Forgiving board for mid-20's wind, chop

gvogelsang · Joined: 09 Nov 1988 Posts: 435

I have a RRD Firemove 122. It is a really good board for 7.5 and 6.5 sailing. At 5.5 with winds in the mid-20's gusting over 30, it gets to be a handful. I like the width for being forgiving in the jibes, but the width is too much for steep chop.

What should I be looking for in a board for 5.0 - 5.5 conditions? I want it to be as forgiving as possible. Am I looking for a small free move, say 100 lt? Or do I need to go to a FSW?

d0uglass · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2014 3:49 pm Post subject:

How about an RRD fsw 95 or 100 liter? FUN!

johnl · Joined: 05 Jun 1994 Posts: 1330 Location: Hood River OR

I hate to say this, but I have found Realwind boards very forgiving in chop. You see them a lot in the Gorge and in La Ventana. I hesitated getting one, but found after demoing one at 80 liters it was perfect for 3.7 to 4.7 sailing. They make larger ones. The one thing I don't like is that they have a fin box that ONLY works with their fins. So you have to buy fins from them. That part sucks, but I have been happy with the fin....

dcharlton · Joined: 24 Apr 2002 Posts: 414

Definitely think going the FSW route will help, RRD FSW and Tabou 3S line are both outstanding from my experience.

DC

kmf · Joined: 02 Apr 2001 Posts: 503

At around 158 lbs I use the 2014 RRD FSW 88 for 5.5 and 4.8, and it works perfectly for me. Actually it works from 4.2 to 5.5 just fine. Would work with a 6.0 also.

KMF

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

jfeehan · Joined: 27 Jul 1998 Posts: 156

as i mentioned in another thread, i recently returned from sardinia, where i sailed many of the RRD boards.

since you already have an RRD, and presumably like it, why not consider another?

I really liked the RRD FSW series, and i think either the 94 or 88 could work for you with a 5.5

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 1549

I have the AtomIQ 110. I drop down to a Tabou 3s 96 liter. Love that board. Check out reviews before you buy...

whitevan01 · Joined: 29 Jun 2007 Posts: 607

The RRD FSW's are very comfortable to sail, even for this newbie, old geezer.

gvogelsang · Joined: 09 Nov 1988 Posts: 435