Forums > Windsurfing General

what bigger freestyle sail size?

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Created by snapback > 9 months ago, 29 May 2023
snapback
68 posts
29 May 2023 5:37PM
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hey guys

i ride GA Pure Freestyle sails with a 103l FS board. My Range is 4,4.4,4.8 and i struggle with 82kg in light wind. so i want to get a bigger sail. as the GA Pure's are getting really expensive, i looked at the gunsails Yeah.
it also comes in 5.2 but also 5.6. now.. how much of a difference is between 4.8 and 5.2 or should i get the 5.6?

how many knots do you think i need to get going on the 5.6 and is the gap to 4.8 too big?

thank you!

Manuel7
1318 posts
30 May 2023 1:56AM
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What masts do you ride? What type of sailing you do?
4.8 and 5.2 are a bit close yeah. 5.6 the diff will be important and your board will carry it very well. If you freestyle though 5.6 can have a longer clew watch for that and moves will be slower.

105 + 5.6 and good technique will try you planing at 18 knots. Possibly 16-17 but you may not stay upwind

snapback
68 posts
30 May 2023 3:59AM
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i ride Gun sails masts, but i would need a 430cm mast for the 5.6

i just need it for bump&jump not really freestyle

debating if foil would be better than a 5.6.. don't like to have much gear but 18 knots is still alot of wind around here ;)

Gestalt
QLD, 14627 posts
30 May 2023 7:56AM
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At 82kg on a 103lt board with 5.6m sail you should be planning easily in 15knots. You could possibly uphaul with that setup too.

As a comparison. Im 108kg on a 120lt freestyle board (bump and jump) and my biggest sail is a 6.2m simmer. Im planning in 15knots. Dredging in less. On those 12-18 days the guys on bigger slalom gear plane consistently and i dont.

I sail in lightwind a lot. The wing foil crew are on the foil in 7-8 knots.

Henners
421 posts
30 May 2023 11:52AM
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Going down the foil route. One thing to keep in mind is how big your shore break is at your spot.
I'm lucky enough to be able to login to a live cam which looks over a beach between my two beach locations. From the video, I can usually tell if I am going to be able to go foiling or not.
My sails are 3.7, 4.2, 4.7 5.6 and I'm looking out for a 6.5 or something around that. I'm 86kg.

silvec01
WA, 644 posts
30 May 2023 2:40PM
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Im 83kg.
I have 4.4 4.8 5.2 and 5.6
there is a considerable difference between the 4.8m and 5.2m so dont worry about them being too close.

Faff
VIC, 1370 posts
30 May 2023 5:52PM
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You can get planing on a freestyle board with pretty small sails. Question is if it's fun to be "just planing", especially if it's choppy.

snapback
68 posts
30 May 2023 9:58PM
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Select to expand quote
silvec01 said..
Im 83kg.
I have 4.4 4.8 5.2 and 5.6
there is a considerable difference between the 4.8m and 5.2m so dont worry about them being too close.


thanks!

would you find the gap between 4.8 an 5.6 too big? how does the 5.6 handle for cruising?

Basher
590 posts
31 May 2023 1:54AM
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If you have the 4.8 then you definitely want the 5.2m size next.
There's a massive change in handling as you go to a bigger size sail, and the typical freestyle board planes on apparent wind if you have good technique to get going, so a little bit more power makes all the difference.
You don't see many freestylers on sails bigger than 5.2m nowadays.

Bigger steps between sail sizes are for a different type of windsurfing, and for much bigger sails.



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