Hi guys I have been windsurfing on and off for 4 years but only lately have I started taking the sport seriously. I have a fanatic shark 165l board and for sails I have a twin cam 8.6, a no cam freerace 7.0 and a freeride 6.6. I can comfortably plane in the inboard strap positions but I don't know how to waterstart or do a planning jibe yet. So my problem is this. Lately as I am improving and going out in tougher conditions 20-26 knots I realise that my board is too big and I can't control it. Especially when the water is choppy I am constantly out of control and feel like Im bout to fly (lol). I was thinking of buying a starboard futura 124l. I want to improve and I don't mind having a bit of hard time in order to buy something that I will keep for a long time. Is the board going to be too hard for me? Are the litres ok or is the drop from 165 to 124 too big? Should I maybe go for the 135 version? Thanks in advance
P.S.: I am 94 kg, fairly athletic and can easily uphaul all my sails. Will probably be about 90 kg soon
P.S 2: The 165 is 85 cm wide and the 125 76cm wide.
I remember when I was at your skill level. I couldn't Gybe, water start or use the footstraps, until I downsized from a 135L to a 110L board. Took me a little while to dial into less liters, but it paid off. I learned to gybe, water start and use of the footstraps all on a 110L board. The 120L range should work good for you, but I think you will grow out of it too fast. I would shoot for about 115L or so. That amount of liters will last you for awhile, and you will be able to keep the board much longer, and progress that much faster. You can use a board like that in more wind, which is great for waterstarting and gybing. Bottom line is you will want less litters for more wind.
Hi Chrisroster..
I think a 124 litre board would be a good drop down .I still use my 125 litre Tabou all the time ..it will handle your large sail being 124 litres .
I don't think I'll ever not have this size board in my quiver .I'm also 95 kgs .and have sailed for 20 years .
I would suggest getting a 6.0 if you are going to sail in 20-26 knots .although the 6.6 will handle that wind if its in the flat .
Ocean sailing is different .I say yes .to the futura 124 a great size .
Consider a free move like a rocket wide 118. It will handle all your sails and the extra width makes them very stable. They are thinner, so maybe easier to learn waterstarting.
30 above your weight is a good size. A 40 liter drop is going to be a very noticeable difference for you, but if you are willing to work hard at it, I think you'll love it, especially if you are going to drop a few kg. Tabou 125 is a good recommendation - can usually find a few 2nd hand ones in good condition for a good price, or the Futura you are already considering.
I'd also make learning to waterstart your number one priority. Dedicate 3 or 4 sessions to it, and you will be able to do it. It's a lot easier to learn the gybing.
Select to expand quoteHarrow said...
I'd also make learning to waterstart your number one priority. Dedicate 3 or 4 sessions to it, and you will be able to do it. It's a lot easier to learn the gybing.
What harrow says.
Learn to water start.
Once you've got water starting sorted you won't mind crashing learning those gybes.
So much energy wasted uphaulling.
But get a smaller sail when learning water starts.
Trying to do it with your +8m cammed sail is counter productive.
I'm 95 kg as well, the 124 should be ideal. I have a 124 JP SS, can't imagine using anything smaller for sail sizes 7.0 - 8.6. Still up haulable with a big rig if the wind dies. That size will be a long term keeper for you, so go new or quality second hand. It's my most used board. Get a couple of different sized fins to suit your sails and conditions, change down fins if you start to 'fly'.
I reckon your board size drop should be fine. For water starting there are two ways to learn. Gradually keep moving your beach starts into deeper water. It basically the same kind of manoeuvre. Or take a board out deep and tell yourself you are not gonna chicken out and up haul and just preservers until you get it. I practiced the first way then when I finally tried the second I nailed it and never lolled back.
Like the others have said 124 would be a great size. Just be a bit careful with the futura. Its a freerace board closely modelled around the isonic, not that that's a bad thing, but as the area in front of the mast has been scoloped out the volume is heavily biased to the rear. Whilst this is a great thing when blasting around you may find it difficult to uphaul on. You would really need to put most of your weight on your rear foot when uphauling. It may be a bit off putting at your level. I do have a futura 121 and love it, it's a great board, but it's something I feel you should know before you purchase it.
Some more advice....
You will need a minimum of about 13-14 knots to water start. I tried learning to water start in about 9-10 knots but I couldn't get it down because it wasn't windy enough. Because I kept trying and trying that day in that light wind, I sprained my shoulder pretty bad. I way over worked my shoulder by trying to pull myself up onto the board with water starting. The key is to have enough wind so the wind will pull you right up onto the board. When you finally get it, it's like a dream come true.
Select to expand quoteChildsplay said...
I'm 95 kg as well, the 124 should be ideal. I have a 124 JP SS, can't imagine using anything smaller for sail sizes 7.0 - 8.6. Still up haulable with a big rig if the wind dies. That size will be a long term keeper for you, so go new or quality second hand. It's my most used board. Get a couple of different sized fins to suit your sails and conditions, change down fins if you start to 'fly'.
What type of 8.6 do you use and how does to go. I have a SS124 too.
Cheers Dave
Select to expand quoteHarrow said..
I'd also make learning to waterstart your number one priority. Dedicate 3 or 4 sessions to it, and you will be able to do it. It's a lot easier to learn the than gybing.
Thanks a lot guys really helpful advice here. So I decided to learn how to waterstart first and then I will probably buy the 124 futura
My 8.6 sail is a severne turbo, really fast for a twin cam and it feels lighter than others I've tried
