Forums > Windsurfing Foiling

Sail size step?

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Created by Sandman1221 > 9 months ago, 10 Aug 2021
Sandman1221
2776 posts
10 Aug 2021 12:52AM
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Have 8.0, 7.2, and 5.8 Aerotech Freespeed (non-cambered) sails for foiling. The 5.8 is my current high wind sail, but it gets overpowered around 24 knots and is really best at a max. of 20 knots. Next sail size in the Freespeed line is a 5.2, how much wind range do you think that will give me over the 5.8?
Thanks

Grantmac
2314 posts
10 Aug 2021 3:18AM
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Not much. Think something <5m

I frequently go 6.3, 5.3, 4.2 and realistically the 6.3 doesn't buy me much.

Sandman1221
2776 posts
10 Aug 2021 10:51AM
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Thanks Grantmac, that is what I was worried about.

ccflyer
25 posts
10 Aug 2021 10:21PM
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Goya Fringe: 5.7, 4.7, 4.2, 3.7

These sail gaps have worked well for me. I will get a 3.3 when they are available again.

motogon
203 posts
10 Aug 2021 10:43PM
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My quiver is similar: Ezzy Wave (works great for fin and foil) 5.8. 5.2, 4.7, 4.2. When I starts getting overpowered on 4.2 (around 20 mph), I can windsurf (with fin) on 5.8.

Sandman1221
2776 posts
10 Aug 2021 10:54PM
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okay, maybe the 5.2 is not a lost cause, but its going to be months before they may come in. I dropped my low end sail range a lot this year 8.0 is now my smallest sail but will probably give the 9.0 one more try on a 6-8 knot day where the 8.0 will not get me up., will have to see how the sail range does this fall in higher winds, have used the 7.2 in solid 12+, so that puts the 5.8 range around 15 to maybe 18.

motogon
203 posts
10 Aug 2021 10:57PM
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What foil you use?

segler
WA, 1656 posts
10 Aug 2021 11:42PM
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For me a gap of 7.0 to 5.0 works almost all the time. I have a 6.0 but rarely use it.

Sandman1221
2776 posts
11 Aug 2021 2:52AM
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segler said..
For me a gap of 7.0 to 5.0 works almost all the time. I have a 6.0 but rarely use it.


okay, thanks segler

Sandman1221
2776 posts
11 Aug 2021 2:53AM
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motogon said..
What foil you use?


AFS W95 with F1080 and F770 wings

excav8ter
573 posts
12 Aug 2021 8:56AM
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My sails are 8.2, 7.0 and 6.0 flyers, 4.8 Duotone Super session, 3.8 and 3.0 Sailworks Revolution. The gaps seem to work pretty well for me, but I'm purely out for fun and don't get into the technical side of setting up. I just rig and have fun.

felix1111
86 posts
12 Aug 2021 9:51PM
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hi
on sb formula board and supercuiser, sails: 7.8 north etype, 5.7 blade, 4.2 gaastra manic. with my 100+ kgs it gives me range of 13 to 25+.
cheers

Sandman1221
2776 posts
12 Aug 2021 11:35PM
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felix1111 said..
hi
on sb formula board and supercuiser, sails: 7.8 north etype, 5.7 blade, 4.2 gaastra manic. with my 100+ kgs it gives me range of 13 to 25+.
cheers


Hey felix that seems like a pretty big gap, 5.7 to 4.2, specifically what wind range does that pair of sails cover for you?

Sandman1221
2776 posts
12 Aug 2021 11:36PM
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excav8ter said..
My sails are 8.2, 7.0 and 6.0 flyers, 4.8 Duotone Super session, 3.8 and 3.0 Sailworks Revolution. The gaps seem to work pretty well for me, but I'm purely out for fun and don't get into the technical side of setting up. I just rig and have fun.


thanks excav8ter

felix1111
86 posts
14 Aug 2021 12:29AM
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Select to expand quote
Sandman1221 said..

felix1111 said..
hi
on sb formula board and supercuiser, sails: 7.8 north etype, 5.7 blade, 4.2 gaastra manic. with my 100+ kgs it gives me range of 13 to 25+.
cheers



Hey felix that seems like a pretty big gap, 5.7 to 4.2, specifically what wind range does that pair of sails cover for you?


Hi Sandman1221
up to ~20knts i am on 5.7
in stronger days of 20+, the 4.2 generates enough power for foilling getting on the foil in the gusts.
i noticed that when 5.7 is too big my 4.8 super session is also too big. so i go 5.7 --> 4.2
so is my 6.7 is useless. 7.8 -->5.7 at 15 knts

cheers

LeeD
3939 posts
14 Aug 2021 1:55AM
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Remember, you tune sails for low end or top end, spending on wi dspeed and how you like the feel.
Exact numbers seldom work.

Sandman1221
2776 posts
14 Aug 2021 2:21AM
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felix1111 said..

Sandman1221 said..


felix1111 said..
hi
on sb formula board and supercuiser, sails: 7.8 north etype, 5.7 blade, 4.2 gaastra manic. with my 100+ kgs it gives me range of 13 to 25+.
cheers




Hey felix that seems like a pretty big gap, 5.7 to 4.2, specifically what wind range does that pair of sails cover for you?



Hi Sandman1221
up to ~20knts i am on 5.7
in stronger days of 20+, the 4.2 generates enough power for foilling getting on the foil in the gusts.
i noticed that when 5.7 is too big my 4.8 super session is also too big. so i go 5.7 --> 4.2
so is my 6.7 is useless. 7.8 -->5.7 at 15 knts

cheers


Hey Felix, that was very helpful, thanks. I go from a 7.2 to 5.8, that is 1.4 m2 reduction, but from 5.8 to 5.2 is only 0.6 m2 reduction. I also change over to my 5.8 at 15 knots, and it is good to ~20-22 knots, so are kits are comparable. That means I will have to go to a RDM mast and ext. if I want to go to anything in the 4 range.

Samkyo
99 posts
18 Aug 2021 8:33PM
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Hello,

my sail quiver for foiling is the same as free move/wave with Loftsail wave scape 6,2/5,2/4,7/4,2/3,7.
I recently done a test with 6,2/4,7/3,7 combine with I84 - Apollo60 -I65 was able to foil from 8-10kts to 35kts on a Magic Carpet the combination of Tuttle and double US track was nice to feel the sail gap with foil moving for and aft

OldGuy3
165 posts
19 Aug 2021 2:06AM
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Foil quiver. Ezzy Hydra 5.5M(2019), 4.5M(2020) and Hydra Sport 3.7M(2020). One meter jumps has worked fine. With couple different sized foil wings I'm good from 7-27kts(F3-6) winds. The Hydra(Pros) seem to have a wide range with a bit of fine tuning. Relatively lightweight, control & comfort rider. Ugly sails, but functional. Minimal foiling time last October and still dealing with a ankle sprain. 27-30kts with gusts into the mid 30s. Not a pretty sight. Rider issue not the sail. The good was no up hauling required. Usually downsize to the sail that makes for difficult water starting. A big plus about foiling has been regaining a bomb proof uphaul. But then I'm on a relatively floaty (110L) board. So maybe my uphaul technique is really not that great?

Really hooked on foiling. Days like yesterday we wouldn't even consider thinking about windsurfing. 5.5M foiling with a smile. Windsurfing is now for the F5 or stronger days. F3-4 days are just sweet foiling conditions.

Sandman1221
2776 posts
21 Aug 2021 12:59AM
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Samkyo and OldGuy, how much do you weight?, wondering if rider weight affects sail size steps.

OldGuy3
165 posts
25 Aug 2021 12:59AM
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Sandman1221 said..
Samkyo and OldGuy, how much do you weight?, wondering if rider weight affects sail size steps.


60kg. Windsurfing sails quiver is 6.5, 5.8, 5.2 & 4.7M on relatively floaty boards. 100L and 86L. Foiling has reduced the number of sails need to cover a wider wind range. Also only one board simplifies life.

Sandman1221
2776 posts
25 Aug 2021 6:06AM
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OldGuy3 said..

Sandman1221 said..
Samkyo and OldGuy, how much do you weight?, wondering if rider weight affects sail size steps.



60kg. Windsurfing sails quiver is 6.5, 5.8, 5.2 & 4.7M on relatively floaty boards. 100L and 86L. Foiling has reduced the number of sails need to cover a wider wind range. Also only one board simplifies life.


Thanks OldGuy

WsurfAustin
651 posts
25 Aug 2021 7:41AM
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FWIW,
140 lbs, SS V3 114 board ,I76 wing

3.7 fringe > 20 knots
4.5 flyer 15 -20 knots (favorite)
5.3 fringe 15 knots ish. Get overpowered quickly though.

Samkyo
99 posts
25 Aug 2021 8:14PM
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Sandman1221 said..
Samkyo and OldGuy, how much do you weight?, wondering if rider weight affects sail size steps.


Hello,

I weight 75kg

r3st0ck
14 posts
25 Aug 2021 8:57PM
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my range is 4.4 / 4.0 / 3.3 / 2.7 / 2.0
i will replace the 4.0 and 3.3 with a 3.6 -> 0.8m2 steps are enough to cover the windrange at my spots
riderweight 70kg

dejavu
825 posts
25 Aug 2021 9:35PM
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As you drop in sail size by the same amount each time the percentage of the drop gets larger. If I were to do it again I'd probably go from a 7 to a 6 to a 5.2 to a 4.5 to a 4 to a 3.7 to a 3.4.

segler
WA, 1656 posts
26 Aug 2021 12:19AM
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At 95 kg at home, 7.0 5.7 5.0 4.2 has been a good group. In Florida I use 7.0 6.0 5.0 and don't need anything else.

Sandman1221
2776 posts
26 Aug 2021 1:15AM
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Thanks WsurfAustin, Samkyo, r3stOck and segler, very helpful information.

dejavu, I realized that, was actually calculating the percentage for each sail size drop, but the other thing is the Buford scale, as you go up the scale the wind pressure doubles over a smaller and smaller wind range, wondering if that offsets the larger percentage drop when using the same amount of drop between each sail size?

dejavu
825 posts
26 Aug 2021 1:32AM
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Yea, it probably does to some extent and there is also the density of the air, depending on temperature. We also haven't factored in a change to a smaller front foil wing or, if you have tracks on the bottom of your board, moving the foil mast back for less lift. There are a lot of variables including the gusty conditions some foil in -- what do you do when the wind varies from 10 to 30 knots every few minutes -- go home? When windsurfing I rig for the lulls. Wind foiling I tend to rig for the gusts -- it's a survival thing. After a while one gets tired of being a crash test dummy.

Sandman1221
2776 posts
26 Aug 2021 4:41AM
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dejavu said..
Yea, it probably does to some extent and there is also the density of the air, depending on temperature. We also haven't factored in a change to a smaller front foil wing or, if you have tracks on the bottom of your board, moving the foil mast back for less lift. There are a lot of variables including the gusty conditions some foil in -- what do you do when the wind varies from 10 to 30 knots every few minutes -- go home? When windsurfing I rig for the lulls. Wind foiling I tend to rig for the gusts -- it's a survival thing. After a while one gets tired of being a crash test dummy.


10-30 knots is a really wide range, I think I usually see 10-20, or 15-25, sometime 10-25 as the widest ranges, for windsurfing I definitely rig for the low to mid range, and used to do that foiling but learned to rig for the upper end of the gust, a lot more enjoyable foiling that way.

But if it was 10-30 and I had a sail sized right for 25-30 knots, then yeah I would go out and at least see how long of a run I could get before deciding. Now I did go out in what was forecasted to be 8-9 and only took my 8.0 with F1080 wing, then right away it popped to 17-20 and stayed there, I foiled but it took a lot of energy and was on the edge of flying too many times, so left.

OldGuy3
165 posts
28 Aug 2021 4:10AM
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dejavu said..
As you drop in sail size by the same amount each time the percentage of the drop gets larger. If I were to do it again I'd probably go from a 7 to a 6 to a 5.2 to a 4.5 to a 4 to a 3.7 to a 3.4.


True, but wind pressure, force per sq meter relative to velocity is not linear. Velocity squared x a constant(old brain, don't remember) = pressure per unit of area. Add in differences in sail design and their tunable range. Hard to really figure out at times what the proper sail sizes. Me, I just ask the shop what they recommend and most of the times follow their advice.



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"Sail size step?" started by Sandman1221