Hi all,

I'm trying to find out exactly what size sails I should have in my quiver, as i will be looking to replace the quiver of Blades I currently have as I'm not happy / don't like these sails. I was told by everyone I spoke to that these were good sails for freeride / bump and jump, which is mainly the type of sailing that I do.I have found though that for me the blades don't seem to have much power. They don't seem to keep my boards going through the lulls (in patchy conditions) and even when the winds consistent I seem to always have the feeling of wanting more power in my sail. I spose in a way they kind of feel lifeless.

I recently bought a 4.2 Gator (progressive freeride) and this feels a truck load better than the blade in relation to the above. Before I buy more I need to know what would be the ideal sizes for me to have in my quiver. In the past I've pretty much gone with sizes in half a metre incriments from 3.3 up.

I'm 60kg, mainly coastal freeride / bump and jump, and as a reasonably accurate guide am looking for sail sizes for the following wind speeds 10 - 15 Knots, 15 - 20 Knots, 20 - 25 Knots, 25 - 30 knots and a bit stronger but not very often.

I have 76L, 86L, 96L Fanatic Freewaves (recent model) Also have an old 64L Quatro Wave that I haven't used for a while. Would prefer to use the 76L Freewave.

Would greatly appreciate any advice.

Hi Sam,
Its interesting to hear your comments in regards to the blades. Your experience is very different from mine. I find that the blades have plenty of power and I'm able to sail with smaller sizes and it is easy to get overpowered if I want to land certain loops. I have felt from observation that you often sail underpowered to what you should be on considering you are not all that much lighter than me. This may be contributing to your underpowered feeling. Against what I have said above, if I need to, I can also hang onto my Blades and find then still controllable when very overpowered. I think they are great sails.

That said, if you think they aren't for you and you like the feel of the Gators then that's great too because windsurfing is about individuality and what works for you.

In regards to sizes, I have the same as you and have stuck with those increments for the last 20 years and they work well for me. So currently I'm on 3.3, 3.7, 4.2, 4.7 and 5.3.

Good luck finding what works for you.

Thanks Dave, I just like the extra grunt that the gators have.

Hi Sambo,
If you're looking to offload Blades, let me know. I've just posted in the Tas forum looking for some second hand. Probably 4.2/4.7/5.3 or similar. I can arrange freight from a drop off in north adelaide.

I've also thought about Gators, but more in the larger sizes for freeride conditions in the summer months, although more leaning towards Ezzy Cheetah lately, based on SB comments.

I sail in similar b&j offshore conditions, but err on the side of overpowered in case of wind dropping out (which is frequent in my neck of the woods). You could always try bumping up one sail size &!see how you go?

Doesn't really answer your question as some self appointed SB moderator will point out, but good luck.
Cheers,
Mort

In all fairness Sam, you do sail anorexically under powered. Before you outlay $$$$$, reevaluate your style. I'm struggling with a big freeride sail at the moment when I sail at Boggy Lake. I've owned it 2 years and it's never felt right. I am going to give it another season plus seek advice from other users before I give it up. It's most likely a "PEBKAC" issue

I wonder if Gators are like NP Fusions? Fwiw, I found the fusions pulled too hard and I didn't find them particularly stable, but I really needed the extra power when learning. I think they are best for heavier sailors. 4-batten NP combat - soft in the hands, but not very stable. 2017 blades - super stable, light in the hands, best sail I've ever used. (To be fair, I only ever rigged NP sails on 65% masts). BTW I'm 70 kg, sailing in rough bay conditions. 4.2/4.7/5.3, but it feels like I could get away with bigger gaps.

"I was told by everyone I spoke to that these were good sails"
Yet here you are, asking to be told again, I know it's not easy, but trying is believing, it's the only way you can be sure.

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Mort67 said..
Hi Sambo,
If you're looking to offload Blades, let me know. I've just posted in the Tas forum looking for some second hand. Probably 4.2/4.7/5.3 or similar. I can arrange freight from a drop off in north adelaide.

I've also thought about Gators, but more in the larger sizes for freeride conditions in the summer months, although more leaning towards Ezzy Cheetah lately, based on SB comments.

I sail in similar b&j offshore conditions, but err on the side of overpowered in case of wind dropping out (which is frequent in my neck of the woods). You could always try bumping up one sail size &!see how you go?

Doesn't really answer your question as some self appointed SB moderator will point out, but good luck.
Cheers,
Mort

Hi Mort,
Only got 2016, 6.2 blade for sale at the moment (excellent cond). Will have a 2016 4.7 for sale later in the year around October, November.

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jn1 said..
In all fairness Sam, you do sail anorexically under powered. Before you outlay $$$$$, reevaluate your style. I'm struggling with a big freeride sail at the moment when I sail at Boggy Lake. I've owned it 2 years and it's never felt right. I am going to give it another season plus seek advice from other users before I give it up. It's most likely a "PEBKAC" issue

Thanks Jay but that doesn't answer my question.

I would agree that gators would be a better fit for the style of sailing you do .Blades have a more off on feel ,being a wave sail,so require more technique to get through lulls.
blades are highly tuneable though to get the most out of any condition ,bag or flatten them out from recommended specs.Also new 2017 blade feels alot gruntier than older versions .Stick with the half meter gaps but you could space out the larger sizes more eg 5.0- 5.7 and close up the small ones 3.7-4.0 with a 4.5 in the middle.

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Sambo # said..
Hi all,

I'm trying to find out exactly what size sails I should have in my quiver, as i will be looking to replace the quiver of Blades I currently have as I'm not happy / don't like these sails. I was told by everyone I spoke to that these were good sails for freeride / bump and jump, which is mainly the type of sailing that I do.I have found though that for me the blades don't seem to have much power. They don't seem to keep my boards going through the lulls (in patchy conditions) and even when the winds consistent I seem to always have the feeling of wanting more power in my sail. I spose in a way they kind of feel lifeless.

I recently bought a 4.2 Gator (progressive freeride) and this feels a truck load better than the blade in relation to the above. Before I buy more I need to know what would be the ideal sizes for me to have in my quiver. In the past I've pretty much gone with sizes in half a metre incriments from 3.3 up.

I'm 60kg, mainly coastal freeride / bump and jump, and as a reasonably accurate guide am looking for sail sizes for the following wind speeds 10 - 15 Knots, 15 - 20 Knots, 20 - 25 Knots, 25 - 30 knots and a bit stronger but not very often.

I have 76L, 86L, 96L Fanatic Freewaves (recent model) Also have an old 64L Quatro Wave that I haven't used for a while. Would prefer to use the 76L Freewave.

Would greatly appreciate any advice.

Sounds like user error. Not much power, lifeless. Hmm maybe way too much outhaul and downhaul. Maybe wrong mast.

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Foghorn said..
I would agree that gators would be a better fit for the style of sailing you do .Blades have a more off on feel ,being a wave sail,so require more technique to get through lulls.

Agree.
If you're predominantly Freesailing, Bumpin' n Jumpin' then go for that style of sail
Severne Gators, KA Kults etc.. Cross over sails IMO have more power however not has maneuverable when in waves

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Stuthepirate said..

Foghorn said..
I would agree that gators would be a better fit for the style of sailing you do .Blades have a more off on feel ,being a wave sail,so require more technique to get through lulls.

Agree.
If you're predominantly Freesailing, Bumpin' n Jumpin' then go for that style of sail
Severne Gators, KA Kults etc.. Cross over sails IMO have more power however not has maneuverable when in waves

At 60 kg, blades should be more than enough.

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Foghorn said..
I would agree that gators would be a better fit for the style of sailing you do .Blades have a more off on feel ,being a wave sail,so require more technique to get through lulls.
blades are highly tuneable though to get the most out of any condition ,bag or flatten them out from recommended specs.Also new 2017 blade feels alot gruntier than older versions .Stick with the half meter gaps but you could space out the larger sizes more eg 5.0- 5.7 and close up the small ones 3.7-4.0 with a 4.5 in the middle.

That's what I've been thinking. What about below 3.7 ?

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Foghorn said..
I would agree that gators would be a better fit for the style of sailing you do .

Gators have a wildly variable feel across the size range... Even between a 4.0 and a 4.7

Then you'd have to go 3.3 unless you did the 3.5-4.0.
My quiver always has a 5.0 blade as its the perfect size for most of the clean wave days not to big and clunky or twitchy on the wave.Seems to have a big tuning range as well if the wind picks up.I'm 70kg hope this helps.

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Foghorn said..
I would agree that gators would be a better fit for the style of sailing you do .Blades have a more off on feel ,being a wave sail,so require more technique to get through lulls.
blades are highly tuneable though to get the most out of any condition ,bag or flatten them out from recommended specs.Also new 2017 blade feels alot gruntier than older versions .Stick with the half meter gaps but you could space out the larger sizes more eg 5.0- 5.7 and close up the small ones 3.7-4.0 with a 4.5 in the middle.

When returned a lot had changed and was advised that the 1/2 mts no longer applied. I was advised to go 12%-15% gap because of the wider wind range newer style sails have. Seems to work for me but i'm am by all means no expert, i just a dude who likes to try and windsurf in most conditions...poorly perhaps

Ummmmmm, go large or go home. A lot of people are sailing so underpowered. Try using the larger sail each time, can always apply a little more downhaul. Lean back a little more.

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Sparky said..
Ummmmmm, go large or go home. A lot of people are sailing so underpowered. Try using the larger sail each time, can always apply a little more downhaul. Lean back a little more.

Big rigs like big boards which don't like rough water. What to do when the water is really rough and the wind is patchy?

Can't comment on the different sails but as a lightweight ( although heavier than you at 65kgs) maybe it's that the sails are designed for c 80kg guys so they are designed for best performance in a stronger wind strength than you use them in? e'g - I use a 7 cambered sail in 12- 18kts . A 80kg guy they would probably use this in say 20-25kts? maybe more.. so they are probably designed to work best in these conditions?
I'm sure the sails are optimised for heavier people and winds so they may not be give the feel they are designed for for lighter winds??? Just a thought...
I know I have a 115 freemove board ( potato chip 75cm wide). I use it in 5-15kt but I'd imagine they are designed for 15kts +.
I usually am on a smaller board in 15kts + but a few times when I've been caught out in 15kts + the board just seems to come to life! I think..hey so this is what it's designed for ?
What do people think am I barking up the wrong tree or is there something in this line of thought?
Ps - I started with wavesails when I was freeriding ( I used to wavesail so didn't know any different.) I've since switched to cam sails for speedsailing and when I go back to the wavesails I hate the on / off power.. I think a freeride sail would be much better especially if you tend to rig to be controllable in the gusts rather than plane in the lulls.

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MrCranky said..

Sparky said..
Ummmmmm, go large or go home. A lot of people are sailing so underpowered. Try using the larger sail each time, can always apply a little more downhaul. Lean back a little more.

Big rigs like big boards which don't like rough water. What to do when the water is really rough and the wind is patchy?

I hate that- you need a bigger board for the lulls and a smaller sail but then get bashed to bit in the chop ( I only sail in lake chop though)..

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MrCranky said..
...What to do when the water is really rough and the wind is patchy?

Go to the pub

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Stuthepirate said..

MrCranky said..
...What to do when the water is really rough and the wind is patchy?

Go to the pub

Alas, many of us don't live in WA. Maybe switching to kitesurfing for under 20 knots.