Been sailing a JP Funride 140l with a 6m Solo sail at Sandrinham for a few weeks (I am a 68kg beginner) Looking to expand my quiver thanks to Ruddy. Initially was looking at getting something around 5 m for when it's over 20kts. Is this my best move for a second sail or would I get more use out of a sail larger than my 6m for thoses days when its 10 to 15kts? Which direction do most people go for 2nd sail. Hope to get a third sail one day.
That's a hard call. Without a doubt you will get more time on the water with a bigger sail, especially in this annoying autumn lulls. Also the size of your board definately has room to take a bigger sail and at your weight you would get going in next to nothing.
On the flip side, you will improve your skills more going in bigger winds with a smaller sail. It's definately more fun over 20knots, if you have your water starts going nicely. Not so fun to uphaul in winds that high. One other thing to consider is over 20knots Port Phillip can get annoyingly choppy and not always going in the same direction, in which case a 140L board gets bashed around.
On what sort of days are you mostly looking out the window wishing you were sailing? When the wind is too much or too little.
With these points in mind, you can certainly learn your advanced skills like water start and carve gybe with your 6m. Ultimately you would buy 2 sails. I personally would say go bigger but I'm about maximising time-on-the-water. See what some other folks say.
At your weight a 6m is a big sail, even for Vic conditions. Leman is right about board/sail ratio...
...I'd be looking at a 4.7 - 5.4m, so I guess you're on the right track, the main improvement to your game would be reducing the board size, and with those 2 sail sizes a board 90-100l would be next on the shopping list, although if you're a quick learner...your progression will go from your 140 to a board around 70l in no time!
Sounds like you are on a budget so its probably important to know what sized mast have you got? so you can buy a new sail without having to buy new mast and possibly boom as well.
If you got a 430, you may want to go a smaller sail as a 6m is right on the top end of what will fit on a 430.
If you got a 460, then go a larger sail as 6m is probably right on the bottom end of what will fit on a 460. Be aware that once sails get about 7m, the boom lengths usually run over 200, so if you got a smaller wave boom, then the sail may not fit.
However, if you do go a smaller sail, you will find that the board will become a handful in 5.0 conditions so you will need a smaller board.
swoosh is on the money... A smaller sail probably wont do you much good, as your board is quite large for your body-weight -> to use a smaller sail, you probably need a smaller board. If your mast/boom are up to it, a bigger sail is probably a good choice.
As an aside, its possible to adjust a modern rig so that it has more/less power for a given set of conditions (which may help in the short term). Also, I find that when the rig is properly set, it often feels a bit lighter, making water starts just a little bit easier.
When I only had one board and two sails (a cash strapped student working a couple of jobs) I always had a 6.0m sail and a 4.5m sail and used them on a board I could just uphaul on (I had a high wind slalom board and I wieghed 63-65kg at the time) and later got a JP Freeemove 89l. I generally found this a good two sail combo and could cover 12-40kts. I then splashed out a brought a wave board that would have been about 75l-80l (second hand WindFX back then) to use in higher winds
However with a 140l board - this isn't going to work well in 4.5m weather or above 20-25kts. So unless you are looking to get a smaller high wind board, go a nice big sail to get you out in as little as wind possible - say 8.5m for your weight and that board size.
Think about were you want your sailing to go then decide. If you want to get into waves and freestyle then buy a 4.5 then a smaller board then a 5.3 and another smaller board. Trust me if your into it you will end up buying all that gear even on the tightest budget. If you want to get into blasting or slalom then go bigger you will be better of getting out powered up more often and those guys always like to be overpowered anyway. If your just planning to enjoy the water and cruise I would personally go smaller cause I hate being overpowered but that is personal choice.
Looks like I need to decide how soon it will be before I progress to a smaller board in order to make my decision. Not ready for one yet though so maybe the larger sail but that will also most likely mean a new mast as well. (My mast is 430)Decisions, decision??????
Thanks for your help.
Hi, Waggles,
The following might help:
For a 20 kt SW'ly, the wind-caused waves would be a problem for your 68kg weight/72cm wide board/44cm fin combo. Typically, you could expect at least a 2 ft swell, which, with any speed on your board, will cause the board to begin to fly off the waves.
You might be able to sail at Rickett's Pt. south on a 20 kt NW'ly, where it's relatively flat, using your current gear.
Sorry, but you meet my old maxim of: "To sail successfully on Port Phillip Bay, you need a minimum of 2 different-type boards". The Funster is great for learning/slalom, but then you need a wave or freestyle wave board of about 85L volume for the bigger days.
I expect that you have a 430 mast and a 160-210 boom. You will be limited to a smallest sail of about 5.5m (and for mine, I'd have a wave sail rather than a slalom sail ((better durability of the battens))) and you are limited to about 6.7m if you go the other way (and then you've got to watch the boom length and the mast extension length to make sure it goes together). Given that we are in "The Doldrums" from end of March to about 2nd week of June, to maximise TOW, the bigger sail may be the way to go, as others have suggested.
At the end of "The Doldrums", we look forward to the strong, mid-minter Northerlies, where smaller boards and wave/freestyle wave gear is generally the way to go, but you need to have nailed your water-starts before going out in stronger, off-shore winds (it's very difficult to uphaul in strong winds on a board moving wildly in 3 planes).
You might care to look in the Trading Post for an old, reasonable condition fibreglass wave board costing about $200-$300 and a 5.0m sail of about the same price (might have to use a $20 head-strap extension to get it to fit on your mast), if you go the 2nd board way. You don't need swish gear when you are learning and one of the good things about f/g boards is that they are easy to repair.
Others may care to comment.
Finally, re decisions, decisions. All of us agonise over what to buy to suit our sailing lifestyle and it never gets easier (isn't that great to look forward to?).
Regards,
WindmanV
There are a few 5.0s that fit on a 430.
For years I had a 5.0 Neilpryde NR and a 6.2m Expression which were both made for a 430 mast. 1 rig, 1 board solution. The Hellcats suit a 430 up to 6.7m.
A bit of hunting around in the archives on sail manufacturer's sites and you may find some smaller sails that still suit your 430 still otherwise the head strap is the other option.
I run two masts and one boom for 4.2m-6.7m and when buying gear, trying to minimise the number of masts and booms I need has always been a priority.
I'm not sure what sticking an extender into a 430 is like to make it a 460 to get a bigger sail on it is like - the bend curve won't be right for the larger sail I would imagine and you could probably pick up a seond hand sail mast combo pretty cheap anyway??
I like your last comment WindmanV.......with the internet, i think I spend more time over agonising what gear I should have than sailing.
