I'm thinking about getting a futura 122 for this sailing situation:

VERY, choppy water, gusty winds 12-25 and weeds. The weeds are not so bad when you're planing because they don't catch.

So, the goal is to be planing as much as possible with top-end important but not critical.

I'm experienced sailor - comfortable on true slalom boards. Have never even tried a modern freeride.

So, it's not so much issue of skill as comfort. I want to use a larger/easier board than I normally use - a Jp slalom 109 - in order to plane more but am worried that the big futura will suck in the wicked chop.

I'm tired of falling in all the time to clear the fin. If I planed more, I'd be catching less weeds.

I just got a jp 122. Considering using it with a more freeride fin to bleed off some of the speed but hopefully maintaining quick planing and make jibing more fun.

The futura would be an expensive experiment so would rather consult sailors who have tried both.

Why not buy a weed fin?

I'm far from an expert but just get a good weed fin. I'm currently on a 122 ltr and is considering a 100 ltr for the exact reson you stated! Ie. more planing in comfort when it's gusty and windy and choppy. The 122 ltr just floats too much

Futura's have evolved to be pretty quick free-race boards - in 'very rough' conditions they are fun, but require a fair bit of committment to get the best out of them (speed, comfort, gybing)

the Carve's and now the Atom's fill that free-ride range, and are still bloody quick if sailed right, but so much more comfortable in rough conditions, and aren't mush slower given the ability to keep the hammer down and not get tired. the Atom's are wide for their volume so plane quick and gybe like a dream - for 12-25kn you might be able to get away with a size smaller (ie the 110)

but 'de-tuning' your current boards with more free-ride fins would be well worth a try - cheaper, and will help

Hi I've just recently acquired a Futura 122 ( 2011 )
and have only sailed it 4 times, but are very pleased with it
there is no such thing as a do everything board
but what I wanted for myself was a board that I could use in chop and strong wind that floats me
I weigh 100kg
I've used it in bays and lagoons up to and over 30knots
It jumps chop obligingly and I've used fins from 31 weedys to the 42 drake/C3 it comes with
Very versatile board though if it's weedy you do need a weed fin, get one with not to acuter rake ( that works for me )
The beauty of the narrow tailed Futura is you can get away with smaller fins compared to wider tailed slalom boards
Starboard make great boards, I've also got a 117 wide Isonic but it won't go the chop as well as the Futura

I tried a weed fin and obviously it helped but it really degraded the performance. The weeds are such that if you're going above a certain speed, they don't really catch as much. But schlogging means you catch everything and by the time you hit a gust, you're dragging.

So, you want sail very powered up so you plane up quickly and don't schlog in the lulls. So, top end is nice, but acceleration is more important.

I may try to borrow a futura to check it out. The chop is very heavy so I'm afraid that the jp 122 is going to be very physical to sail.

Just a grueling place to sail.

Here's hydroptere passing by, don't think they have weed fins ;)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/frenchyphoto/7785490556/

Select to expand quote

fibersnap said..

I tried a weed fin and obviously it helped but it really degraded the performance. The weeds are such that if you're going above a certain speed, they don't really catch as much. But schlogging means you catch everything and by the time you hit a gust, you're dragging.

So, you want sail very powered up so you plane up quickly and don't schlog in the lulls. So, top end is nice, but acceleration is more important.

I may try to borrow a futura to check it out. The chop is very heavy so I'm afraid that the jp 122 is going to be very physical to sail.

Just a grueling place to sail.

Here's hydroptere passing by, don't think they have weed fins ;)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/frenchyphoto/7785490556/

Impressive bit of machinery!