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How your sail quiver sizes and type of sails work

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Created by R1DER > 9 months ago, 7 Aug 2015
R1DER
WA, 1471 posts
7 Aug 2015 9:00PM
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I've stolen this topic idea from another forum (thanks Asle)

Tell us all about you sail quiver what sails what spacing and how it works for you. Wave, Slalom, Speed, Freewave, whatever. Even add your boards

I'll start, Im around 85kg my quiver is based around my favourite sail to use, my 5.3m I have and have been using Severne Blades with 85, 95 and 110 litre quad waveboards.

A few years ago I had the standard 4.2 4.7 5.3 5.7 When useing the 4.7 I always felt like I wanted a bit bigger sail like a 5.0 and I wanted to extend my wind range so the next year I went 4.2 5.0 5.5 6.2

The 4.2 5.0 spacing worked out better than I thought it would, I was surprised with the wind range especially the top end of the 5.0m. But I missed the 5.3 sail.

So the next year I went 4.2 5.0 5.3 6.2 the 5.3 6.2 spacing felt alright a 6.0 would have been better, but I wondered if the 6.2 did get me planing that much earlier and it did feel spatially a big sail. I made myself a bigger waveboard and dropped the 6.2 for a 5.7 the next year so I had 4.2 5.0 5.3 5.7 which worked really well I mainly used the two bigger sails in summer and the two smaller in winter.

With the good wind range of the 5.3 I could go down to a 4.5 but that would be a bit big for some of those hell strong winter fronts and I'd then have to get a 4.0 or 3.7 and a smaller mast.

I'm happy with my current quiver spacing and I will use the same for 2016 I use 2 masts for this quiver a 400 and 430 Gorilla's

When I look at the spacing on paper I question not having the 4.7 but in real life the 5.0 works for me, I have been thinking about adding a freeride or freestyle board and a 6.5m sail for the light days with no waves just to get out on the water.

Mark _australia
WA, 23460 posts
7 Aug 2015 9:37PM
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I have found I want more choice in conditions that are just nice and perfect, so always have a 5.0 and 5.3

Usually 4.2 4.5 5.0 5.3 5.7 6.2


ratz
WA, 478 posts
7 Aug 2015 10:42PM
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5.4,6.2,7.0,7.8,8.6,10.7
to suit boards ranging from a 80 ltr speedboard to a 162 ltr formula.
sail mainly flatwater speed/slalom.

Vince68
WA, 675 posts
7 Aug 2015 11:17PM
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Budget has always been my motivator. So after research i've been following the 15% rule...or there abouts. Wave to freeride. 4.2 Combat, 5.0 Combat (thanks Mark), 5.8 Atlas, 6.5 Tush T4. I do have a couple of spares in between for just in case. actually i just f'ed up and didn't really know what i needed nor did i have too much of a clue on my return to the sport from a long break

Roar
NSW, 471 posts
8 Aug 2015 7:40AM
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Slalom - Maui TRX 5.9 and 7.0 only

7 works from 15-25 kn
5.9 works from 20-35 kn

vary beteween 90lt and 115 boards depending on how gusty or big the holes are.

powersloshin
NSW, 1839 posts
8 Aug 2015 10:43AM
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all cammed sails for slalom/speed:
4.4, 5.0, 5.4, 6.2, 7.0, 7.5, 8.5, 10.0, 11.0

jp69, i97, Manta 113, jp slw154, formula fw162

being a weekend sailor I got the light wind stuff to maximise opportunities and the smaller gear for those speed days, but in Sydney you could sail most of the times with 1-2 boards and 2-3 sails.

N1GEL
NSW, 861 posts
8 Aug 2015 10:56AM
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Yep, slalom/race sails such a wider range than wave sails. In saying that, I really do have too many sails.

Sails are cammed in the following sizes:
7.8 = 12-17knts
7.1 = 17-23knts
6.5 = 22-28knts
6.0 = 25-31knts
5.5 = 28-35knts
5.0 = 35-45knts

My most used sails are 6 and 7, which combined are good for about 16-33knts. The others rarely get used.

I'm 90kgs and ride 87ltr and 102ltr slalom boards and a 115ltr freeride board on the lighter days.

mathew
QLD, 2136 posts
8 Aug 2015 11:23AM
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The correct answer for everyone is "I'll have one of everything... make that two of everything. And a pony."

jn1
SA, 2645 posts
8 Aug 2015 12:28PM
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R1DER, This topic gets brought up once a year. It's a handy reference topic and should be sticky noted IMO. Do a site search for more data.

John340
QLD, 3364 posts
8 Aug 2015 2:30PM
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All cambered sails:
7.9, 7.1, 6.4, 5.7
used with Mistral Slalom 137 & 112 and Mistral Speed 95
I'm 91kg and the most used combo is 7.9 with 137.

It's intersting that my smallest sail is typically the largest sail for WA wave sailors

sboardcrazy
NSW, 8242 posts
8 Aug 2015 2:57PM
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64kgs

35kts + - hanky with a seatbelt + velcro...

3.2m - 30kts + (hate it as it's too twitchy wavesail 90's - need constant 30kts + which is rare around here)

3.8m - ( wavesail) around 25- 30kts B+J or 30kts flatwater


4.2m - wavesail used to use it in 25kts odd but now I use 5 or 6m cammed ( flatwater)

5m - favourite cammed sail - 20-30kts ( gusty)

6m - cammed - c 18-23kts flatwater (comfortable) have used it up to 29kts gusty

6.6m - cammed - was 15-20kts but now I have the 7m that gets used more

7m - 12-18kts gusty flatwater or chop

7.5 m- 5-15kts - flat or chop

The 3.2/3.8/4.2/ 5.8m wave sails don't get as much use now I'm into GPS sailing.
Really need a 4m cammed sail for those big GPS days

7.5m with 115ltre freemove board
5 through to 7m with 79ltre slalom
4.2m and < with 68ltre waveboard ( need a speed board) - looking for a c 60 ltre speedboard so pm me if you have one stored away in the garage and don't need it!

Cambodge
VIC, 851 posts
8 Aug 2015 3:34PM
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67kg

4.5 Ezzy Elite + 85L JP FSW when it's VERY windy

5.3 Ezzy Elite + 85L JP FSW when it's PRETTY windy

6.7 Powerdrive + 111L Carve when desperate to get out on the water but the wind's s#!t

KISS ; )

ka43
NSW, 3091 posts
8 Aug 2015 6:18PM
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Windsurfer One Design Regatta 6.2 circa 1983 with hitech leech battens (3). 2.9 boom length = 0 - 30 knots.
Used with original white Windsurfer (22kgs) with T piece mast foot (known to rapidly exit board quickly followed by major pain)
Blouses!!!!

ikw777
QLD, 2995 posts
8 Aug 2015 9:22PM
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Fun Topic. It's interesting to see what other sailors use.
80kg open water freeride - all camless Ezzys:

7.5
6.5
5.5
5.0
4.5

Recently replaced a 5.2 with the 5.0. I always felt the 5.2 was a little to big for solid 5.0 days. Probably psychological. I wish the 5.5 was a 5.7 or 5.8 as I feel the gap between it and the 6.5 is a little big. That's probably psychological too.

MarkSSC
QLD, 642 posts
8 Aug 2015 11:45PM
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I am 76kg. For my freeride/free-catapult/freesplash I use...
5.7 cam less
6.7 cam less
7.2 cammed (2)

These see all fit on a 430 mast (two extensions needed), one boom. Two boards to choose from 145L and 107L.

This set up is for fun sailing, on a budget, and the ability to enjoy a reasonable range of wind conditions.

P.C_simpson
WA, 1492 posts
8 Aug 2015 10:22PM
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3.7
4.0
4.2
4.5
4.7
5.0
5.3
5.5
5.6
6.0

can be perfectly powered most of the time.

Mark _australia
WA, 23460 posts
8 Aug 2015 10:37PM
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^^ and in total confusion and angst on the beach beforehand.

Glad it is not only me

webrant
2 posts
8 Aug 2015 11:24PM
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~13% spacing with 4.7 5.3 6.0 6.7 in mostly flatwater sailing on the same 108l hawk.

spanishwog
QLD, 121 posts
9 Aug 2015 10:39AM
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My choices have been more about limiting the amount of gear I need to cart around.

My gear is freeride -
4 sails:
4.7
5.5
6.4
7.3

2 boards:
95l & 105l

1 boom

unfortunately need 3 masts:
400
430
460

74 kg's

With my gear I can get out in conditions 12 to 30 knots.

poehaaa
67 posts
9 Aug 2015 4:06PM
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85kg

4.0-4.5-5.0 wave sails on a wavy 78l fsw
5.8-6-8 camless freeride on a fast 96l fsw
8.6 full race on a 130l full on slalom

petermac33
WA, 6415 posts
9 Aug 2015 5:28PM
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Two sails 5.5 and 6.6. Two boards 87 and 107

5.5 is my favourite size.

Less downhaul / outhaul it has the power of a 6m. Max downhaul / outhaul I can turn it into a 5m.

Do not enjoy the sport much using anything bigger than 6.6m.

7m feels huge in comparison to 6.6 and a 7.8 hurts my forearms.




philn
1048 posts
9 Aug 2015 5:36PM
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5.5 wave sail and 98 L quad covers about 100 sessions a year. 4.7 and 5.2 combined add another 20 sessions a year.

R1DER
WA, 1471 posts
9 Aug 2015 9:38PM
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Select to expand quote
jn1 said..
R1DER, This topic gets brought up once a year. It's a handy reference topic and should be sticky noted IMO. Do a site search for more data.


I reckon it would be great if people come back and update when they add or remove sails from their quiver an ongoing changing reference.
I wish I had have suggested sail brand and sail model in my original post.
It's interesting to see the variety and what obviously works for different people.
With just over 900 views and 22 posts theres a lot of voyeurs and lurkers out there, come on start typing and share your equipment collection with us.

MrSpinout
NSW, 106 posts
10 Aug 2015 2:33AM
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80 kg
84l fsw (thruster fins) & 111 fsw

4.5 wave
5.0 freemove
6.0 freemove
7.0 freeride

I'd like to add a 4.0 for ballistic days and I'm looking for a cheap used one. Once I have it my quiver is complete.

I can cover 4.0 to 7.0 on 2 masts which allowed me to go for a 100% carbon that fits the 3 sails from 5.0 - 7.0 and dictated also the type of sails (I would have preferred to have a 5.0 as a wave sail but actually the freemove works very well). I skipped the 400 mast size and do it all on 370 and 430.

I would not like anything any sizes between and like the spacing. Reality is that the wind is never that consistent and there will be times where you are a bit overpowered. I clearly know when to use which sail based on the look on the water and that never leaves me with the feeling "I wish I would have taken that 0.2 sqm smaller sail".

joe windsurf
1482 posts
10 Aug 2015 2:33AM
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yes ... it should be systematically kept somewhere
believe the forum format is NOT ideal
ideally a database or excel spreadsheet
that is how i keep my data

here is an example:



onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=C6DB8ADE6B0C768C%21472&wacqt=undefined&authkey=!AN2YM0c940x9IU0

wildrover
WA, 76 posts
10 Aug 2015 6:13AM
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80 kg wavesailer,

Just used the one 77lt quad for the past 200+ sessions <6 months. Although could of used a larger board on a few but not may of those.

All goya sails 3.4 4.0 4.5 5.0

My last purchase was the 3.4 which is easily the most difficult to sail but love rigging up the 4 zero. So a 3.7 next!

sboardcrazy
NSW, 8242 posts
10 Aug 2015 9:05AM
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Select to expand quote
P.C_simpson said..
3.7
4.0
4.2
4.5
4.7
5.0
5.3
5.5
5.6
6.0

can be perfectly powered most of the time.


Even in NSW?

waveboy1
VIC, 236 posts
10 Aug 2015 10:50AM
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Select to expand quote
wildrover said...
80 kg wavesailer,

Just used the one 77lt quad for the past 200+ sessions <6 months. Although could of used a larger board on a few but not may of those.

All goya sails 3.4 4.0 4.5 5.0

My last purchase was the 3.4 which is easily the most difficult to sail but love rigging up the 4 zero. So a 3.7 next!
I'm in this league ,everyone with more than 5 sails obviously has too much money to waist or goes sailing when the wind is as strong as a fart ?

joe windsurf
1482 posts
10 Aug 2015 9:06AM
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have put this data collected so far in the seabreeze tab

onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=C6DB8ADE6B0C768C%21472&wacqt=undefined&authkey=!AN2YM0c940x9IU0

NO WIND DAY

FINMEISTER
WA, 45 posts
10 Aug 2015 10:01AM
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Old Tushingham Rocks 89kg 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 and 90 litre board

FINMEISTER
WA, 45 posts
10 Aug 2015 10:03AM
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Select to expand quote
waveboy1 said..

wildrover said...
80 kg wavesailer,

Just used the one 77lt quad for the past 200+ sessions <6 months. Although could of used a larger board on a few but not may of those.

All goya sails 3.4 4.0 4.5 5.0

My last purchase was the 3.4 which is easily the most difficult to sail but love rigging up the 4 zero. So a 3.7 next!

I'm in this league ,everyone with more than 5 sails obviously has too much money to waist or goes sailing when the wind is as strong as a fart ?


So what sails do you have Waveboy?



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"How your sail quiver sizes and type of sails work" started by R1DER