Hey there

I was thinking of turning my Starboard 167 into just a fun free ride piece of kit. I only want to run a 9.0m sail and was wondering if anyone does this with a smaller fin. I would cut down one of my formula fin to suit, but how far could I go without causing major spin out ? I would still like to point reasonably high (no where near like in formula mode) but at the same time do some nice downwind runs without the board wanting to go back upwind. I'd be curious to hear from anyone who has done similar - It would be easier to just buy a 130-140lt slalom but why not use what I already have.

Regards Steve

I have used my Starboard 159 formula board with a 9.5 Slalom sail and a 58cm fin at Cootharaba, and it went quite well.
Performed more like a big slalom. Give it a go I reckon. Much easier on the back than trying to swing a 10.7 around.

I used the starboard 162 several times with an 8.7 and a 60 rsx fin, its quite good. Definitely its a lot easier to reach up and down square to the wind.




Here the sessions with that fin:
martignoni.id.au/sessions.php?fin=RS-X-Racing%2060&page=0

And with another 60 fin that I cut the butcher way:
martignoni.id.au/sessions.php?fin=Drake%2070%20cut%2060

Cheers Guys, great info - so I might try 60cm's first then take some more off if comfortable.

I wouldn't use anything less than 65 with that board Steve.

58cm pointer on my Starboard Freeformula (2003) model works just sweet with both 8.0 and 9.5 sails.

Hi Steve,

PM Sent.

Looks rough but works well!!!!!

Use it on my Starboard 155 litre Formula (2003 model I think). Cut down from 70 cm to 45 cm (came with the board).

Great for upwind. Had people ask me a lot about it and laugh at it until they see how well it goes in the water.

Getting speeds of between 24-27knots and gybes well.

Grey one with lots of nose rocker?
I use a 62 R-13 all the time, and have used as small as a wide chord 53 Rainbow on it for just back and forth sailing.
Most of the racer's in '12-13 were using around 64-66's with 10 meter sails around Berkeley Ca., and smaller when they were on their 9 meter sails, down to 62 for lighter weight racer's who were light footed.
Yes, the 240 lbs racer's were using 68-70's on that board, with the wide tail and lots of nose rocker.

I really don't know much about fin set ups etc, just try all and see what works.

I find this fin works better than the 58cm Curtis Racing fin I have got as well.

Steve do you still have that old Starboard 159? because that's the perfect board for the job.

I was using my formula board with a weed fin that had 50cm vertical depth and it worked fine. The best change was that with the smaller fin it was able to go across the wind as well instead of only up and down wind when over powered with a 70cm fin.

No Cluffy, I have the F2 155 and the blue Starboard 167, I'm getting a fin off "Parked" which is 62 and I'll try both boards. I know the F2 is more suited but I just love the 167, will keep you posted, thanks again for the replies.

Steve Have you considered putting in a couple of extra tuttle boxes out near the rails in the 167 and running 2 black project 24's in it for a Budgewoi formula beast? Budgewoi in 8 to 12 knots is like a mirror it would be awesome gliding around on that with the 10 metre.

Fellow set up tri-fins on Formula and uses three 26 cm weedies
when he steps down you see that water is ONLY halfway to his knees

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FormulaNova said..
I was using my formula board with a weed fin that had 50cm vertical depth and it worked fine. The best change was that with the smaller fin it was able to go across the wind as well instead of only up and down wind when over powered with a 70cm fin.

Seconded. A 45-50cm fin and a 9m, will stop the board becoming an Ekranoplan.

Slalom-blasting on a forumla board, is more fun than the upwind/downwind thing.

I've got a formula 162 and just use a Drake 70 with Sailworks Retro 8.5 and 7.5. Goes alright on the longer fin.