Hi there, new to forum


I'm a beginner who has been windsurfing for 2 years now (but mostly windsurfed this year, the other I just windsurfed a bit on summer). I bought my own equipment after took 20h of courses, a Bic Techno 2 148 liters and a Hot Sails Maui Cheetah 4.5m2.

The place I windsurf is light winds, usually the winds are from 8-13 knots, and rarely it raises more. Also, it is usually very choppy, very frustrating the choppy to be honest.

Right now, I feel I passed the first beginner step with my 4.5, because I am able to sail fine, and I start to feel like I need a bigger sail, because I feel underpowered and I've noticed it costs me a lot to go upwind.

So, I want to buy my next sail, but I'm in doubt about the size. Some guys told me to get a 6.0, but I'm worried it is a big step for me. I forgot to mention I am 1.81 cm and 90kg.

So, what sail size you think it would be better for progression? I doubt in a range from 5.5 to 6.0, but I don't know if the difference between a 5.5 and a 6.0 would be significant.

Thank you in advance.

6.0 will be fine.
Get a 5 batten freeride / freewave sail like a severne gator or neilpryde fusion (or the equivalent from any of the brands)

Light. Easy to uphaul, and x-ply for when you catapult.

And later on it can double as your higher wind sail. Since you sail in such light winds it won't be long till you'll move onto even bigger sails of around 7.5

As above^^^

also, don't be afraid of bigger sails, especially with 2 years under your belt already. You're well and truly ready for a bigger one. It will really help you on the days you find marginal, and help you get planing when the wind allows for it.. Obviously the 4.5 will still be good for the higher wind days, so don't retire it or sell it.

Thank you both, then I will look some 6.0 sail.

And of course, I will not sell the 4.5 hot sails maui, it's a great sail for high wind days, my idea is end up with enough sails to cover all wind and sea conditions.

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juacamgo said..
Thank you both, then I will look some 6.0 sail.

And of course, I will not sell the 4.5 hot sails maui, it's a great sail for high wind days, my idea is end up with enough sails to cover all wind and sea conditions.

And the addition begins, there is no turning back now

You need something a lot bigger than a 6m sail for those light wind conditions. At 90kg on a 150l board, 8m in moderate winds would be the minimum

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Mr Milk said..
You need something a lot bigger than a 6m sail for those light wind conditions. At 90kg on a 150l board, 8m in moderate winds would be the minimum

People over here usually sails with 6.0 to 7.5 max due to the choppy conditions.

I sail in a beach where there isn't coast at all, 1 meter into the beach and the water is like 1.5 meters, and is unprotected from the sea waves. Wave frequency is usually 1 wave every 2 seconds, and the conditions of the beach makes it a lot of choppy.

Is not a very friendly beginner beach, to be honest. I've windsurfed in other beaches renting the equipment and all is a lot easier.

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juacamgo said..
Thank you both, then I will look some 6.0 sail.

And of course, I will not sell the 4.5 hot sails maui, it's a great sail for high wind days, my idea is end up with enough sails to cover all wind and sea conditions.

Remember that the quality of the sail will relate to how the sail performs. You could also look at the quality of your mast and boom because they influence the performance of your sail. As a general rule, the greater percentage carbon in your mast will make your sail handle a greater range of wind conditions and maximise the ability of your sail to deliver power when the wind is low. The all up weight of your rig is important too because it makes handling so much easier. Furthermore, getting a big sail does not always mean that you will go faster. Technique is equally as important. There is a stage in our learning where we catapult a lot, possibly more so if we are trying to manage a much bigger sail. Don't let this put you off, you will progress, but you should consider that the sail you buy will get a hard life. If so, take the advice already given and buy a sail that has a lot of cross-ply bracing rather that one with racy monofilm. Get a tough sail, it will still perform very well if you chose right.

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Mr Keen said..

juacamgo said..
Thank you both, then I will look some 6.0 sail.

And of course, I will not sell the 4.5 hot sails maui, it's a great sail for high wind days, my idea is end up with enough sails to cover all wind and sea conditions.

And the addition begins, there is no turning back now

Depends on where you want to go with your quiver. Check my calculator which is based on wind range: windsurfing.lepicture.com/tips-and-tricks/

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Mr Milk said..
You need something a lot bigger than a 6m sail for those light wind conditions. At 90kg on a 150l board, 8m in moderate winds would be the minimum

Rooly?!? Way too big for someone going from 4.5m sail.

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juacamgo said..

Mr Milk said..
You need something a lot bigger than a 6m sail for those light wind conditions. At 90kg on a 150l board, 8m in moderate winds would be the minimum

People over here usually sails with 6.0 to 7.5 max due to the choppy conditions.

I sail in a beach where there isn't coast at all, 1 meter into the beach and the water is like 1.5 meters, and is unprotected from the sea waves. Wave frequency is usually 1 wave every 2 seconds, and the conditions of the beach makes it a lot of choppy.

Is not a very friendly beginner beach, to be honest. I've windsurfed in other beaches renting the equipment and all is a lot easier.

Where are you? It'll help the gurus decide what's best for you LOL

Select to expand quote

juacamgo said..

Mr Milk said..
You need something a lot bigger than a 6m sail for those light wind conditions. At 90kg on a 150l board, 8m in moderate winds would be the minimum

People over here usually sails with 6.0 to 7.5 max due to the choppy conditions.

I sail in a beach where there isn't coast at all, 1 meter into the beach and the water is like 1.5 meters, and is unprotected from the sea waves. Wave frequency is usually 1 wave every 2 seconds, and the conditions of the beach makes it a lot of choppy.

Is not a very friendly beginner beach, to be honest. I've windsurfed in other beaches renting the equipment and all is a lot easier.

Where are you? It'll help the gurus decide what's best for you LOL

Select to expand quote

BSN101 said..

juacamgo said..

Mr Milk said..
You need something a lot bigger than a 6m sail for those light wind conditions. At 90kg on a 150l board, 8m in moderate winds would be the minimum

People over here usually sails with 6.0 to 7.5 max due to the choppy conditions.

I sail in a beach where there isn't coast at all, 1 meter into the beach and the water is like 1.5 meters, and is unprotected from the sea waves. Wave frequency is usually 1 wave every 2 seconds, and the conditions of the beach makes it a lot of choppy.

Is not a very friendly beginner beach, to be honest. I've windsurfed in other beaches renting the equipment and all is a lot easier.

Where are you? It'll help the gurus decide what's best for you LOL

I'm in Spain, mediterranean coast. North of Valencia, near Castell?n. Here winds go from 8-9 to 13 usually. But particularly the beach i'm windsurfing in front of my house has no coast or sand, and it's a lot choppy.

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MarkSSC said..

juacamgo said..
Thank you both, then I will look some 6.0 sail.

And of course, I will not sell the 4.5 hot sails maui, it's a great sail for high wind days, my idea is end up with enough sails to cover all wind and sea conditions.

Remember that the quality of the sail will relate to how the sail performs. You could also look at the quality of your mast and boom because they influence the performance of your sail. As a general rule, the greater percentage carbon in your mast will make your sail handle a greater range of wind conditions and maximise the ability of your sail to deliver power when the wind is low. The all up weight of your rig is important too because it makes handling so much easier. Furthermore, getting a big sail does not always mean that you will go faster. Technique is equally as important. There is a stage in our learning where we catapult a lot, possibly more so if we are trying to manage a much bigger sail. Don't let this put you off, you will progress, but you should consider that the sail you buy will get a hard life. If so, take the advice already given and buy a sail that has a lot of cross-ply bracing rather that one with racy monofilm. Get a tough sail, it will still perform very well if you chose right.

Thank you, good advices. I was thinking about some Gunsails torro, I think is same kind of sail as the Severne mentioned.

The torro would be great. Since you're 90kgs I think you will be easily strong enough to actually handle (uphauling etc) the 6.3 torro no problem (assuming you get a nice light mast to go with it.)

5 batten crossover sails like the torro are very user friendly and much easier to get out of the water and tack and gybe than a freeride sail with tube battens and a long boom.

You'll need a 430 rdm mast with the 6.3 torro.
The gun expert 70% carbon rdm looks perfect. (also perfect if you choose to go 6.0 torro)

Then eventually you could have in mind jumping straight up to the 7.7 gunsails zoom once you're dialled with the 6.3.

Hello, just a few updates.

When I bought my windsurfing kit from a guy, it came with the Bic Techno 2 148 liters I use, and a sail, a 7.2 m2 (A tribord RD SIX, not the best sail TBH).

At first, I bought the 4.5 m2 hot sails maui fire sail, because the other sail was way too big for a beginner.

Yesterday and today, I tried to use the 7.2 sail because I feel more confortable sailing with the 4.5 sail, the conditions were 7 knots yesterday and 11-13 knots today.

Just saying: I've never felt better windsurfing. God, the 7.2 sail today gave me sensations I've never felt windsurfing, I've been capable of go upwind like never before and accelerate like I've never done with my 4.5 sail. I'm just amazed of what I've done and felt today.

Said that: do you think will I still need the 6.0 sail? Maybe for choppier or windier days?

TBH the sea today was very flat, but here usually it's very choppy.

Do you think a 4.5-6.0-7.2 is a good sail setup?

Ty

Yes 6.0 meter would be good to have

How are you measuring wind strength? Is that a local weather station, hand held anemometer or some other method?
I'm asking because the numbers are so low. In the spots I sail, for me to be using a 6m sail, the weather station will usually be reading something like 18-23kts, but if I stand on the beach with my wind gauge the reading will be 5.0-6.0 m/s. That's 10-12kts.

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Mr Milk said..
How are you measuring wind strength? Is that a local weather station, hand held anemometer or some other method?
I'm asking because the numbers are so low. In the spots I sail, for me to be using a 6m sail, the weather station will usually be reading something like 18-23kts, but if I stand on the beach with my wind gauge the reading will be 5.0-6.0 m/s. That's 10-12kts.

There is a station 20km north, and I use an anemometer also. Normally, if the station shows 11 knots, my records are between 9-11 knots.

For example today the station marked 11 with gusts of 13 and it really blowed like 10.

There is no much error between the station and my anemometer. I have to say also it's 20 km ahead, so it's not in the same beach.