Fin forward or Fin Back ??

[ROBWIN]

I want to get better upwind performance in my Bic Tempo. Many times en marginal planing or even subplaning conditions. Fin should be forward or back ??

Thanks

[windsurfer7]

Forward for more lift and windward ability. Moving fin back in powered conditions will give you better top end.

[gracette]

[spyder]

fin forward, also you can move your back footstraps a notch forward as well (line up inside back of strap with leading edge of the fin).

But also check the fin. Suggest good sized blade matched for the sail size, say 13-15 for a 6.5-7.0. I always have had good luck with Finworks or Rainbow (Teardrop).

Try also pumping the board onto a plane, while keeping the board flat.

[ROBWIN]

Thank you for your help (and also for your help at uphauling large sails.
Your guess perfect. I sail in a lake at around 10 to 15Kts of wind with a 6.0 and my weight is 135 Pounds. I really like the Tempo (is my first shortboard after many years with longbords) and would like to use it for a long time. Did you ever try a sail larger than 6.0 ?? Would be too much for the baord ?

Other tips with it. ??

Thanks a lot

Hi from South Texas:

Ill guess youre sailing on a lake somewhere on maybe a 6.0. I presume youre light in the weight department. I had a Tempo a few years back and while its a board with many positive virtues, windward performance is not one of them.

You may find the best way is to remove the fin entirely and install it on a bigger board!

Assuming thats not an option, consider a larger fin altogether. The Euro or Trimbox with which your board came is not very supportive of anything much bigger than 32 or 34 cm. (13 inches), however.

In true subplaning conditions, itll help to perform a partial rail ride, digging in the windward rail so youre riding the board like a giant longways daggerboard. Youll fall a lot at first.

In planing conditions, I have never found that moving the fin a couple of inches either way made a whole lot of difference in ANY aspect of performance, except that putting the fin too close to the tail increases tendency to spin out in chop.

Guy Racette
CC-111
Corpus Christi

[jibes]

actually I think fin back decreases spin-outage, but you lose some manueverability.