Ultimate light wind setups

[rtz]

I've always been fascinated by this 311L board and 10-12 meter sails.

http://www.exocet-original.com/en/rs-380.php

Are there any 8-9m sails that will outrun 10-12m sails?

What are some proven lightwind combos?

10mph and lower wind and 5mph and lower wind.

[joethewindsufa]

SB Serenity, raceboards, RSD2, DIV 2, Formula and now foils

http://joewindsurfer.blogspot.ca/2012/03/early-planing.html



used to be long and narrow for lighter winds
with the foils they are using wider boards in same winds !!

[gvogelsang]

If you want to plane in marginal conditions, the best combination would be a Formula board, or something like the JP Super Lightwind, or Starboard Ultrasonic. A 9M or 10M made for early planing, and not racing, would be best.

Why not a racing sail? Too heavy, too many cambers, and meant for all out speed. Something like the Neil Pryde V8 would be preferable over a race sail.

[cgoudie1]

I don't remember your weight Mt rtz, but if you are in the 160 to 190 lb
range it's unlikely that 10-12M sails will be any better than 8-9M sails
at early planning or higher speeds. Also, 10MPH wind speeds are just about
the minimum for planning no matter how big your sail is. Huge sails
like 10-12Ms are better for maintaining a plane in light wind at steeper
upwind (and downwind) angles, and maybe a little better going through
holes.

At 5MPH winds you want a longboard (old raceboards are really the ticket
there)with the center board down for best speed.

I have a very good light wind specific shortboard setup here in Utah. It consists of
an Angulo Sumo 155 board with 55cm sweeper fin, a 490 Powerex SDM
100% carbon mast. Sailworks Retro 9.5, and Gulftech carbon race boom.
It is all very light for huge gear, which is extremely helpful when eking
out a plane in marginal wind.

The Sumo is a freeride board which (for my limited skills) is very nearly as
planey as a formula board, and much easier to sail (particularly more fun to jibe).

With that gear and a little technique I can get my 6'3" 185lb body planning
right around 10 MPH wind speeds with some ooching and pumping, and once
on a plane, keep it there without pumping. I love the feeling planning
along with only slightcaps on the water and most people sitting on the beach.

The downside to light wind specific gear is that it is really expensive
(probably close to 3K for a new setup like such) and only good for a small
wind range (10-15MPH winds).

I understand you can do a little better at the low end (maybe 8MPH) with
much smaller gear on a foil board, but I have no experience with that, also,
12MPH winds are premium Kite conditions.

When it's 5MPH winds I get my mountain bike out or do 12 ounce curls.

.02

-Craig

[GURGLETROUSERS]

Second the above.

I keep an old 165 litre Bic Techno (no cetreboard) with 50 fin for early planing with an 8 metre sail in light summer breezes, when all I want to do is blast without actually going anywhere. (And back again.)

As stated, such boards (wide and short) are not far behind formula boards light wind performance wise, but again as stated, they only really work fun wise in a relatively small lighter wind range.

Once pumped up onto a plane they hold speed surprisingly well (aided by generated apparent wind) and can feel quite shortboard like.But I find that trying to go over the 8 metre sail size kills that feeling (for me) and brings too much downside to compensate for whatever extra speed and slightly earlier planing (if indeed any at all) that the bigger number feeling larger sails may bring.

The advantage of the short widw 160 litre boards is that they are not much in demand (image wise - not rad to gnarr enough for wannabe types) so sell quite cheaply second hand. No need to spend a fortune!

[grantmac017]

A lightweight 8.5-9.5 (or even a 6.5) on a race board is rather nice in 5-10 but everything sucks when 5 becomes 0. A big heavy 10 - 12m on a board that hates to slog just happens to suck the most.

So the answer really depends on what QUALITY of wind you have (reliable 5 is more fun then uncertain 10) and what you find FUN about windsurfing. One person might prefer light wind freestyle while another would rather strap a paddle to their mast and do some exploring.

It sounds like you have access to high winds on a regular basis. Investing in a $5000 light wind setup doesn't make sense. But finding an old race board for free or cheap just MIGHT.