So why aren't more of us doing Formula Windsurfing?

Had the best formula sail today which got me thinking why very few do it. i have my theories buy i'd like your thoughts?

today wind was 8-15kts. Planing 100% of the time. Powered up feeling. Sail where ever I wanted in the bay. Perfect light wind kit to suit our Queensland conditions.

Beats me Steve, wish i took the plunge sooner. Probably best if they stick
with what they have, i love the feeling when i am the only one on the water planing
whilst everyone else is slogging or sat on the beach waiting.

My ute isn't big enough to fit the board in

Nor is my ute. Just hang it out the back. Actually the formula board is shorter than the slalom board.

Thinking about joining you soon

What size sail are you using Steve? I'm pretty keen on my 80cm slalom board and 9.2 Reflex4, just didn't manage to get out over the last 2 weeks. Would be quite interesting to compare the speed and planning ability of these 2 boards. Might give you a call when it's on again.

Hi GeoGeo. Yeah that would be good. Your 80 wide slalom would be a bit faster, but if you want to go upwind the formula will leave it for dead. I'm using a reflex 5 10.0m2. Love this new sail, feels really light and you quickly forget its so big. The formula pros typically use a 11.5 or 12.5 for light wind, down to a 9.5m2 for high wind. For me, 10m2 is perfect to learn formula, and still gets me going in light wind. Can probably pump it onto the plane in 8-10kts. Certainly sails thru the lulls when the wind is like yesterday 8-14kts.

How does the new board compare with the old

Hi Cammd. Yes the new Steve Allen designed formula 167 is great. Overall, its a small evolutionary improvement over my old board, the 167W, which is a great board too. First impressions:
1. Probably a 1kt quicker on all points of the wind. GPS agrees.
2. Can stay in the rear outside strap more often going downwind. Less need for the chicken strap.
3. Less nose rocker, but enough to clear the chop. Works well.
4. Gets onto the plane a bit easier than the 167W
5. Slightly less upwind angle than the 167W which has a wider tail.
6. The 167W feels more 'electric' or 'lively' than the new well manored 167

Take my opinions with a grain of salt. I'm new to formula, so no expert at all.

Toeside says "Thinking about joining you soon"


Look out Oz Formula World if Toeside gets into Formula!!

The new model sounds pretty good, I know in stronger winds the 167W can be a bit of a handful, I prefer to use my sons 161 when it starts to blow, that is when he lets me, it seems easier than the 167W to keep mast foot pressure locked on and keep the nose down and speed up, the 161 just floats over the chop upwind. I love that feeling of powered up sailing and pushing hard against the fin, they feel like there on railway tracks upwind.

Steve

Are you going to sail the RQYS Frostbite Regatta on the Formula Board?

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Simon100 said...
My ute isn't big enough to fit the board in

I would have to rebuild the racks in the van

Icarbon, yes formula would be my preference. I also have a raceboard if the conditions suit it. Why do u ask?

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bc said...

Simon100 said...
My ute isn't big enough to fit the board in

I would have to rebuild on the racks in the van

That's easy. What's really stopping you? Have a try of my new board. 10-15 kts forecast tomorrow arv. Come down.

cammd, do you push the mast track further forward in high wind on your 167W? Sean's dad was telling me that's what they all do when the winds up. Sometimes all the way forward, as far as she will go.

No, never tried it all the way forward, have been worried about digging the front into the back of waves downwind but I will do it next time, its never even got close to doing that so probably worrying over nothing, given the amount of times I have been over the front in strong winds probably just a little overly cautious then again the vast majority of those catapults were a result of the wrong fin.

I reckon, and this is from a formula novice so probably wrong, the 167W has plenty of nose rocker so with the mast track full forward the nose should still clear chop going downwind, and then going upwind the forward mast track will really help keep the board planted? Worth a try next time the wind is up.? +1 on the fin. Will try my new to me VMG fin next session. Apparently it will be faster and point higher than my drake?

Had a hairy run downwind today thought i would catch a wave with the nose
but no chance on your old board Steve.

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Steve1001 said...

So why aren't more of us doing Formula Windsurfing?

Had the best formula sail today which got me thinking why very few do it. i have my theories buy i'd like your thoughts?

today wind was 8-15kts. Planing 100% of the time. Powered up feeling. Sail where ever I wanted in the bay. Perfect light wind kit to suit our Queensland conditions.

Well, my 2c worth...

It's perfect light wind kit - only it's not. It's just better than slalom or freeride gear. If I look back over forty years of dinghy, cat, div 2, raceboard, and formula sailing, the formula events account for about 5% of the racing and about 80% of the time spent waiting for wind.

No question, if you can pick your day, pick your angle, and pick your patch of water it's great fun. But if you plan to turn up on a given day at a given place, like a regatta or regular club racing, not always great. Just ask Cam how long it can take to make that last tack into the windward mark if the wind isn't cooperating at that precise moment. Then ask him how often the wind cooperates. Then buy the poor guy a beer for bringing up such a painful subject ;)

I love formula when it's on, but in the end I decided I wanted to get back to: turn up, go sailing, have fun. Every weekend.

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jmetcher said...

Steve1001 said...

So why aren't more of us doing Formula Windsurfing?

Had the best formula sail today which got me thinking why very few do it. i have my theories buy i'd like your thoughts?

today wind was 8-15kts. Planing 100% of the time. Powered up feeling. Sail where ever I wanted in the bay. Perfect light wind kit to suit our Queensland conditions.

Well, my 2c worth...

It's perfect light wind kit - only it's not. It's just better than slalom or freeride gear. If I look back over forty years of dinghy, cat, div 2, raceboard, and formula sailing, the formula events account for about 5% of the racing and about 80% of the time spent waiting for wind.

No question, if you can pick your day, pick your angle, and pick your patch of water it's great fun. But if you plan to turn up on a given day at a given place, like a regatta or regular club racing, not always great. Just ask Cam how long it can take to make that last tack into the windward mark if the wind isn't cooperating at that precise moment. Then ask him how often the wind cooperates. Then buy the poor guy a beer for bringing up such a painful subject ;)

I love formula when it's on, but in the end I decided I wanted to get back to: turn up, go sailing, have fun. Every weekend.

Good comment and pretty much on the ball, you are pretty much guaranteed to have
a sail with a raceboard, on any given day.
Having trouble justifying owning a formula and a raceboard.

I have both a formula and a raceboard. Problem solved. I sail whichever one suits the conditions on the day. Yeah the raceboard probably has a greater wind range for the average recreational sailor. But when it's formula weather it's pretty exciting sailing. Both forms are different and have their likeable/enjoyable qualities.

I'm 99% sure I'm gunna end up buying a trailer to cart all my gear to the bay. This windsurfing sport is best enjoyed with the right gear for the conditions of the day. The right board, the right sail. I've noticed the good guys turn up at the bay with their trailer or van filled with 6 boards, 10 sails etc, they look at the live conditions in front of them, and rig accordingly. Formula, raceboard, slalom, speed, bump and jump? Maybe even rig two complete rigs for wind changes.

Tis true I have been skunked by the wind more than once and it is frustrating but I would say I sailed the formula more often than not over the spring and summer, its pretty rare that we don't get a least a 12 knt seabreeze in the afternoon, even so some of those days were pretty marginal and I should have chosen the Raceboard or RSX instead but if there's even the slightest chance of completing a race on the formula I can't help myself I have to take the chance, to be on the racecourse with enough wind to plane and have my formula sitting in the trailer is more frustrating for me than getting skunked occasionally.

I think I need a bigger sail

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cammd said...
I think I need a bigger sail

Cha Ching $$$.

Interesting topic. I have a formula board, raceboard and a few others but also have a stbd phantom 295 on order. I really like sailing the raceboard in Sydney I can cruise around the harbour and if the wind happens to pop up it quickly gets onto the plane especially when using my 10m formula sail on it. The problem is that it is kept at the club as I have a van and it is too long to fit in. If I put roof racks on I can't get into a lot of carparks etc. The formula board is good as well it fits in the van but to get out from under the lee of cliffs and between moored boats is really difficult at times especially with massive wind changes etc. The other problem I have with formula is that I rig say a 7.5m on the raceboard and cruise around quite happily. If the wind picks up the 7.5m can quickly be changed over to my slalom board. This is something I didn't realise when I bought the formula that 7.5m sail just doesn't work on a formula board. Hopefully the Phantom 295 will be the answer, something I can cruise on (220 litres), something to practice on while waiting for the sea breeze, the kids can use it and it will just fit into my van. Will the 10m work on it. Don't know, max recommended size is 9.5m. Any comments or ideas appreciated.

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Steve1001 said...
I

n. Will try my new to me VMG fin next session. Apparently it will be faster and point higher than my drake?

This is where formula shoots it self in the foot in my opinion, the gear is expensive to start with and then super expensive fins are needed to get the most out if it. Sure slalom costs a bitbut in general you can use your std booms and masts, but formula everything is specific just to suit your formula kit. Im with total agreement with jamie , in the right conditions perfect but , but to light or to windy and a totally different story.

10m will be fine on 295 for cruising. It is just a short raceboard.

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bc said...

Steve1001 said...
I

n. Will try my new to me VMG fin next session. Apparently it will be faster and point higher than my drake?

This is where formula shoots it self in the foot in my opinion, the gear is expensive to start with and then super expensive fins are needed to get the most out if it. Sure slalom costs a bitbut in general you can use your std booms and masts, but formula everything is specific just to suit your formula kit. Im with total agreement with jamie , in the right conditions perfect but , but to light or to windy and a totally different story.

Yeah so the richer you are the faster you go!!! Suits me. I might go alright for a change.

Seriously though, your right, the fins are expensive but they don't have to be. That 2nd hand $50 drake is doing the job. And my other fin is a $200 VMG 2nd hand. Sure the pros need the $1000 latest fins, but us recreational guys are fine with the cheap ones.

Steve

We have a dedicated band (10) of course racers at RQYS ranging in ages from 16 to 50 competing each weekend.

In the past 4 weeks my daughters aged 18 and 21 have competed in 27 races.

Sail Brisbane 10 races ~ 18 April.
Qld Raceboard Championships 7 races ~ 4 May.
Qld RS:X Championships 10 races ~ 16 May.

Each race takes between 30 to 45 minutes. That's more than 14 hours of racing in a month.

We would love to have you come and sample the racing on offer.