Bigger sail or bigger board

Sailboarder · Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Posts: 656

I think the Kona with 9.5 was a great choice. I weigh 210 and sail in not great winds with such a kit.

Once in a while there are great low and stable winds that makes me want a Formula or similar board, but most of the time the winds varies a lot and I'm glad to be on the Kona. No need to schlog annoyingly. And it works great on plane too!

DelmarEdward · Joined: 05 Aug 2012 Posts: 72

when i had the bic 240, which was slightly lighter than the kona, i hated putting it on the car roof. in strong winds i was always worried it was going to blow off before i could strap it down. the kona is heavier and longer.

joethewindsufa · Joined: 10 Oct 2010 Posts: 1190 Location: Montréal

this is an interesting comparison...
2002 GO 170 versus KONA ONE
assuming same 9.5 sail on each ...
in 10 to 12 knots i would put my money on the KONA - narrower shape = better glide
in 13 to 15 knots it would be an interesting contest
the GO is wider (83 vs 70 cm), lighter (10kg vs ~15) and takes bigger fins (50+cm vs 46) - would bet on the GO, but ....
at 16 knots i would anticipate similiar results between the 2 setups
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personally I use a longboard in anything under about 13 knots
that allows me to go on the water before the kites...
in about 13 to 16 knots i use a wide board like the GO
it was a BIC Techno Formula and now JP SLW92 with 10-oh sail
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DelmarEdward · Joined: 05 Aug 2012 Posts: 72

joe- are you still going out sailing in montreal or have you hung it up for the season?

joethewindsufa · Joined: 10 Oct 2010 Posts: 1190 Location: Montréal

jlooby · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 69

I have a lot of the same boards you are talking about and have sailed them on smaller lakes as well.
One great combo I sailed for a while was a formula 161 and a retro 10. Great combo and huge range. I like retro’s way better than cammed sails - don’t get rid of your 9.5.
My light wind board now is a Starboard Phantom 377 and sail it with a 9.5 Severne race board sail. Its a great combination board - great in light wind and planes pretty early because of the bat wings. I can get planing in 9 knots (190lbs). I use it and enjoy it from 5-15knots on Lake Huron (big choppy lake/mini ocean).
Also have a Firemove 120 - sail it from 8.0 to 6.3 - awesome board. Put on bigger fin and it will be awesome with a 8.5.
Get a waist harness - its much easier in gusty small lake conditions.
(I would probably go for the kona and keep your retro too!)
Remember more boards is usually the answer!

SeaDawg · Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 384

I went on a light wind quest several years ago Starboard Freefomrula 198 powered with 10M Retro. I messed with it for a while and sold it.

I've been having much more fun with my Equipe II with 7.5/8.5 Ezzy Infinity's.

Pair those sails with FreeRide 125/135 and a good 6m wave bump n' jump

covers a lot of wind and wave conditions.

konajoe · Joined: 28 Feb 2010 Posts: 517

Try the free solutions first. Look at your rigging guide for your retro and set it to the minimum downhaul. Also, work on your pumping. You said that you sailed small boats. Pumping to get on a plane is kinda like the pump you do on a roll tack or the pump you do by quickly moving your weight outboard. The sheeting angle stays constant through the pump. Don't pump by sheeting (traveling) in and out with your back hand only. If you do that, the sail luffs with every pump.

DelmarEdward · Joined: 05 Aug 2012 Posts: 72

ok, been digesting the many suggestions

considering my weight (210ish)

wind roughly 1/2 time 8-12 mph, 1/2 time 12-20 mph at the seabrook location

it does seem realisticly the kona might be the best option with the retros

if i really wanted a smaller board i could fit in my car possibly a larger carve or atom at this stage, esp. if i wanted to stay with only one board at this point?

i guess the kona for gliding and a second board for higher winds would be best but it almost seems the best idea is the kona since so often i go out the conditions are sub-planing unless i went with really big gear which i don't really want to do.

if it weren't for the price i'd think about the starboard 377 board, bit it's $4100!!! maybe next year

i think i'm slowly coming around to this conclusion with your help

DelmarEdward · Joined: 05 Aug 2012 Posts: 72

another thought-

it might be frustrating to put the bigger board on the roof of the car, but it is very frustrating indeed also to slog poorly on the go board in the light winds