinding weapon, further building the already impressive foil equipment range.

An underlying personal goal drives Richard: To explore the world through a downwind practice and travel to the most beautiful spots on earth. He confirmed the Scottish coast is one of those places.

Richard: “The downwind: this practice is similar to hiking in the mountains to discover nature. As soon as you are at sea you see the coast differently. You can rediscover a place you thought you knew by heart, changing your perspective, “Go Downwind!”. The unlimited surfing of the swell combined with the discovery of the coastline makes downwinding the holy grail for many surfing enthusiasts. It is the combination of all these things that makes downwinding an exceptional practice. The discovery of these epic Scottish downwind spots was possible thanks to Andy and Patrick. Without the eyes and the knowledge of the secret spots of a local guide, it would not have happened”.

Alan Fedit, 26 years old, trained as an engineer in composite materials, racer, and freestyle competitor finishing within the top ten of the 2022 GWA World Tour. The man lives to ride, always smiling, always jumping! Due to the presence of a support boat, Alan continually let rip with ariels in a most un-downwind like fashion, because he could! He injected a sense of effortless enjoyment throughout the trip, the Northern experience was fully embraced before heading to Brazil straight after, rock n roll!

Ozone | View in Mag

FacePlant | View in Mag

Our film team was led by our AFS in-house videographer Clément Nicolet, well practiced at his art producing great content for AFS. Christian Brown was another very welcome, fortunate addition to the film team, a fanatical rider, and now AFS brand ambassador and film creator extraordinaire. Christian turned to me at one point in the film boat, “I never thought I’d say Alan so much over a day!!”. Google the YouTube clip “Alan, Steve…", the fun vibe of the trip was cemented.

Ever in support, we had Keith Bowyer from Kaisports, the UK AFS distributor, based in Calshot, and Sarah Bagley from her awesome Windswept Watersports centre in Dale, Wales. Both committed to helping when and wherever necessary whilst riding whenever possible too.

The team to record the adventure was set, ready, and primed.

The downwinding concept is fast developing. The practice lends itself perfectly to Europe and now the UK. Technical and technique developments unlocking the huge potential we have right on our doorsteps.

Personally, whilst sitting on the fence over the early years of SUP foiling in the UK, whilst heavily involved in foiling multihulls, I was checking in with the Weymouth SUP Foil forerunners. Out of necessity, they would only tackle Portland Harbour to Overcombe if it was a minimum average of 30 + knots! Pretty daunting conditions for anyone to learn in!!

Naish | View in Mag

Flysurfer | View in Mag

With design and material improvements, efficiencies are such that we’re now seeing athletes pumping onto foil in flat water, and sustained foiling for hours at a time… Accessibility to Downwinding has arrived. SUP, Wing, hand paddles, and now the pure pump take-off, it's still a fast-developing discipline although the kit available right now is really, super good.

As ever, on any trip, we are at the mercy of the weather. Thankfully mother nature smiled also and Scotland truly delivered. Early excitement and build-up after just one day in the highlands led to a perfect 30 km downwinder route. Impressively completed from Easdale to Oban. Sun, swell, and rainbows, fantastic…

Then the wind swung to the SE and increased, giving a storm that was best suited to wind against tide in Loch Fyne. A further 16km downwind with 50 knot squalls and torrential rain. Unfortunately, none of the footage was suitable for the end film although the tales, experiences, and adventures of that particular day will stay with us all!

When the storm passed, the wind disappeared, the sun reappeared and a little swell remained. A memorable surf foil session was scored at Machrihanish, all within sight of Northern Ireland just across the North Channel. Ireland to Scotland, a target of future Wingfoil travels of Andy and Patrick. Both of which think nothing of 50km plus routes that, at times, are scarcely within sight of land!

Our final day’s filming took us from Oban across the Isle of Mull to Iona. All of us Southerners were totally unaware of the breathtaking scenery we were crossing in the darkest of mornings before sunrise. In search of crystal clear green water to add to our footage, a fun session in a dropping breeze was gained. The Highland scenery on the drive back to the mainland was a highlight, simply breathtaking, stunning, words fail it.

Prolimit | View in Mag

FacePlant | View in Mag

A Scottish Downwinder, the west coast, a trip to savour, friendships forged, and memories made. Huge thanks to the team and all at AFS. We are so very fortunate to have experienced this incredible trip utilising incredible equipment and joining incredible people, perfect.

Feedback, Richard:

“I have always been fascinated by Scotland, its wild landscapes, its castles, its legends, and of course its Highland cows... I think we all feel very lucky to have been able to discover this magnificent place among fully motivated enthusiasts. The icing on the cake, the conditions were great with beautiful downwinders and a nice foil/sup foil surfing session.

Letting the swell be your guide, the experience of gliding through the air is all the more unique when you are surrounded by such landscapes.

It is exactly these kinds of experiences and meetings that I love. I will be back for sure! “

Feedback, Alan:

This Scottish experience was simply incredible. We were able to discover beautiful landscapes and the perfect sailing conditions allowed us to go out on the water every day and enjoy it to the full. The results of this trip: two beautiful long-distance downwinders around Oban and a paddle and surf foil session at sunset, with a moonrise over Ireland. It was really cool. As we crossed the country, we soaked up the local culture, from breakfasts in Scottish pubs to meeting the famous highland cows. An unforgettable trip. Can't wait to go back.

CORE | View in Mag

FacePlant | View in Mag

Feedback, Clément:

This is probably my best trip so far. These are probably the best images I've taken so far. The great thing is that, as well as experiencing some great things, the whole team was dedicated to our mission: Riding the lochs, capturing a great downwind, and enjoying it all. For this trip, we had to make some sacrifices, notably on our sleep and letting Bruno drive the truck for the 2 x 12 hours stints. Very happy to have seen the highland cows, to have captured a great surf foil session at sunset, and to have met this beautiful team.