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recommendations for a second sail?
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snapster



Joined: 02 Feb 2008
Posts: 22

PostPosted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:28 pm    Post subject: recommendations for a second sail? Reply with quote

I started windsurfing last year, on a 11'8" Exocet windsup, and a 5.5 m Gaastra pilot sail. In general, I've been really happy with these choices, as they've made for a fairly friendly intro to the sport (aside from hauling around a 12' board). The windsup transitions to the plane almost seamlessly.
However, I'm feeling somewhat limited; I'm looking for winds between 15-20 mph. Any slower and I'm not really planing, and any faster, and the sail feels like too much.
What would people recommend for a second sail? Bigger, or smaller? My instinct is that a bigger sail would probably add more sailing days than a smaller sail would, but I'd be curious what people think from a "if I had to do it all over again" perspective.
If I went bigger, would a 6.5 sail be too small of a jump from my 5.5?
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grantmac017



Joined: 04 Aug 2016
Posts: 946

PostPosted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 12:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A 7.0 and a smaller board for days above 20kts.
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jingebritsen



Joined: 21 Aug 2002
Posts: 3371

PostPosted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 4:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

larger sails match well with long boards.

2 things to think about with 11''8"

1. smaller fin for when the wind picks up with either choice of sails.

2. long boards do extend the range of any sail both to the plus and minus side.

i remember testing some 9.8 kona sails with designer steve g. fondly. wind was 15-23. the better version of the 9.8 was fantastic in higher winds. but, since i prefer dagger board up conditions with the kona one, my perspective was only partially applicable.

in my experience with the 11'8" you need to shop for a 36-40 fin along with a 7.5 plus sail.

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gvogelsang



Joined: 09 Nov 1988
Posts: 435

PostPosted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ezzy makes a nice sail for a long board - the Zephyr.

It is 7.5m, and has a relatively longer boom, so it is good for going up wind and down wind in lighter air.

On the other hand, I have used mine on a Firemove 122; tuned correctly it works just fine.

Full disclosure: my current quiver is Cheetah 8.0, Cheetah 6.5 and something 5.5.
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boardsurfr



Joined: 23 Aug 2001
Posts: 1266

PostPosted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:33 am    Post subject: Re: recommendations for a second sail? Reply with quote

snapster wrote:
I started windsurfing last year, on a 11'8" Exocet windsup, and a 5.5 m Gaastra pilot sail.
...
However, I'm feeling somewhat limited; I'm looking for winds between 15-20 mph. Any slower and I'm not really planing, and any faster, and the sail feels like too much.

Not your main question, but... the Pilot 5.5 should be no problem in 25 mph. You may have to rig it with more downhaul than for 15, and you'll definitely have to add outhaul.
snapster wrote:
If I went bigger, would a 6.5 sail be too small of a jump from my 5.5?

6.5 is fine if you think you'll add an 8.0-8.5 later (which the board can handle). For a 2-sail quiver, a 7.0 would be better.
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techno900



Joined: 28 Mar 2001
Posts: 4161

PostPosted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Typical on a longboard for novices is to go bigger with the second sail. 1 meter at least, but 1.5 max. So a 6.5 or 7.0. Next could go either way, depending on your typical winds. If it's mostly light, then a 7.5 or 8.0. If usually windy, then a smaller board with the 5.5 and 6.5.
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bred2shred



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

PostPosted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A common method is to use a 15% jump for smaller sizes and a 20% jump for larger sizes (about 7.0 and bigger).

So using your 5.5 as a starting point, an example sail quiver would be 4.0, 4.7, 5.5, 6.5, 8.1. This is just a recommendation and the numbers can be bumped a couple tenths of a meter either direction to suit your specific needs.

This would cover you in wind speeds averaging anywhere from about 12mph to 30+mph and, with good planning, could likely be done with a 400cm and a 460cm mast and two booms. Obviously you may not be looking to purchase four new sails right now, but it's still best to plan for the future when making rig purchases.

sm
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snapster



Joined: 02 Feb 2008
Posts: 22

PostPosted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for all the good advice. It looks like I can use a 6.5 gaastra pilot with my 430 mast, which is a bonus.
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swchandler



Joined: 08 Nov 1993
Posts: 10588

PostPosted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 12:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Speaking for myself, I have never found synergy and happiness with sails in the whole 6 meter range. Of course, it could be that the sail designer that I was dedicated to for many many years just wasn't that great at making that size range. However, he was excellent at making the perfect 5.7, and he was similarly talented in the 7.0 and up range. As a result, I've pretty much avoided the 6 meter ranges and for years successfully made the jump from 5.7 to 7.0. In my view, it's really great spacing for the conditions I normally see.

In your situation, I would highly recommend jumping up to a 7.0 from a 5.5, especially using a longboard. A 7.0 has the low end power to optimize light winds, but it can still be tuned to handle some pretty stout wind conditions.
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lturkevich



Joined: 11 May 2000
Posts: 68

PostPosted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

FWIW, here's the order I came up with in building my quiver: 5.5, 7.5, 6.5, 9.0, 4.7
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