G'day folks,
For years I have used a big Starboard GO for light wind days. Don't get me wrong, I could have had a way **** worst time, I could have kited or stand up paddle boarded!
My GO has given me some really great memories of phattish times BUT I am seriously considering something a bit more exotic for the light wind days. I can get my GO rockin' in about 13 knots I reckon, i.e. with a 2-cam 7.7 sail.
I was thinkin about maybe getting a SB Formula or a JP Super Light Wind just to maximise my hours away from the missus, I mean my time on the water!
Can anyone that has had plenty of time on both give me some guidance, ie. Formula OR Super Lightwind? Please bear in mind I won't be racing, just maxmising my time on the water, which to me is 11-12 knots+, cheers.
Formula boards are designed for racing and like to go upwind and downwind, but not ideal for reaching. They also need more technique and big sails (10m+) and fin to make them most efficient.
Apart from the width the Jp will be more like your friendly free ride board but really early planer, 8 to 10 knots. It would be a much better option for social sailing.
Hi orange, if you are only wanting to get going from 11 - 12 knots then a large free ride board 120 - 130 litres would be best as w4w stated. Only go formula if you are ready to buy a 10 plus meter rig. The oversized slalom boards such as the JP slw or starboard ultra sonic or rrd fire starter have a great bottom end but also require a 9 plus meter rig to make the most of them.
I run an oldish starboard freeformula (2003 vintage so getting a bit long in the tooth). I think in comparison to the JP, it's slightly wider, being essentially the same dimensions as the formula boards of the day, but everything softened, rounded etc. to make it more enjoyable in reaching and slalom conditions - same concept as the JP.
If it helps for comparison, I find it incredibly comfortable with a 7.5m no cam freeride sail and a 54cm fin. I do run larger - up to 9.5m being my other equal favourite sail on this board, followed by an 11m rig. It reaches beautifully, planes super early an in my non-expert layman opinion, feels as comfortable in the right conditions as any other freeride board I've ever sailed.
Based on all the comments about 'true' formula boards not liking sub 10m sails and reaching, I'd say Starboard have been rather successful and melding light wind planing with free-ride characteristics. With another 9 years of development behind it, I'd say the JP would be even better and the obvious pick for your non racing, light wind reaching and freeriding.
Eckas.
Orange, I got a JP Superlightwind at the start of summer 2011-12 and love it. Sorry I can't make the comparison with a formula board but I am 90kgs and with a 7.5 Ezzy Freeride sail I can get out a lot more often than I used to and sail in the gusty winds where I live. It has a tendency to try and throw you over the front a fair bit and the back footstraps can be a bit hard to find sometimes but once you get used to it they are great. I reckon a cam sail about 8m would be perfect for my weight. My other board is a Fanatic Ray 115.
DarylG He is spot on.
I get a Starboard Futura 111 going with my 7.7 Hellcat ( 90kg ) easily in 12-13 knots. A bigger Futura would be even better 122 would be ideal.
Those big wide formula type boards are pigs with 7m sails in my opinion.
Dont forget the fin. That is possibly the most important item in light wind.
I'm on my second SLW started out with the 90 and changed to the 92 last year.
Super stoked with both even more so tonight for getting a new PB of 31kn with a 9.5m. Done with a 50cm weedy.
Had no problems with 7m sails on the board. Also no problems taking it out in the ocean in the swell.
Also just a s a side note, although the SLW looks like a race board it is actually a freeride board, so a little easier to ride than a race board.
Love mine
Hey, I use a 2005 kinetic centurion and a 9.7 hotsails speed demon which is perfect for what you want. A smaller fin allows for easier gybing, i can plane out of many of my gybes and also means that back and forth sailing is great... The formula bords do go up wind and down wind well! I think also the slightly older formula boards have a more slalom oriented rockerline which may help in the b and f sailing. The hotsails no cam SD allows easy pumping onto the plane in about 8kts, is super light, rigs on a 490 mast and a 240 boom and gybes well. The cost of my gear was very reasonable, and though I'm certain there are people faster than me, not many are out before me. Oh and the smaller fin and nature of the speed demon mean that I can take this kit into much higher wind as well.
I use formula gear for recreational , light wind sailing. I have a Starboard FW162, wide and short. The main reason i got it was the price, with $1000 I got the board, 100% 520 mast, 2 fins, and 2 sails: 10.0 and 9.2. I find the formula is challenging only in high winds and choppy conditions; in light winds it is easy to reach back and forth, I can carry my 10.0 up to about 18 knts, start planing around 12 knts, if I was good at pumping probably a lot earlier. I had some great days with it, I like it best around 15-16 knts, then you feel really powered up, pushing into the straps and harness with all your strength, planing non stop, watching that wide wake....blah, blah, blah ops, getting carried away 
itssn.com.au/itssn/fw162Jibe.wmv
