After getting a bit off topic on the Mallacoota thread, I thought it might be nice to see what experience people have with wide boards for high speeds.

We know Stropo has done 40kts on a 78 wide JP on flat water and Slowboat has done 39 or 40 on a M137 at 82cm wide in what was probably pretty rough conditions.

Who else can add speeds for wide boards, lets say 68cm plus, with an idea of rig and water conditions.

The point to all this is, its easier to cruise around in variable conditions on a wide board than a skinny speed board. Also perhaps in chop, the wide boards might have some advantage.

What is the highest speed ever on a board at least 68cm wide? What about on at least 80cm wide.

In a similar vein, what are the highest speed with big rigs? 7m, 8m, 9m?

Has anyone done back to back testing, wide board vs skinny speed board. Or is everyone sheep and getting out 47cm boards when it blows and the water is flat?

68 wide nude, 7.6 TR-8, 38 axe weedy
40knots in 60cm chop. Very gusty 15-25 of wind. Put a 6.3 and 32 cm fin in in 25 knts of wind and this combo honks

Horrible Westerly day at Sandy Point and everybody had given up except Spotti and me. I was on my 82 litre speed board and Spotti on his Mistral 137 farting around in the gusty crap. A bit of a squall came through and I took off down the speed run but it was so, so broad I bailed. Looked at my GPS and I had done 44.5. I turned around and saw the aircraft carrier roaring towards me , it was a sight to behold. Spotti pulls in. 42 knots plus on an 82 wide board. Might take some beating??

Nice work. They are nice aircraft carriers

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mr love said...
Horrible Westerly day at Sandy Point and everybody had given up except Spotti and me. I was on my 82 litre speed board and Spotti on his Mistral 137 farting around in the gusty crap. A bit of a squall came through and I took off down the speed run but it was so, so square I bailed. Looked at my GPS and I had done 44.5. I turned around and saw the aircraft carrier roaring towards me , it was a sight to behold. Spotti pulls in. 42 knots plus on an 82 wide board. Might take some beating??

Any info on what board, sail type & size & fin size?

I replied in the Mallacoota thread and then saw this one.

Smaller is faster given suitable water and wind conditions. There is a optimal size for all conditions, and it decreases as the wind increases.. But that does not mean that some talented individuals, (and usually of above average stature) have not got the ability to do quite fast speeds on bigger boards anyway. Especially in less than ideal conditions where a bigger board or sail my be a big tactical advantage, despite not being optimum on the speed run in that one good gust. Examples abound.

You had hit on it already Piv: In highly variable conditions.

The fastest board for me @ 72Kg, in winds over the mid to high 20's is my 40cm/60L CA40. But for someone over 90-100 Kg it is probably considerably wider and larger, maybe 50-55cm and 85-95L?

But I didn't see any boards that big at Luderitz, even for the very big guys! I think AA's record board is 37 or 38cm

And Lena was on a 36cm sliver!

I think I need that Mistral 37 to challenge my PB!

Looks like my next sail at Rsoles will be on my JP 78 sounds like a good reason for more fun
Ive been thinking of doing this for a while maybe Slowie will do the same we gotto keep those eastern staters honest!

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BSN101 said..

mr love said...
Horrible Westerly day at Sandy Point and everybody had given up except Spotti and me. I was on my 82 litre speed board and Spotti on his Mistral 137 farting around in the gusty crap. A bit of a squall came through and I took off down the speed run but it was so, so square I bailed. Looked at my GPS and I had done 44.5. I turned around and saw the aircraft carrier roaring towards me , it was a sight to behold. Spotti pulls in. 42 knots plus on an 82 wide board. Might take some beating??

Any info on what board, sail type & size & fin size?

Read it here and weep! gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2012-09-08&team=16

BTW, note that Spotty did a stupendous 42 knots on the M137, but when he switched to his speed board he did a 48 Peak!!!

Tabou Rocket wide 73cm 108L & Jp Weed 31cm 39.3knots



Yeah baby a free ride board and a bog standard powerbox weedy

Sure sounds like you liked that Alby!

i was just thinking "holy ****" when you said it :)

great clip with the speed dial showing

simply put IN IDEAL CONDITINONS smaller boards let you use smaller fins and create less drag

As the boards get wider the leverage you put on the fin increases so you need bigger fins to stop it sliding out.
You can go smaller fins in a big board BUT it feels slippery and personally i find it makes me nervous to push too hard.

really hard to go fast unless you are confidant your gear is not going to let go and break you

Loved the audio. Do you think next time you can get a mast top cam so we can see your red furry covering? I reckon if you shaved down you would get 40! How did you do the speedo thing, it was excellent.

Ocean (deep water) Leighton WA - 31,4 knots - 28.6kt NM

Mistral 137 Carbon(82 wide), KARace7.9, CLSL2 38

Anyone else got any ocean speeds?

Super impressive Elmo! Really clear, good quality video too :)

Nice stuff, got to love the audio !!!

That bird was lucky not to get a rocket up its A.....!