I'm getting older and the body struggles in the choppy 25kts+ conditions. I find myself looking for conditions under 20kts , and given I don't have as much free time as I used to, I'm not getting out on the bay as much. (and because I don't get out as much, my lack of windsurfing fitness prevents me from sailing in strong winds)

Yesterday I kept jumping online to see if the wind had pushed above 15kts (and it did eventually, but too late in the day for me).

I was wondering, what board/sail combos work to get planing early?

I'm about 105kg. My big board is a carve 140. My go to sail is a KA Koncept 6.6 (~2010), but it takes 16-17kts to get me planing (without pumping - not fit enough for that yet this season). I also have a Sailworks XT Racing 7.9 (~2000), but I find that only gets me planing a couple of knots earlier. And it's HEAVY.

Will a larger modern sail help? (8.5? 9.5?) When does increasing the sail size stop providing obvious earlier planing benefits?

Thanks for any thoughts.

I reckon the modern no-cam freeride sails are light years away from the older cammed sails. I can't speak for the newer cammed sails as I haven't tried them but...

I ended up buying a 6.5 NCX for the light stuff on Westernport - i.e 15-18 knots. With a 111 Futura it's perfect. I tried one of the Gastra no-cam freeride sails at Sandy Point a couple of years ago and thought that was great too.

I used to own a 6.6 Koncept when I sailed Elwood which was fun (in the same way that driving round a go-kart track in an F1 car would be - 0-60 in 2 seconds then BANG!) but was never any fun to waterstart, sail overpowered etc etc.

So yep, the newer modern sails will be way better if you want to just cruise up and down and enjoy yourself. You may not even need as big a size as you think. a 6.5 is fine for me at 75KG - so you might get away with 7.5 or maybe 8. The downside is that you'll have to probably buy a new one because there aren't many second hand left this time of year, but you only want one anyway I guess?

Cheers

Jon

At 105 kgs and a 140 litre board, an 8.5 no cam or 2 cam sail should get you going in about 13+kts. The key is getting the lightest sail, mast and boom combination you can afford. Others may indicate otherwise, but I recon a 9.5 sail is getting to big and heavy and is counter productive.

The alternative to consider is to get a foil and use it with your 140 lit board you favourite 6.6 sail. This will get you going in the same wind and will probably be cheaper than the combined price of the 8.5 sail, 490 mast boom and 230 boom.

I agree with all of the above,

I find that I can have really good sail on a 12-14 knots day with the right setup, and as the wind is not strong the water is flat.

I use a 8.6 sail, with a 122liter RRD XFIRE slalom board, using 46-50cm fin, few pumps will get you flying.


Look at a 7.9 to 9.0 sails, I personally like 4 cam sails, but they are heavier, so perhaps a no cam or 2 cam sail would be ideal to keep it all light and fun.


Good luck!

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm definitely only looking for 1 sail to fill my light wind void. I've always sailed slalom sails - I like the power and speed, and being overpowerd is all I know. Maybe it is time to move to something more forgiving.

What are my sail options in Melbourne? From the 2 remaining stores, online I can see Neil Pryde V8 or HellCat (8.2max), Gastra Vapor, or Severne NCX (8.0). I'd prefer to support them rather than get an online bargain.

There is a 8.5 Neil Pride V8 (twin cam) for sale from St Kilda in Buy and Sell

As a 100kg sailor with either xCite Ride 120 or JP Supersport 136 for those light days, I can recommend a 2-cam sail around 7.8 to 8.2. The no-cam sail needs wind to let them get into a foil shape. With 2-cam it keeps the shape even in the lulls. Paired with the right mast and a light boom, you should be ok in 14 knots up.

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ftkalcevic said..
Thanks for all the replies.

I'm definitely only looking for 1 sail to fill my light wind void. I've always sailed slalom sails - I like the power and speed, and being overpowerd is all I know. Maybe it is time to move to something more forgiving.

What are my sail options in Melbourne? From the 2 remaining stores, online I can see Neil Pryde V8 or HellCat (8.2max), Gastra Vapor, or Severne NCX (8.0). I'd prefer to support them rather than get an online bargain.

Try The Big Blue - Point 7 dealer, they got some nice sails !
thebigblue.com.au/

There's a garage sale this weekend at SHQ - there are a few options in the rack both new and second hand.

i sail a raceboard slowly around the place from 5kn to 25, so the story is a bigger volume board will give more TOW.
12kn plus & my NX9.5 is a blissful experience....
Why not call Windsurf Systems about the Sailworks sails. Chris is in Port melbourne & is often able to supply a sail to try out.
I use a range of Retros, very forgiving in a wide range of conditions & pretty bullet proof...considering how many times i like to jump in them!1

I'm looking for a One Design Windsurfer (wally to some), older style, will have print on the deck up the front.
I reckon about 15 yo, these boards were fatter than the new ones.
Its the board Im after, so the quality of it all doesn't matter so much.
Reply to= wattleshrikeblue@gmail.com

Thanks to all the replies.

I ended up getting a Severne Turbo GT 8.6.

Sadly, I haven't sailed with it yet. I had to order it in and a couple of days before I picked it up, I threw my back out (not enough windsurfing!). I got a couple of days in stronger winds, then got struck down with a chest infection (too much port philip bay water?).

Hopefully this long weekend.

Select to expand quote

ftkalcevic said..
Thanks to all the replies.

I ended up getting a Severne Turbo GT 8.6.

Sadly, I haven't sailed with it yet. I had to order it in and a couple of days before I picked it up, I threw my back out (not enough windsurfing!). I got a couple of days in stronger winds, then got struck down with a chest infection (too much port philip bay water?).

Hopefully this long weekend.

Hilarious

i was was going to recommend the severne turbo. It's lightest. It has a cam.