righto,Iam 100kgs+.Ive been plugging around on my F2Pheonix 195lt.I have been making some gybes and tacks and catching waves.I am still yet to learn how to water start and beach start,but I am

on to it.I know I need to have some lessons to help with my progression,so thats on the cards as well.
Is my yacht size board going to retard my progress or should I keep going on it for now?
I have been advised that the ezzy 5.2 sail may not have the grunt I need for my frame size,so thinking of getting a 6.8 or something bigger.
Your feedback would be appreciated,
thanks

Hey Ian,

You know I won't be much help to ya, but anyway. I think a larger sail on your current board should make it go faster in lighter winds. The boards turning ability etc will be the same. So I guess if you want to move quicker in the same strength winds, a bigger sail is a good idea. Remember you can use all you sails on the next, smaller board. A smaller board (say 140 odd litres) will be like learning all over again, but you will progress quick cause ya got the basics sorted.

I had a quick go with a 6.5 sail today, and it got me planing when my 5.2 (in same wind) couldn't. I now want a 6.5 for those 8-12 knot days.

PS- I'm sure I can see a few sharks in that pic...

Advice depends on what you want to do? I'm guessing based on your avatar that you eventually want to get into wave sailing. I'd say for now, the board you have is perfectly adequate for learning the basics in flat water, especially seeing as you seem to be on your way towards getting the basics sorted. You will probably want a manoeuvre oriented short wide board around 130L when you get more of the basics sorted.

You will want a bigger sail, thou how big depends on what you want to do. You wouldn't want to go much bigger then 6m if you are planning on doing most of your sailing in waves. If you are keen to blast around in flat water then @ 100kg, you probably want something 7m+.

Also looking at the photo, you probably want to apply at least a few cm more downhaul. And move your boom up a bit, maybe up to the middle of the cutout or a bit higher.

ezzy have some good rigging videos on their website www.ezzy.com/allyearsezzys/2008/videos/se_rigging.htm

i agree with swoosh,

if your end goal is the surf you are not going to need a bigger sail then a 6.4m and if you are going to use it on a sup type board in the surf then 5.8 is even better.

but for lightwind blasting on flat water yes, bigger the better.

for limited time and lessons your doing very well. your stance is really going in the right direction. your feet are in the right place and that's a big part of it.

only tips i can add are these.

thrust your hips forward and straighten up your back by strightening your front leg and bending your back leg slightly. then straighten out your arms. let the rig take your weight more

that's it, you are so close.

thanks guys,
Phil,yeah think the bigger sail with be a good investment,confused about the slalom v wave sails.I spose I should get a wave sail as flat water does nothing for me.Yeah 130lts min was what Iam thinking for my next board too.As for sharks pffftt think they need to fear me more than I fear them hahaha.
Swoosh, I have had issues with the downhaul due to a SDM but I have bought a RDM,harness and lines that should arrive tomoz.I am hoping to get that sail rigged better with that mast.Good tip on the boom height and in stronger wind Iam laying back on the rig more.
It a real bummer living in a town where not many other peeps sail, as Iam better at learning watching others.I am on hols so plan to go down to Port Mac and having some lessons with Mark Jordan,which I am sure will help greatly.Really appreciate your feedback guys.I am so hangin to get into some bigger waves and stronger wind

The issue you will have if not getting a bigger sail is limiting the time you have on the water to go windsurfing. Plenty of days you get winds gusting up to around 15 knots. A bigger sail will give you the power to get planing instead of slogging along on a smaller sail.

I used to windsurf a lot up on Trial Bay and I think on the lighter days a bigger sail gives you a lot of fun. Sailing out from the point into the big ocean swell on a NE seabreeze is great fun.

We will be heading up that way this Easter to see my folks so hopefully we get a bit of wind and can go windsurfing there.

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Mobydisc said...

The issue you will have if not getting a bigger sail is limiting the time you have on the water to go windsurfing. Plenty of days you get winds gusting up to around 15 knots. A bigger sail will give you the power to get planing instead of slogging along on a smaller sail.

I used to windsurf a lot up on Trial Bay and I think on the lighter days a bigger sail gives you a lot of fun. Sailing out from the point into the big ocean swell on a NE seabreeze is great fun.

We will be heading up that way this Easter to see my folks so hopefully we get a bit of wind and can go windsurfing there.

Cool Moby,look forward to meeting up with you and sharing some wind n waves.Thanks for the advice

Agree with Moby - but on the other hand you need both.

A bigger sail will make it hard to learn to waterstart as flying the rig is the initial, and tiring, hurdle.

You want to learn to waterstart on a day where the 5.2 is a bit of a handful so you have plenty of power. Learning on a 6.8 kinda day will be hard as the extra boom length makes it hard to fly the rig.

The problem over here is 5.8 days are rare. The last time I used my 5.9m sail was in early December.

^^^ that is why I agreed with bigger sail for more TOW.
But the 5.2 could be good for winter fronts and learn to waterstart if he can wait that long......

i know the majority on seabreeze will agree with you moby, and for sure if you want to strap on a gps and blast then on the eastcoast you will almost never use a sail smaller than a 6.5

but,

there is a whole other world out there. depends what you want to do. i'm on a 5.8 for bump and jump when it's 18 knots and i've plenty of power.

my lightwind sail is a 6.4, biggest fin is a 32cm freewave i use that in 12-18 knots.

weight around 106kg, i've still got an 8.5 and an 11m and a whole host of fins from 42cm-70cm but i don't use them. i got sick of big bulky gear about 3-4 years ago and haven't felt deprived of a session yet.

today was about 22-25 knots and i was on a 5.3m and a 24cm fin. and i was fully lit up.....

thanks Mark and Gestalt,

So bigger sail has gone on the shopping list.I would love to know what some of the bigger brothers( 100kg ish) are wave sailing on? Lts? brands?
Ive got a pretty extensive surfing,SUP and waterskiing history so hanging to get into it,but yeah yeah I know,gotta crawl before you can RUN hahaha

^^^ I am 95kg

My lightwind setup is a 100L RRD FSW (early planing but turns good enough on a wave) which I use in 16kn+ with a 6.1 freestyle / crossover sail which is more powerful than a pure wave sail.

Once it is solid 5.6 weather for me (18-20kn) I use my RRD 92L waveboard all the way down to 4.2

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mybrosweeper said...

thanks guys,
Phil,yeah think the bigger sail with be a good investment,confused about the slalom v wave sails.I spose I should get a wave sail as flat water does nothing for me.Yeah 130lts min was what Iam thinking for my next board too.As for sharks pffftt think they need to fear me more than I fear them hahaha.

Ian, if you really only want to wave sail, then the 5.2 should be fine. My reasoning (all random and total guess work) is you really only want enough power to chug you out the back and push you onto waves. Any "clean" wind (not that swirling, broken jail stuff we've been dealing with) from 10-12 knts up should do that. I reckon get a smaller wave capable board (like you said around 130 lts, even up to 140 or so) that's designed to turn. Keep using the 5.2 Ezzy with ya smaller mast combo as it will be nice and light to throw around when ya ripping the lids off those 3 ft walls. A bigger sail will mean a bigger (heavier) mast again...

I reckon your next question should be, "What's a good wave style of board for a 100 kg sailer?"

PS- Keen as for a sail with ya. Even if I have to sail Shark Bay... I want some waves again!!

Cheers mate

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Mark _australia said...

^^^ I am 95kg

My lightwind setup is a 100L RRD FSW (early planing but turns good enough on a wave) which I use in 16kn+ with a 6.1 freestyle / crossover sail which is more powerful than a pure wave sail.

Once it is solid 5.6 weather for me (18-20kn) I use my RRD 92L waveboard all the way down to 4.2

Not sure what this means? 100L RRD FSW ?? still battling with the language!! haha

Ian, a FWS is free-style wave board. Dunno what RRD means?

I had a shot on a 109 lt FSW board yesterday, and I can tell ya two things- one is it planed quick and was fast, and two, it was bloody hard to tack on! Near sunk the second I went up the nose. My current board is 116 lts, and it's easy as to turn- even with my reduced weight and power. You could turn a 130 lt board like a shord surf board. Question is which one to get!

Hang onto the 5.2 for very windy days.
I think you need to learn how to water start next and use a harness so Yes get a bigger sail that will be able to lift your weight out of the water, preferable a sail without cams as the wider luff tube holds more water and makes it harder to get out of the water. Also a you will be able to hang back off the harness lines with a bigger sail as it will support your weight. Get an experienced person to use your sail and set the harness lines.

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Mark _australia said...

^^^ I am 95kg

My lightwind setup is a 100L RRD FSW (early planing but turns good enough on a wave) which I use in 16kn+ with a 6.1 freestyle / crossover sail which is more powerful than a pure wave sail.

Once it is solid 5.6 weather for me (18-20kn) I use my RRD 92L waveboard all the way down to 4.2

Remember Mark is in Wa. From what i gather they don't get the gusty winds we get here. 16kts solid & 16kts gusty are very different..Over here you could need bigger gear to allow for our crappier winds.

Hey Ian, I uesd to have a F2 Pheonix for chugging around in light winds, hang on to that one they are a great piece of kit to have. Also keep a hold of the 5.2, it will serve you well on the odd stronger wind day.

Might be worth investing in a 5.8 or so, which a lot of guys on the east coast have as thier big wave sail and is a good size gap down to the 5.2. As others have said, if you are into going in the waves don't bother going too big and stick to wave oriented sails.

As for board, looks like you are on the money for your next size, just make sure you are looking at freeride style boards rather than race or slalom. The later will not turn anywhere near as well as you will want.

I am still looking for a good weekend to come down your way for a SUP and sail, will look you up when there.

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sboardcrazy said...
Remember Mark is in Wa. From what i gather they don't get the gusty winds we get here. 16kts solid & 16kts gusty are very different..Over here you could need bigger gear to allow for our crappier winds.

Of course they do, depending on direction/location it varies just as much anywhere. We can get steady winds here, we can get gusty winds; once again depends entirely on location and prevailing wind direction.

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aus301 said...

Hey Ian, I uesd to have a F2 Pheonix for chugging around in light winds, hang on to that one they are a great piece of kit to have. Also keep a hold of the 5.2, it will serve you well on the odd stronger wind day.

Might be worth investing in a 5.8 or so, which a lot of guys on the east coast have as thier big wave sail and is a good size gap down to the 5.2. As others have said, if you are into going in the waves don't bother going too big and stick to wave oriented sails.

As for board, looks like you are on the money for your next size, just make sure you are looking at freeride style boards rather than race or slalom. The later will not turn anywhere near as well as you will want.

I am still looking for a good weekend to come down your way for a SUP and sail, will look you up when there.

Ha,yeah mate,let us know when your coming and we'll paddle or sail or hopefully both.Thank for your advice too,make sence what you have suggested about wave sail sizes

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Mobydisc said...

The problem over here is 5.8 days are rare. The last time I used my 5.9m sail was in early December.

Except Sunday just gone.

Dusted off the 4.2, looked at the 3.7 in the shed, thought, nah don't be an idiot it is never that windy here.

Lo and behold, fully fully lit on the 4.2. Would have gone to the 3.7 if I had had it.

Had two sessions for the day.

And best of all - the wind was so smooth, not lumpy winter front stuff, it was smooth as the WA seabreeze - and the sun was shining - and the waves were cranking.

and no kiters anywhere. In fact nobody anywhere.

It was just like WA except it was windier, the waves were better and there were no crowds anywhere.

Now tell me Perth isn't rooted.

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Carantoc said...

Mobydisc said...

The problem over here is 5.8 days are rare. The last time I used my 5.9m sail was in early December.

Except Sunday just gone.

Dusted off the 4.2, looked at the 3.7 in the shed, thought, nah don't be an idiot it is never that windy here.

Lo and behold, fully fully lit on the 4.2. Would have gone to the 3.7 if I had had it.

Had two sessions for the day.

And best of all - the wind was so smooth, not lumpy winter front stuff, it was smooth as the WA seabreeze - and the sun was shining - and the waves were cranking.

and no kiters anywhere. In fact nobody anywhere.

It was just like WA except it was windier, the waves were better and there were no crowds anywhere.

Now tell me Perth isn't rooted.

haha goodonyamate

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PhilSWR said...


I assume you sailed around Coffs? Where'd you end up?

Flat top, then just in the harbour later to make some tuning adjustments.

I was pretty well blown out of the water at flat top. I saw the BOM had it at 23 with gust to 30 - not really over powered on a 4.2 sort of strength.

I remember a few months ago I sailed powered up with a 4.7 with the BOM at 19-23 and the next day slogging on a 6.5 with BOM at 20-24.

Probably just me, but the BOM windstation seems to do funny things in southerlies and even funnier things if it has a bit of west in it. Northerlies seem to report pretty well what I reckon happens.

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mybrosweeper said...

Mark _australia said...

^^^ I am 95kg

My lightwind setup is a 100L RRD FSW (early planing but turns good enough on a wave) which I use in 16kn+ with a 6.1 freestyle / crossover sail which is more powerful than a pure wave sail.

Once it is solid 5.6 weather for me (18-20kn) I use my RRD 92L waveboard all the way down to 4.2

Not sure what this means? 100L RRD FSW ?? still battling with the language!! haha

RRD is a brand of board. It stands for Roberto Ricci Designs. From all reports everybody that has one loves them. I wouldn't mind having a go on one to see what the hype is about. His FSW boards in particular seems to get people frothing over them.