Sail recommendation

cgoudie1 · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2014 11:43 am Post subject:

At 180 lbs, I use a 6.7 for consistent planing in the Gorge in 15-20MPH.
At an average of 18MPH, I can make my 5.7 work. But then, I'm on
Northwaves, and they are magic.

-Craig

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

Guys... a Fanatic SHARK, although a smooth riding board with lots of momentum, great jibing, easy to ride, is HEAVY, at 20 lbs naked. Add straps, fin, screws and it weighs MORE.
And, it's got soft rails, thin rails, and did I mention, HEAVY?

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

Oh, I should add... my JPProSlalom84, yes 84, planes up MUCH sooner than my 145 Shark. It's a difference of 11.5 lbs vs 21 lbs.

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

While NW's are very well built and have good design, there is NO magic in sail design that is special to one company and not in other's.
Sailwork's Huckers are often said to be "magic" for speed and early planing, but any Alpha or Duke, Matrix or Poison, does about the same thing.
I know a 145 lbs poster here who uses a 5.7 NW, and he goes slower, planes later, than me at 10 more lbs., and he's been sailing for 20+ years.
It's not the sail, it's the sailor.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

It's also the wind speed sensor. 20 mph at some sensors = 15 or 25 at others.

SS77 · Joined: 27 Dec 2012 Posts: 12

SS77 · Joined: 27 Dec 2012 Posts: 12

SS77 · Joined: 27 Dec 2012 Posts: 12

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

Any decent modern 7.5 should be fine up to 21 mph.
A modern 6.5, non race slalom, yes, upper limit around 24.
And a 5.5, easy gust to 30, no more.
TysonPoor has ONE slalom sail, a 7.8, that he rides from 12-30 mph winds.