Thinking of selling my BIC 283 for a Formula board.

I have been windsurfing since January; still learning to get into the straps, can pull off a water start on occasion, jibe (slowly) on occassion, helitack (in light wind-fluking it), but want something that will fit in my small flat, and 20 cm off the length of the board would help - my existing board is making its way through the roof....

Also the BIC is a bit old skool and I am thinking a formula would be a better light wind board anyway and good long term investment - say 145 ltrs or so......

Anyone have a Formula board? What wind range is it? Sail size? Are the old ones from 2003 + any good?

Cheers.

K

I heard fins are damn expensive.

Whats the deal with the avatar?

Take a look at the Buy&Sell here at SeaBreeze

www.seabreeze.com.au/classifieds/Results.aspx?search=I%2fT6WGoLEFFXyg%2f%2fkl5tYA%3d%3d

Formula boards take rigs up to 12.5m, but typical racing use is 10-12m. For recreational use they work well with rigs from 7.5-10m. With the smaller rigs you will not plane as early for get upwind as fast.
A plus is that with a smaller rig you can reach more comfortably.
The 70cm fin allows the board to get upwind more effectively. A production fin is not expensive (a full handmade racing fin is quite expensive)

The F2 board in the buy and sell is a 2006 board, is $725 and includes a fin. If you are looking for a Formula board that would not be a bad place to start.

JB

Also all the formula boards in the past 4 years are about 50cm shorter than your current board - so easily will fit in the flat ;)

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jermaldan said...
Whats the deal with the avatar?

Pic is cut off.... but its a chick carrying her dog....... thought it was time for a change.......

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K Dog said...

jermaldan said...
Whats the deal with the avatar?

Pic is cut off.... but its a chick carrying her dog....... thought it was time for a change.......

Doggy Bag?

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jermaldan said...

K Dog said...

jermaldan said...
Whats the deal with the avatar?

Pic is cut off.... but its a chick carrying her dog....... thought it was time for a change.......

Doggy Bag?

Doggy style

Sounds like you're at the stage where a Formula board would be viable. I wouldn't recommend one to absolute beginners because they are too fragile to withstand the learning process.

I have a 2003 Freeformula for recreational slalom sailing. With a 58cm fin, it is beautifully balanced with a 7.4m freeride sail for crosswind blasting. With a 66 and even a 70cm fin, it is also very nice to sail slalom with a 9.5. In fact, it is with a 70cm fin and an 11.0m sail that I feel least comfortable with on this board.

Admittedly the Freeformula's were intentionally modified by Starboard to be free-ride/slalom than up/downwind racing. Not sure how much a true formula board would differ from this experience.

Eckas.

Have a look at a big starboard go.

They go almost as well as a formula board and a bit more robust. A good fin will give it a lot more performance.

The late model ones for racing, all seem to have the footstraps positions set up in a different postcode... So something to think about if your not ready for that sort of sailing, but you still have the chicken strap which is very easy and accessable, I have a 2008 Exocet Warp, which I am learning how to sail.

The bic formula board and I think some of the earlier starboard free formula boards offer a less radical footstrap option.

The big starboard go and the futura are short and wide, will fit in the flat no problem, but probably a lot more expensive than an old formula board...

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K Dog said...

Thinking of selling my BIC 283 for a Formula board.

I have been windsurfing since January; still learning to get into the straps, can pull off a water start on occasion, jibe (slowly) on occassion, helitack (in light wind-fluking it), but want something that will fit in my small flat, and 20 cm off the length of the board would help - my existing board is making its way through the roof....

Also the BIC is a bit old skool and I am thinking a formula would be a better light wind board anyway and good long term investment - say 145 ltrs or so......

Anyone have a Formula board? What wind range is it? Sail size? Are the old ones from 2003 + any good?

Cheers.

K

I use a F2 formula borad with 10mtr sail and find it a pleasure to use.
You can get away with Select formula weed fins if you do not want to use a 70cm pointer however the pointer will definitely get you up and going earlier.
Just be aware that the boards are fragile due to trying to keep the weight down on them and the straps do tend to be rather outboard.
I compare Formula sailing to driving a fast truck,big ,quick and great fun