myiW Current Conditions and Forecasts Community Forums Buy and Sell Services
 
Hi guest · myAccount · Log in
 SearchSearch   ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   RegisterRegister 
Longboard Vs Formula
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    iWindsurf Community Forum Index -> Windsurfing Discussion
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
rgomez



Joined: 13 Dec 2012
Posts: 112

PostPosted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 4:02 am    Post subject: Longboard Vs Formula Reply with quote

Hi guys,

I recently had the opportunity to try out a starboard longboard and was shocked to see how smoothly it cut through the water unlike my Jp Funster 180 wide board in around 10 knots wind.

Now I love to plane (who doesnt) but i rarely get any planning days as the wind averages are about 10-15 knots for most months...After trying out the longboard I was wondering if it would plane faster than a formula.

Im currently using a funster 180 with a 5.5 sail but I've just picked up a 7.5m 3cam NP Streetracer from ebay (not used it as yet though) which I think should get me planning in 15knots with my board

Thanks.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
joethewindsufa



Joined: 10 Oct 2010
Posts: 1190
Location: Montréal

PostPosted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 4:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ah, the eternal question - longboard vs formula
the longboard will glide and plane
the formula will plane and schlogg
depending on your weight - the formula requires LARGE sails
{and long fins too}
the longboard can do well with smaller sizes
i typically cruise and plane on my old Fanatic CAT with an 8.4
bigger sails will feel heavy if not enuff wind
and smaller sails i use on short boards
i am starting to look at the Phantom 320 - since i am a havyweight
since i do like to plane in lighter winds - i have a freeformula
BIC Techno Formula with 94 cm width
this way i have the best of both worlds Smile
for me both worlds are fun
have not gone the entire Formula route
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
beaglebuddy



Joined: 10 Feb 2012
Posts: 1120

PostPosted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 5:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is the problem with light wind sailing, do we try to chase the elusive planing with special wide boards and giant heavy sails? Then fail because there's still not enough wind or the technique is too difficult and specialized.
Or do we just say screw it and sail a longboard, gliding and planing.
Lot's of things to consider, your weight, water depth, wind consistency, budget etc...
With a giant sail the formula would plane sooner but is the wind consistent enough to stay on the plane? Can you afford an 11M sail, a 520 mast and a giant carbon boom? is the water deep enough for a 65cm fin?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Darbonne



Joined: 27 Jan 2012
Posts: 252
Location: Farmerville, Louisiana

PostPosted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 9:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was faced with the same decision. I had a bunch of formula stuff that I got with my first board, a Starboard Start. The guy I got it from was using the Start as a formula board. The sails were huge and storing them was a major pain. I sold all that stuff except the Start and bought a Kona One and the 9.0 rig. It doesn't always plane out but it is a lot of fun to sail and you can also paddle it when there is no wind. I think I made the right choice with the Kona as it is a very versatile board.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cgoudie1



Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 2597
Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove

PostPosted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 9:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If your prevailing wind is really 10-15 knots, and you weigh 180 or less,
then a formula board and a 9M sail will have you planing pretty much all
the time in those conditions, and that would be my recommendation
(or maybe something formula like that is more freeride). A fast slog
on a displacement hull boarcd is fun ........... for about an hour, and then
unexciting (for me). But, if your prevailing wind is more like 7-12 knots,
then a displacement hull board will get you on the water, will be more
fun than a slogging a "formula" board, and will plane up once in a while
and give you a little thrill.

.02

-Craig
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
d0uglass



Joined: 28 May 2004
Posts: 1286
Location: Bonita Springs, Florida

PostPosted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 9:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think you'll enjoy a longboard more than a formula board at this stage in your windsurfing career.

Compared to the Funster and 5.5, a good longboard with a 7.5 will feel very fast and powerful. The challenges of figuring out how to best use the daggerboard, adjustable mast track, and many footstrap positions will keep things exciting for you in both light and moderate winds.

For you, with a 7.5, there won't be much difference in planing ability between a longboard, a formula board, and your funster. An expert rider could get the formula board to plane earlier than the other boards, but a formula board is not an "easy" planer, and you would probably have a hard time getting it "over the hump" from shlogging mode to planing mode. By contrast, a longboard will smoothly accelerate from gliding to planing, without such a noticeable hump. The funster will be in between the feel of the longboard and the formula board, and might be the best board for learning the shortboard planing skills that you'll need to one day ride a formula board.

_________________
James' Blog: Windsurfing Equipment Size Calculator
http://jimbodouglass.blogspot.com/2010/11/updated-windsurf-calculator-online.html
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
coachg



Joined: 10 Sep 2000
Posts: 3547

PostPosted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 12:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I’m with Craig here. 10-15 knots is more than enough wind to plane without a formula board if you have good technique and weigh less than 180 lbs. At your stage I would say no to formula board as that is a very wide nose for your mast to impact in the learning stage. Your JP should be fine for now with the 7.5

If you do go the formula route, disregard the myth about needing 9+ meter sails, a formula board will plane fine with your 7.5 and an upper 58-60 cm fin for a rider around 170 lbs, it just won’t go as far up/down wind as it will with a larger setup.

Coachg
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
techno900



Joined: 28 Mar 2001
Posts: 4161

PostPosted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 2:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Keep in mind that early planing on a formula board takes good pumping skills and can be good exercise. For me on a formula board and 9.2 race sail, it takes about 9-11 knots to plane with pumping. I weigh 170 lbs. Without pumping it takes about 11-13 knots to plane.

If you don't have steady winds, you will fall of plane often with the formula if winds are in the 6-15 knot range = more pumping. Where I live, a forecast of 10-15 mph winds actually means 3-15.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
rangerider



Joined: 19 Jul 2009
Posts: 206

PostPosted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 2:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Both, because if you are like me you will want the other one as soon as you try either.

Neither yet, because it sounds like you haven't sailed with anything bigger than 5.5 which is pretty small outside high wind locales. You will really enjoy the board you have more with a bigger sail. I have never sailed a Formula board (excitedly waiting for my Ultrasonic) - but I think you would get more out of a longboard first.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
swchandler



Joined: 08 Nov 1993
Posts: 10588

PostPosted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 2:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

One good thing to remember about longboards is that they aren't all displacement designs. The F2 Strato that I bought in 1985 was a planing hull design with footstraps, and it would do all the things you would expect from a much smaller planing design. However, despite its great planing characteristics, it wasn't nearly as quick and efficient as a displacement design in non-planing conditions.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    iWindsurf Community Forum Index -> Windsurfing Discussion All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Page 1 of 4

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum

myiW | Weather | Community | Membership | Support | Log in
like us on facebook
© Copyright 1999-2007 WeatherFlow, Inc Contact Us Ad Marketplace

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group