Apart from the obvious, the sailor...

If you are reasonably powered, hence the sail size is fine, what are the major factors contributing to the speed?

How much will a type of fin contribute to the speed?
The boards? Sails?

fin will make a HUGE difference !!

Obelix, I think a fin, board and sail make a difference but given that Spotty has gone 40+ on wave gear with a wave fin, technique/skill and water/wind conditions are clearly the most important factors.

Here is a great technique summary.

http://www.iwavesolutions.com/lefebvre/Windsurfing/Articles/need4speed.html

If you want the water/wind conditions... well it's not that far to Sandy Point

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paddymac said...
Obelix, I think a fin, board and sail make a difference but given that Spotty has gone 40+ on wave gear with a wave fin, technique/skill and water/wind conditions are clearly the most important factors.

Here is a great technique summary.

http://www.iwavesolutions.com/lefebvre/Windsurfing/Articles/need4speed.html

If you want the water/wind conditions... well it's not that far to Sandy Point

Spot on article,except the shorter harness lines. Being quite on the board is important as every movement increases the boards water line.

As to Spotty,he,d go fast on a house door if there,s enough wind

Find some flat water,get a fin that you,re confident in at high speed and a board that has a flat rocker line and you will start to go faster. Confidence in your gear is a big one for me

I guess it's a good balance of all factors.

If your only reasonably powered, the sail is too small, to go fast down wind you need to be well powered. (but not overpowered).

Fin will slow you down if it's too big, you don't need much fin going down wind, you only need it big to get back upwind. I've found the biggest problem with the wrong fin foil is ventilation, what holds in well upwind can spin out downwind.

Board size and design is also important, wave boards don't go as fast as speed boards.

Tuning is possibly the biggest factor, getting everything to work together optimally

Thanks guys.

I read the article and your advice and it seems that I need to change quite a few things.

>>>fin will make a HUGE difference !!
This is the fin I mostly use. It's a shortened 36cm JP Weed (down to around 29cm now).
I can see it's not good and should probably get more efficient fin.
It doesn't collect weed, and doesn't slip much, but I'm struggling to get up wind, and as I get close to 25 knts, I lose control unless the water is completely flat.


I should start by getting a speed fin for a 100L board combined to 7m sail. Then apply your advice one at the time.

try this website for matching speed fins with sail size.
www.blackprojectfins.com

Thansk RAL INN.
I'm sure the retailers will tell me what the right size is.

What's the performance difference between "Race", "Slalom" , "Speed", "Freeride"...

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Obelix said...
Thansk RAL INN.
I'm sure the retailers will tell me what the right size is.

What's the performance difference between "Race", "Slalom" , "Speed", "Freeride"...

A short explaination

Race= Go up wind really well
Slalom= across the wind really well
Speed= Down wind really well
Freeride= will do everything but won,t do anything really well

If you using a 100lt board with a 7 in a less than ideal speed conditions (Flat water) start with a good Slalom fin and look after it [}:)]. No sand bar scrapes

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Race= Go up wind really well
Slalom= across the wind really well
Speed= Down wind really well
Freeride= will do everything but won,t do anything really well

Couldn't be clearer than this. Thanks.

I've never really got the difference between 'Race' and 'Slalom'.

to me they are both racing and the only difference is the size.

once you get to fins over say 45cm then the racing is course racing.

Slalom racing is smaller gear higher winds (maybe) broad reaching racing.

If you don't have to crank upwind then go for the speed advantage of a smaller "RACE" fin.

this is my brain in action here not giving advice, but rather looking for better clarification.

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RAL INN said...
I've never really got the difference between 'Race' and 'Slalom'.

to me they are both racing and the only difference is the size.

once you get to fins over say 45cm then the racing is course racing.

Slalom racing is smaller gear higher winds (maybe) broad reaching racing.

If you don't have to crank upwind then go for the speed advantage of a smaller "RACE" fin.

this is my brain in action here not giving advice, but rather looking for better clarification.

Slalom is a form of racing really, but I tend to think of racing as having to do a number of laps around marks set upwind and downwind , as opposed to a crosswind/downwind drag race that slalom is. Im told by some people in the know, that's what formula boards and the likes do really well (go upwind and downwind)