Hi lads -
To begin with, let me thank everybody who have taken the time to comment on my previous post, about best board options to transition from longboard to shortboard windsurfing.
Following some of the insightful input provided, I have now decided to go for a ~125 freeride board as my next purchase, while keeping my longboard and 5.4 sail as a lightwind option (i.e. up to 15 kts).
Basically, I'd like to stick to my sails quiver (4.7 and 5.4) and organize my board options around that. I am inclined towards the 2 following options:
Lightwind setup (up to 15 kts)
- Fanatic Fly 10'6 longboard (177 lts) + 5.4 sail
- I have been sailing with this setup quite a lot, so I know it works pretty well (even over 15 kts)
Higher wind setup (15-20 kts)
- Freeride board ~125 lts (preferrably wider than 80cm) + 5.4 sail
- Depending on how strong the wind gets, use the above + my 4.7
Can I just maybe get some opinions on whether you think the above setup would work well? Especially the high-wind option (as I am quite confident with the lightwind setup already).
Home spot conditions as of below (Loutsa, Athens, GR):
So between June and Oct-Nov, there is usually enough time on the water with N-NE winds > 15 kts.
Considering my weight (88 kgs) and my experience level (I carry quite some experience on the water, but don't water start), should I maybe consider going closer to 130-135 lts? Would a 130-135 lts board work similarly well with my 5.4 under the same wind range?
As always, thanks to all for all comments and insight.
Best regards
Select to expand quoteanodizer said..
Hi lads -
To begin with, let me thank everybody who have taken the time to comment on my previous post, about best board options to transition from longboard to shortboard windsurfing.
Following some of the insightful input provided, I have now decided to go for a ~125 freeride board as my next purchase, while keeping my longboard and 5.4 sail as a lightwind option (i.e. up to 15 kts).
Basically, I'd like to stick to my sails quiver (4.7 and 5.4) and organize my board options around that. I am inclined towards the 2 following options:
Lightwind setup (up to 15 kts)
- Fanatic Fly 10'6 longboard (177 lts) + 5.4 sail
- I have been sailing with this setup quite a lot, so I know it works pretty well (even over 15 kts)
Higher wind setup (15-20 kts)
- Freeride board ~125 lts (preferrably wider than 80cm) + 5.4 sail
- Depending on how strong the wind gets, use the above + my 4.7
Can I just maybe get some opinions on whether you think the above setup would work well? Especially the high-wind option (as I am quite confident with the lightwind setup already).
Home spot conditions as of below (Loutsa, Athens, GR):
So between June and Oct-Nov, there is usually enough time on the water with N-NE winds > 15 kts.
Considering my weight (88 kgs) and my experience level (I carry quite some experience on the water, but don't water start), should I maybe consider going closer to 130-135 lts? Would a 130-135 lts board work similarly well with my 5.4 under the same wind range?
As always, thanks to all for all comments and insight.
Best regards
Hi Anodizer, I am an expert level sailor (in the sense that I have sailed for close to 40 years, not that I am particularly good) and weight 70 Kg. At my weight my 5.4 is optimal with a RRD FSW 90L, and my 4.7 works great with my Starboard FSW 81L. I water start, but still at 88Kg a 110 L board should be enough to sail safely and start to experience short boarding. 125L will work if you are going to sail lightly powered, but it seems frankly too big for 20-25 knots of wind. 135L in my opinion would be a real overkill in terms of excess volume.
Your boards seem very big and your sails very small.
im about your weight, 90km and this is what I use
ultrasonic 149L with a 9.2m for wind 9 to 15knots
fox 140 with the 9.2m or 8.6 for wind 11 to 20knots
fox 120 with 8.6 or 7.8. Can get this going for in 11knots and still uphaul it if needed. Still happy at 25knots.
the wind range given is comfortable sailing. If if got over 25knots more often I would probably get a 90-100 litre board and a 7m sail.
if would have to be seriously windy to think about a 5.4
+1
im 95kg. In 25+ I'd be on a 90l board. 18+ I'm on a 110l board
Water starting is a novice skill that I suggest you learn. Inability to water-start seems to be pushing you towards unnecessarily large boards
I'm slightly heavier than you, and I took a 110 litre board on a long holiday with 5.0, 5.8 and 7.0 sails. It was hell in 5.0 conditions and perfect in 7.0 wind. As the others have said, you're looking at too much board.
I even went to 105 litres and a 4.7 on Maui and that was rubbish as well. Need to move past the fear and go smaller.
I also agree, I sail often at loutsa's spot with a hawk of 110l and sails from 6.5 to 4.7. The windy days the board of 110 l is too big especially When there are bigger waves. I am seriously Thinking for a 95 l fsw board to buy the September.
P.s best is to learn water start , will take you to the next level
I weigh 86 kg, had a JP magic ride 142L FWS, 81 cm wide, I used a 9.0 12 to 15 knots, a 7.2 from 15-22, it was fine in the higher winds, but was told to not take it over 23 knots, maybe because the wind could get under it.
Hey Anodizer, I strongly recommend that you learn (teach yourself or, better yet, take a lesson) to get the waterstart. 15-20 kts of wind is most excellent for this. It is a critical skill for any kind of shortboarding. Yes, critical. Focus on this for now.
Rhonda used to call it your "travel pass."
Once you have the waterstart, you can confidently figure out which combination of board(s) and sail(s) work best for your local sailing conditions.
RM
WIPA certified instructor
Today, gusty shifty 11-20 knots.
5.2 with 84 liter slalom.
Don't think anyone at 88 kg can make that work. I'm 72 kg.
Get something a bit over 100L you'll love it one you get used to it. An impaxt/buoyancy vest will help with water starts
I think that people should lose the focus on the claimed 15-20 knot wind. That's just too light for a 5m sail. If the OP is getting that reading from a local tower then his beach is collecting better wind than the anemometer is.
The suggestions here for water starts and a board about 100-120 are on the money.
I'd also suggest talking to local intermediate level sailors ( not American intermediate, but actual intermediate ie water starts, in the harness and straps fully planing and getting through a fair few gybes without crashing) to see what they're using.
OTOH if the 15-20 knots is from a hand held anemometer on the beach, that 5m sail is just fine and probably giving him a good workout when he goes out sailing.
The other thing I found confusing after getting back into windsurfing, is sail sizes. After deciding my 80's gear wasn't going to cut it, I went out and purchased a 5.0m Neil Pryde Search from about 2005 and a JP Magic Ride 104. That all felt fantastic and no problem planing in 15-20 knots. Once the addiction kicked in I bought smaller boards and modern sails. The modern sails (Severne NCX and Overdrives) are all about 1m larger than my instinct told me would work. I'm guessing it has something to do with twist. My goto setup these days is a 90L speed/slalom and a 6.2 slalom. My goto setup in the 80s was wave board and 4.7 (5.2 if the conditions were ordinary).
Anodizer,
I used to have a longboard and I agree that they are a lot of fun to sail in light wind conditions. However, if you have never sailed a short board before you might be unaware that short boards in sub planing conditions are not fun at all. They are slow since they sit deeper in the water and produce a lot of drag, they are harder to point upwind. You need enough power in your sail to overcome the initial drag, make the board accelerate, pop out of water and begin to feel light and agile. It looks like for your weight 5.4 sail might not be enough in 15-20knot winds. I would probably suggest at least 6.5.
Regarding the board size, if it rarely goes over 20 knots at your local spot then 125L board looks like a good choice. However, a 110-115L board might make it a good all-round board for 15-25kn wind range. The 125 might feel a little too bouncy at 25knots
