I'm using a 150l board that is 87cm wide and I weigh 95 kilos. The fin on it is 36cm and whenever I get in the harness I end up just going downwind no matter what I try. It feels like I'm drifting sideways across the water and I can't seem to get speed up So I'm thinking the sideways movement is causing a lot of drag.



Do I need a bigger fin?

That fin should easily be big enough. You probably need to improve your stance to get planing easier/ earlier. Make sure your keeping your front leg straight and the sail sheeted in enough. Once your planing going across the wind should be easy.

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albentley said..
That fin should easily be big enough. You probably need to improve your stance to get planing easier/ earlier. Make sure your keeping your front leg straight and the sail sheeted in enough. Once your planing going across the wind should be easy.

What should be the sail angle on a beam reach? At what point would you be oversheeted?

With that size board I reckon you should have a fin around 46 at least, but there are other factors like board shape, sail size, and of course technique is most important. If your board goes sideways it might be that you are trying to point too high too soon. Try and reduce the angle, then get some speed and then gradually try and point higher. Don't sheet in too much unless you are planing and got plenty of speed.

Agree with powersloshin. Get a larger fin.

A 160L board I used to have came with 52cm fin.
My 135L board came with 46cm.

So a 48cm freeride fin seems reasonable for a 150L board.
It would hold a bit better and would get you planning sooner.

That 36 should still work though.

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MrCranky said..

albentley said..
That fin should easily be big enough. You probably need to improve your stance to get planing easier/ earlier. Make sure your keeping your front leg straight and the sail sheeted in enough. Once your planing going across the wind should be easy.

What should be the sail angle on a beam reach? At what point would you be oversheeted?

Whatever angle gives you the most power, I know that isnt the answer your looking for, but it really is a 'feel' thing rather than a set angle. Look at the other sailors around you who are planing and copy theirs!

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albentley said..

MrCranky said..

What should be the sail angle on a beam reach? At what point would you be oversheeted?

Whatever angle gives you the most power, I know that isnt the answer your looking for, but it really is a 'feel' thing rather than a set angle. Look at the other sailors around you who are planing and copy theirs!

Aping others on the water is my modus operandi. That's why I hate sailing alone. My wind-sense is poor.

The sheeting angle thing is tipical of people that started sailing in dinghyes and yachts, but you need to forget about that when windsurfing. albentley is right, you learn to feel how much power is going through the sail because it goes through your hook, arms and feet. Just try and sheet in and if you have enough power you will accelerate, most of the times you need to sheet in more than you think

Thanks for the responses. Will get a bigger fin and report back on results.

And start off heading a bit more down wind of your jibe target on the other side of your reach, don't try to start off heading directly at the target, you'll just end up heading up wind because of the lack of power. Sail away from it first until you've reached good planing speed, then start heading towards your target under power.
It's a curve, not a straight line.

Bought a second hand 48cm fin yesterday off the buy/sell here. Very good condition Drake. Went out today to see what the effect would be. Much better I can thankfully say.

I forgot to mention the other day that the board would be pointed upwind but just tracking sideways downwind. With the new fin today it went in whatever direction I pointed the board so had no trouble going upwind when required.

I took on board all the pointer above about stance too and found Shauna Apcros's website with some advice about twisting in the harness upwind. I tried that and bang upwind she goes with the greatest of ease.

I also as MastBender says above headed downwind to pick up speed and then spun it around.

Thanks for the tips and advice everyone.

Happy sailing!

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tazmania said..
Bought a second hand 48cm fin yesterday off the buy/sell here. Very good condition Drake. Went out today to see what the effect would be. Much better I can thankfully say.

I forgot to mention the other day that the board would be pointed upwind but just tracking sideways downwind. With the new fin today it went in whatever direction I pointed the board so had no trouble going upwind when required.

I took on board all the pointer above about stance too and found Shauna Apcros's website with some advice about twisting in the harness upwind. I tried that and bang upwind she goes with the greatest of ease.

I also as MastBender says above headed downwind to pick up speed and then spun it around.

Thanks for the tips and advice everyone.

Happy sailing!

Yeah i second the thanks for the good advice. I've been battling my Mistral 161l and couldn't work out why i was drifting slightly downwind, but now it is clear.
Good question Tazmania and thanks everyone for feedback.