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bred2shred



Joined: 02 May 2000
Posts: 989
Location: Jersey Shore

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 9:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do yourself a favor and install a quality adjustable outhaul system. It's virtually a requirement when sailing formula gear because of the dramatic changes in apparent wind speed and angle. You need to be able to precisely dial in the power and more importantly, the CE of the rig. The adjustable outhaul allows you to keep the CE in line with your harness lines so the sail stays balanced even when overpowered.

The comment about sailing at extreme angles is right on point as well. Formula gear is not reaching gear, it is optimized for upwind/downwind sailing. That's not to say that you can't close or beam reach on this gear, but when the wind comes up, it can get very hairy.

As far as jibing, you need to take a wide arc for your turn. If you try to crank the board up like a slalom or wave board, you will come off plane. Take a wide, broad turn and the board will coast nicely through the turn. Also timing of the sail flip is even more critical than on smaller gear. Generally, you flip the sail sooner. If you oversheet to much and backwind the sail, the apparent wind will catch up with you and you won't be able to flip the rig because the wind will be coming from too far in front.

sm
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techno900



Joined: 28 Mar 2001
Posts: 4161

PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 7:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Formula is "reaching gear" if one wants to have fun on those light wind days 8-15 knots and want a little excitement. While this is not proven, many times in 10-12 knots of wind, I have been in the 20-25 mph range on my board (GPS). There may have been some gusts that pushed me faster, but almost doubling the speed of the wind is doable in the lighter winds.

I raced and sailed longboards for 20+ years before formula. Longboard were a kick to race, but planing on a formula board is more fun for free sailing, in my opinion. Others will disagree, but you have to find what gives you the most satisfaction.
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joethewindsufa



Joined: 10 Oct 2010
Posts: 1190
Location: Montréal

PostPosted: Thu May 01, 2014 5:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

it all depends on equipment and skills {and personal pleasure principle}

for me nothing beats the glide/control of the long board in under 12 knots
after 12 knots i do love the planing/free-sailing on my Free Formula
I will NOT go larger than 10-oh nor do much pumping

i do like to think i am enjoying both worlds - longboard AND FreeFormula

and so ... for w8n4wind i suggest staying with a sail 9-10 m2 , the 70 cm fin, the AO/adjustable outhaul and using this setup in 12 to 16 knots
and use the longboard in the lighter winds ...
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w8n4wind



Joined: 12 Nov 2008
Posts: 278
Location: canada

PostPosted: Thu May 01, 2014 9:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

re. the adjustable outhaul. how much adjustment is normally used?
on my sail, an older np v8 9m, the specs say 241cm +-1cm, i guess just ignore that? im assuming formula sails are designed for more adjustment?

i did put on a chicken strap..that definitely helped on the downwind run today. i was still pretty much out of control, but at least my back foot wasnt bouncing all over the board.

_________________
i like longboards.
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techno900



Joined: 28 Mar 2001
Posts: 4161

PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2014 7:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

In a nut shell, for a 10m sail, the range from a flat sail to a full sail is about 10cm of outhaul adjustment. Since I don't have big non-cambered sails, I would guess that adjusting from flat to full offers about the same performance changes with both cambered and non-cambered sails.
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