Tony Wills said..
Not sure why every time I see our airfield fire truck roll by work it reminds me of these...

For me its one of these

Trust me, fire trucks are slow
I like orange Sorry Vando, bored

vando said...

Still not as nice looking as the r5 in your avatar

So how do they go? Whats new?

Too much red in my opinion, the R7 looks heaps better. However they still look sexy and fast. Thanks Vando.

OMG they look NICE

Tinlyds said..
Too much red in my opinion, the R7 looks heaps better. However they still look sexy and fast. Thanks Vando.

I agree. Their look is kind of outdated, taken from last year's freeride range (NCX and turbo). They also lack the impact the design of the previous 4-5 years had. They seem quite amateurish to me, not the race machines they are supposed to be. Sorry, this year they messed it up. I would take an R7 anytime instead of these, stricktly based on their design...

Actually it just occurred to me that this might not be the final version after all. Same thing happened last year where the final production design was quite different from the one that they showcased at the dealers' annual meeting.

Ha-ha nice one Marco. This is the final version R8 in the photo. Looks good....

And 5.0 to replace 5.2.

I saw Slowboat use a 5.5m 3 years ago in a 15-22 knot seabreeze on his 112 Mistral from memory. Was rarely off the plane.

At 70kg I can get a 5m going in around 18 knots,fully powered up in 23 knots.

At 105kg you should be able to get a 5m going with negative outhaul in around 23-24 knots,fully powered up in 27 knots.

Basically,short of using micro size sails,no one sails in winds much above 40 knots in normal water conditions.

Going back around 10 years - I remember watching Slowboat and Robbie Radis get caught in a 40-45 knot squall on the Swan Rver in a winter front.

They went down both using sails around 5.8m about the same time and did not get up again for a good 10 minutes till the squall passed.

I think he needs the R9 with better bottom end

Smaller sizes will have longer boom but on bigger sizes will remain the same

Piv said..
I'm talking about smooth water like sandy point or luderitz. Aa hangs onto a 5.4 np in probably 45 to 50 knots. I can hang onto my reflex 9.7 in a solid sea breeze maybe 20knots uncomfortably but possible and I used a 4m north wave sail on flat water on a day that recorded 56knots and I'd say my current 7.8 has a wind range like my old 5.4 so I guess my 6.3 would be about like that 4m but it was never windy enough last summer on the days I could sail. So the question is what is the upper limit for a 5m r8 flat water? Fantastic if it will get me going in 27knots but maybe not on a small speed board?

About a week ago, I had a great session at Primbee using a 6.2 OD in 25-38kts. That size was spot on. The top end on these sails seems to be limitless.

gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2016-11-13&team=33

I love the look of the new R8, can't wait for my quiver to arrive Not sure how much use my 5.2 and 5.7 will get though given the 6.2 is good to at least 38kts.