Wing Foiling is the perfect ‘vehicle’ to make use of patchy, gusty and fluky winds. If you’re a windsurfer or kitesurfer, yet to try winging, then here’s a ‘carrot’ to possibly entice.

Not All Wind Is Created Equal

If you’ve spent any time on the coast during Spring 2026, you’ll know one thing: the wind has been all over the place. Plenty of high-pressure systems have delivered regular easterly winds and sunshine across the UK, which on paper sounds promising for watersports. (And we’re certainly not complaining about the sun!).

But as most windsurfers and kitesurfers quickly discover, not all wind is created equal.

Notorious Easterlies

Easterly winds can be notoriously flukey. One minute it’s blowing enough to get excited about, the next it drops out completely. Gusts arrive in short bursts, often with frustrating lulls in between, making it hard to find rhythm or confidence on the water. Some sessions absolutely fire, of course, but by and large easterlies are a very different beast to classic moisture-rich Atlantic westerlies.

Westerlies tend to have more “weight” behind them. Loaded with moisture and driven by more active weather systems, they often feel denser, steadier, and more powerful. A 20-knot westerly can feel significantly more usable than a 20-knot easterly, which often feels lighter, more hollow, and far less reliable.

This matters massively for traditional wind-powered sports.

Windsurfing & Kitesurfing Need the Juice

Windsurfing and kitesurfing both thrive on consistent breeze. Whether you’re planing on a windsurfer or trying to keep a kite stable in the sky, both sports generally reward steadier wind windows. Gusty conditions can leave windsurfers slogging between bursts and kitesurfers constantly working the kite, depowering, repowering, and generally battling inconsistency rather than enjoying flow.

That’s where wing foiling comes into its own.

Wing Foiling – For When You Need Efficiency

Wing foiling is uniquely efficient in patchy conditions because of one simple ingredient: the foil. Once you’re up and flying, drag is dramatically reduced. Instead of pushing a board through the water, you’re gliding above it.

That means less wind is needed to maintain speed and momentum. Lulls become less of a nuisance!

This efficiency is a total game-changer in fickle easterlies.

A small gust can be enough to get you onto foil, and once flying, a skilled rider can often link through lulls by pumping the wing, using foil speed, and harnessing foil glide. Rather than dropping off the plane every time the breeze softens, wing foilers can keep moving, carving, and exploring.

It’s why so many riders have been salvaging sessions this spring while others stand on the beach debating whether it’s worth rigging. Or not even checking the spot at all!

The Wing Foiling Learning Curve

For newer riders, wing foiling does have a learning curve. There’s no point pretending otherwise – balancing the board, wing, and foil all at once can feel like patting your head while rubbing your stomach on a wobble board. Learning how to take off is also tricky!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSLv0fXRZeA

But once the fundamentals click, the reward is huge. Suddenly, those “maybe” days become genuine session opportunities. Patchy 12-18 knot forecasts that might leave windsurfers or kiters scratching their heads can become ideal wing conditions. Launch, pump onto foil, and make the most of what’s available – as the video above shows.

Firsthand Observations

At North Coast Wetsuits, we’ve seen it firsthand over recent months. Riders are getting more water time because wing foiling simply works better in the kinds of inconsistent spring conditions we’ve been seeing lately. Our resident foiler has reported multiple sessions in recent months, which simply wouldn’t have been possible without a foil, wing and board.

So if you’re fed up waiting for the perfect breeze, maybe it’s time to rethink your quiver.

When the wind’s patchy, wing foiling doesn’t just cope — it often thrives. And in a spring full of flukey easterlies, that’s been a pretty handy trick to have. And when the full power blow returns, of course, bust out your windsurf and kitesurf gear again!

NCW sells a choice selection of wing foiling and foiling gear, which you can see here