Hi! I noticed that in neilpryde's wind range chart there is a big difference between the wind ranges from 4.7 and 4.5 sails.
The maximum wind speed recommended for 4.7 is 32kts and for 4.5 is 37kts.
Is the difference between these really that big?
The low end of 4.5 is very high in the chart. If anyone has a 4.5, what would be the minimum wind speed for you to use it?
Thank you

It depends on how heavy you are -> if you are 120kg, then you wont be using a 4.5 in anything less than 40kn of wind. Conversely, if weigh 50kg, a 4.5m sail is to big for 30kn.

How heavy (and tall) are you ?

If I was using a 4.5 ................... no , I would never use a 4.5
Ive seen a proper over 30 kts several times and the sand on my ankles stings .
I'll wait till it's under 30 thanks .

on flat water bump and jump i'd be using a 4.5 for wind over 32knots.

for me my 4.2 is a little too small under 35 knots but i've used a 4.7 in 45+ knots so it all depends really.

wave sailors would use much smaller sails speed sailirs a touch bigger slalom racers much bigger.

I am 69kg, 1.71m.
Do you think it would be okay to hold a 4.7 on gusts of 32-34kts?
Can I get planning on a 87L wave board with a 4.5 sail when the wind is 18-20kts?
Looking to neilpryde's wind range chart for Combat or Zone, I think the best size for what I'm looking for would be between 4.5 and 4.7.

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mssp said..
I am 69kg, 1.71m.
Do you think it would be okay to hold a 4.7 on gusts of 32-34kts?
Can I get planning on a 87L wave board with a 4.5 sail when the wind is 18-20kts?
Looking to neilpryde's wind range chart for Combat or Zone, I think the best size for what I'm looking for would be between 4.5 and 4.7.

A 4.6m then.

To be honest the size difference between 4.5m and 4.7m is pretty small and most people would hardly notice. The one question I'd ask is what other sails you use and what fits into your quiver best.

Other questions are, is it gusty, is there any strong rips, is it on or off shore...??????

Totally depends on skill and board.
I'm maybe 73 kg.
Easily plane on any 4.5 in gusts of 18 knots on 85 liter FSW's. Cannot glide thru holes less than 15 knots.
Top out around 28 knots with normal 85 liter boards in choppy water, but can hold up to 40 k of winds in flat water, weed fin, and narrower boards.
Foil with 4.5 in 9-14 knot breeze.

what type sailing?

70kg friend uses 4.4m in 25-30 knots b&j on 85lt jp thruster.

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mssp said..
I am 69kg, 1.71m.
Do you think it would be okay to hold a 4.7 on gusts of 32-34kts?
Can I get planning on a 87L wave board with a 4.5 sail when the wind is 18-20kts?
Looking to neilpryde's wind range chart for Combat or Zone, I think the best size for what I'm looking for would be between 4.5 and 4.7.

I'm 65kgs . I am hanging on using a 4.6m in that wind and then it's only in flatwater when I'm speedsailing.
I think I'd be on a 3.8m or less in 32-34kts .( I haven't sailed small modern raf sails though so maybe they are better than 15 year old plus sails..

^^ as above...

I am 69kg - a 4.2m wave-sail is maxed out at 28kn... I use a 3.7m up to 34kn, 3.3 up to 38kn, and 3.1/3.0 for over 40kn.
If using a speed-sail, I'm still using a 5.4m in 34kn, 5.0 up to about 38kn and 4.4/4.0 above 40kn.

It also depends on the type of board being used - a free-wave board will need less sail in those wind strengths because it tends to bounce around (so a smaller sail makes that easier to handle). Thus sometimes the wind strength suits using a smaller board for the same sized sail.

Some more figures if it's any use:I have a 4.7 NP combat (year not certain), I'm an average competent sailor, I'm a bit under 95kgs, and i typically use that sail on a 85 or 90lt fsw, fin between 24-29 : --in genuine 30 knots and chopped up water, I'm hanging on sort of ok but feeling that a bit less cloth would be a lot more fun

Select to expand quote

mssp said..
Hi! I noticed that in neilpryde's wind range chart there is a big difference between the wind ranges from 4.7 and 4.5 sails.
The maximum wind speed recommended for 4.7 is 32kts and for 4.5 is 37kts.
Is the difference between these really that big?
The low end of 4.5 is very high in the chart. If anyone has a 4.5, what would be the minimum wind speed for you to use it?
Thank you

It's called marketing.
if they had the same range you would only get one. Which common sense would dictate.
the size itself has something to do with this ,
take a 6.5 VS a 6.0 = a 1.08 change in size
take a 4.7 VS a 4.5 =a 1.04 change in size
this has to do with small is a more dramatic increase or decrease.
since I have a prob with math, I reserve the right to say I'm wrong and apologize.

Thank you all. So I guess 4.5 will be a good choice.