Add a wing to your next SUP adventure: Many people who have experienced SUP Standup Paddleboarding know that conditions are best in little to no wind. This is why most paddleboarding tends to be done in the calm early mornings, before the wind picks up. However, paddleboarding becomes more of a challenge as the breeze picks up, as your body becomes a “sail”, and the wind can blow against you. You can either paddle against the wind or go with it. This is why SUP down-winders have become so popular. SUPing with the wind is much easier than SUPing against it. That is until now… Enter the Wing.
Adding a Wing: Adding a wing can be a game changer in a breeze. When the conditions become tougher for SUPing they are just getting good for Wing-SUPing. The inflatable wing gives you that ability to use the wind to your advantage. By positioning the wing you can sail across the wind, and even tack against the wind. This replaces the need to paddle, as the wind can do the work for you.
What to do with the paddle: In Sup-Wing Voyaging you take everything with you. Your wing and pump are in a backpack. Ideally you can pull up to a beach and inflate your wing, and even stow the paddle on the wing. The paddle shaft then becomes a boom handle as well. When you stow tho paddle it stays out of the way.
Changing Modes:
MODE #1 Paddling) When you are paddling you have the wing on your back or tied on the board. It is small and compact and fairly lightweight. Enjoy the SUPing while the conditions are good, and the wind is light. MODE #2 Sailing) When the breeze picks up, you can set up your wing and start sailing. The wing inflates quickly and is ready for action. The paddle can be stowed, and you can start wing-sailing. MODE #3 SUPplementary Paddling: When voyaging you may find your self on a lee shore, or in a bay, or stuck on the beach in a “wind shadow”. These wind shadows make it difficult to sail. So with your paddle you can paddle your wing out to where the wind is.
Simplicity of Wings: Wings are one of the simplest sail systems with no moving parts, no technical gear, just handles and a leash (more on that later). You hold the wing in the best position to “catch the wind” and you also use it to steer with. Wings also have no masts and heavy parts so that makes them ideal for transporting and they also fold away small. And unlike most other sail systems, wings are extremely fast to set up. Also with a wing you can easily set it up by yourself, and you do not need another person’s assistance to launch and land it.
MODE #3 – SUPplementary Paddling: When voyaging you may find your self on a lee shore, or in a bay, or stuck on the beach in a “wind shadow”. These wind shadows make it difficult to sail. So with your paddle you can paddle your wing out to where the wind is. This is a distinct advantage that other forms of Winging do not have. You can go to the wind, while other wingers usually wait for the wind to come to them. This means that there are fewer barriers to using your wing, and more places you can go. This increases your access to more locations, and gives you more opportunities to enjoy your wing-supping
Sailing Downwind
Sailing Crosswind