Thinking of selling my BIC 283 for a Formula board.
I have been windsurfing since January; still learning to get into the straps, can pull off a water start on occasion, jibe (slowly) on occassion, helitack (in light wind-fluking it), but want something that will fit in my small flat, and 20 cm off the length of the board would help - my existing board is making its way through the roof....
Also the BIC is a bit old skool and I am thinking a formula would be a better light wind board anyway and good long term investment - say 145 ltrs or so......
Anyone have a Formula board? What wind range is it? Sail size? Are the old ones from 2003 + any good?
Cheers.
K
Take a look at the Buy&Sell here at SeaBreeze
www.seabreeze.com.au/classifieds/Results.aspx?search=I%2fT6WGoLEFFXyg%2f%2fkl5tYA%3d%3d
Formula boards take rigs up to 12.5m, but typical racing use is 10-12m. For recreational use they work well with rigs from 7.5-10m. With the smaller rigs you will not plane as early for get upwind as fast.
A plus is that with a smaller rig you can reach more comfortably.
The 70cm fin allows the board to get upwind more effectively. A production fin is not expensive (a full handmade racing fin is quite expensive)
The F2 board in the buy and sell is a 2006 board, is $725 and includes a fin. If you are looking for a Formula board that would not be a bad place to start.
JB
Also all the formula boards in the past 4 years are about 50cm shorter than your current board - so easily will fit in the flat ;)
Sounds like you're at the stage where a Formula board would be viable. I wouldn't recommend one to absolute beginners because they are too fragile to withstand the learning process.
I have a 2003 Freeformula for recreational slalom sailing. With a 58cm fin, it is beautifully balanced with a 7.4m freeride sail for crosswind blasting. With a 66 and even a 70cm fin, it is also very nice to sail slalom with a 9.5. In fact, it is with a 70cm fin and an 11.0m sail that I feel least comfortable with on this board.
Admittedly the Freeformula's were intentionally modified by Starboard to be free-ride/slalom than up/downwind racing. Not sure how much a true formula board would differ from this experience.
Eckas.
Have a look at a big starboard go.
They go almost as well as a formula board and a bit more robust. A good fin will give it a lot more performance.
The late model ones for racing, all seem to have the footstraps positions set up in a different postcode... So something to think about if your not ready for that sort of sailing, but you still have the chicken strap which is very easy and accessable, I have a 2008 Exocet Warp, which I am learning how to sail.
The bic formula board and I think some of the earlier starboard free formula boards offer a less radical footstrap option.
The big starboard go and the futura are short and wide, will fit in the flat no problem, but probably a lot more expensive than an old formula board...
