Forums > Windsurfing Foiling

Sail sizes

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Created by shmish > 9 months ago, 4 Nov 2021
shmish
146 posts
4 Nov 2021 2:37PM
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I'm looking at getting a 900 front wing and probably a 720 wing for 20+ knots. I have a 7.0 flyer and trying to decide on other sails. I can't afford a full quiver 7, 6, 5.2, 4.5. I think 7, 5.2, 4.5 would be good but the 5.2 has an added cost because I'd need a 400 rdm mast for it ($500). I don't think I have the money for this, it's super tight.

7, 6, 4.5 leaves a big gap although I do have a revo 5.0. I suspect 7.0 and 6.0 would have a lot of overlap for me because I doubt I can use 6.0 in much over 18kn but I'm not sure. Fwiw I'm about 67 kg and I'm getting a 75 cm wide freerace foil type of board. If I skip the second smaller wing it would free up a lot of money for sails.

It sounds like the pros are using really big gags between sail sizes (if I heard them correctly).



thanks

tonyk
QLD, 595 posts
4 Nov 2021 10:37PM
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shmish said..
I'm looking at getting a 900 front wing and probably a 720 wing for 20+ knots. I have a 7.0 flyer and trying to decide on other sails. I can't afford a full quiver 7, 6, 5.2, 4.5. I think 7, 5.2, 4.5 would be good but the 5.2 has an added cost because I'd need a 400 rdm mast for it ($500). I don't think I have the money for this, it's super tight.

7, 6, 4.5 leaves a big gap although I do have a revo 5.0. I suspect 7.0 and 6.0 would have a lot of overlap for me because I doubt I can use 6.0 in much over 18kn but I'm not sure. Fwiw I'm about 67 kg and I'm getting a 75 cm wide freerace foil type of board. If I skip the second smaller wing it would free up a lot of money for sails.

It sounds like the pros are using really big gags between sail sizes (if I heard them correctly).


thanks


If I had a 7m already
2 sails total - 7 and about 5.2m
3 sails total - 7, 5.5 and 4.2m
estimates only, it depends on many things, your experience, your local conditions, the type of foil and board
Also the type of sails you buy cambered V RAF

You could just stay with the 7m only and save your money, whatever you think is right today won't be in 6 months time

cheers
TK

utcminusfour
749 posts
4 Nov 2021 8:51PM
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A common theme with most folks on this forum is that the big sail (7 or larger) gets used as a first gear in light air and then as soon as it's steady above 10-12 knots a much smaller sail gets rigged. I might not bother with a sail in the 6 meter range given your situation. Your revo 5.0 will serve you well too. You have tools for the job and you can keep charging with what you have and save up for later. I personally would invest in a light air front wing as the next move. A two front wing quiver is nice. A big front wing for light air can keep you off the big sails. A medium wing and a 5 meter sail will have a broad range. Then use your medium wing with small sails when it's windy. Remember it's board speed that determines wing size not wind speed so as the wind increases a smaller sail helps keep the speed in the controllable range so you can use a bigger wing.

Like you, a mast for every sail has frustrated me! Sadly the only mast I have not bought yet (400) is the first one I should have. Well I did buy a used one that promptly broke. A sail in the low 5 meter range is the sweet spot for me and many others I suppose.

I have worn my sails out and I have been considering two approaches with my limited budget.

Buy a Naish chopper 5.1 as my first gear because it rigs on a 370. I could rig 5.1,4.5 and 3.7 on one mast and boom. I am torn because I want the low 5 meter size to be my light air sail and I know that the higher aspect will do better. On the other hand as soon as I am on a wave I would prefer the lower rig and swing weight.

The other thought for me is to ignore the budget and the complexity and buy the 400 and a 5.2 Severn foil freek.

And then there is what we can acutally get given all the supply chain drama.

It will be interesting to hear what the others chime in with.

Paducah
2784 posts
4 Nov 2021 10:15PM
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my 90% quiver is 8.0, 5.4, 4.7 (the latter could be anything in the mid 4s). Thrown in a 3.7-4.0 and I'm up to 98% at my low wind locale.

Once the wind is in the 12-14 range, the 5.4 works fine while the 8.0 is manageable up to 20ish. That huge overlap is what makes it possible.

63kg currently but same quiver worked when I was in the low 70s, too.

segler
WA, 1656 posts
5 Nov 2021 12:56AM
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7.0, 5.7, 5.0, 4.2 covers all my windfoiling needs very well. 7.0, 6.0, 5.0 works for Florida.

If the wind is too light for 7.0, there is not enough energy anyway, so I go fishing. If the wind is too strong for 4.2, I let the young studs have that.

Sandman1221
2776 posts
5 Nov 2021 1:46AM
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At 86 kg with an AFS foil and F1080 cm2 and F770 cm2 wings, 8.0 Aerotech Freespeed for 8-10 knots max, then 7.2 up to 14 max (switching from F2080 to F770 once wind is steady above 12, then 5.8 up to 20-22 knots with F770 for a comfortable max (have had in higher but sail got overpowered around 24). So I got a Phantom 4.5 for the +20 days, tried it out in around 14 and it was way to little, could not get up, so that is actually good news!

Grantmac
2314 posts
5 Nov 2021 11:40PM
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7, 5, 4 with the bottom two being 4 or 3 batten power wave sails is a very manageable quiver if you have two wings.

miamiwindsurfe
188 posts
6 Nov 2021 1:34AM
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For freeride/wave wind foiling 3 sails Goya fringe 3.8,4.2 and banzai 5.0, I'm 135 lb, 1500 cm2 front wing, covers winds from 6.5 kn- 30kn+? For racing 6.5 M2 Avanti Icarus, haven't touched it in few months...

NS320
60 posts
6 Nov 2021 1:46PM
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7, 5.8, 5.0, 3.9 using 1000 cm2 front wing. This is a legacy of my many fin years. Used to have an 8 as the biggest and 4.9 as the smallest. 5.0 and 5.8 are a bit closer than I would ideally choose but I won the 5.0 from Send it Sunday so can't complain.

WsurfAustin
651 posts
6 Nov 2021 9:11PM
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I'm 64kg,
I76 wing , SS114V3
Sails,
Goya 3.7 fringe
Sailworks flyer in 4.5 and 5.2.

This covers my range pretty well 14+ knots. Around the 30 knot range I struggle a bit with the 3.7, but I down haul it hard which helps. Those winds are kind of rare though. So not worth a smaller sail.

tswei99
95 posts
9 Nov 2021 11:24PM
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shmish said..
I'm looking at getting a 900 front wing and probably a 720 wing for 20+ knots. I have a 7.0 flyer and trying to decide on other sails. I can't afford a full quiver 7, 6, 5.2, 4.5. I think 7, 5.2, 4.5 would be good but the 5.2 has an added cost because I'd need a 400 rdm mast for it ($500). I don't think I have the money for this, it's super tight.

7, 6, 4.5 leaves a big gap although I do have a revo 5.0. I suspect 7.0 and 6.0 would have a lot of overlap for me because I doubt I can use 6.0 in much over 18kn but I'm not sure. Fwiw I'm about 67 kg and I'm getting a 75 cm wide freerace foil type of board. If I skip the second smaller wing it would free up a lot of money for sails.

It sounds like the pros are using really big gags between sail sizes (if I heard them correctly).


thanks


I had Flyers in 7, 6, 5.2 and Revos in 5.8, 5.2, 4.7 for foiling. The Revo is an excellent foiling sail IMHO because of its high tension and deep draft (for a wave sail).

When I had the Flyers I used the 7 and 6 quite a bit, and the 5.2 only when it was over 20 knots, on a free-race design AFS-2. As you probably know, the 7 and 6 both rig on a 430 which helps budget a lot.

Are you considering the Starboard foil system? Guessing you are based on the wing sizes you mention. 900 at your weight on the 7.0 would be good for 10-15 knots, and the 6.0 good for 15-20 knots and the 720. Depending on which tail wings and shims you have you might be able to extend this range a bit. You could take the 5.0 out in >20 knots no problem.

IMHO a 1.0m jump in the Flyer at your weight is about right. I would not skip the 6.0. Racers who are sailing higher tension race sails or who are heavier or both could make a bigger jump. I am 90 KGs and liked having both the 6.0 and 7.0 Flyers.

OldGuy3
165 posts
10 Nov 2021 12:04AM
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WsurfAustin said..
I'm 64kg,
I76 wing , SS114V3
Sails,
Goya 3.7 fringe
Sailworks flyer in 4.5 and 5.2.

This covers my range pretty well 14+ knots. Around the 30 knot range I struggle a bit with the 3.7, but I down haul it hard which helps. Those winds are kind of rare though. So not worth a smaller sail.


Similar.
59-60kg
SS I76 & I84 wings, Horue Tiny 110L
Sails: Ezzy Hydra Sport 3.7, Hydra 4.5 and 5.5M

Sustained winds at 7-24 knots. Most used sail is the 4.5M. Least used is the 3.7M Rather go windsurfing vs. wind foiling when the sustained wind velocity is >17kts.



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"Sail sizes" started by shmish