VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

Hey Folks,

I need some help selecting / upgrading to a new board. I have a decent F2 HiFly 262 96 litre that I use for everything 5.7 down to 4.2 which works well for me (I'm 180 lbs).

I just bought a new 8.0 and I have a nice 6.6. The board I use right now with these 2 sails is an old Explosion II XR 288 cm 130 litre.

Two Questions:

Will I get more range, earlier planing and easier jibing with a newer shorter fatter board?

If so what would be a good board to go for? I was kinda eyeing up a new Starboard Carve 122 litre.

Thanks!

First I assume you're not an island but a nitinat windsurfer, right I'd think you'd have trouble holding down a 96L with a 4.2 anywhere but the Nat.
Q#1: I have found that once you can uphaul a board for your bodyweight you have to go up SUBSTANTIALLY in board volume to have much of a difference in planing ability. For range, a daggerboard helps (to point) and so does a megafin but not so much volume....having said that the board needs to be able to carry the sail. I have a 110 that can easily carry your 8.0, probably up to 9m even. I just use a larger fin. I tried the 133Carve one day over my 110 and it was actually slower despite conditions being far from ideal....you are having to push so much more board don't forget, the trade off is significant.
As far as easier gybing? It's kinda inconsequential when you use sails of this barndoor size, no? A newer board will probably carry you through a lot better but chances are you are using the sail cuz it's marginal so planing through is usually not in the cards.....unless you are racing (and you could be on your 5.7)

I think you need to ask yourself if you are willing to go up mega in volume AND sail just to be able to plane in 2 more knots than anyone else with slalom gear. Morley can maybe plane with his 7.5 and SUVsized Kona in 10-11 knots and me on 95L wave gear with a 5.8 in 12-13 but we're both screwed in 9 knots no matter what.

Q#2: My suggestion: Buy two newer boards (always nice to upgrade) but if you only have cash for one, upgrade your money board, the 96L for a 85-90L newer shape, have some real fun, try ocean sailing!! as you'll use it 95% of the time. Maybe in time get a kite with the sale of your Explosion, 6.6 and 8.0 (or go a formula 160L+) for those slogggggfest days.

I dont think you can go wrong with the carves, ive sailed the C130 and the C111 and there were great fun.. but that said, i dont think you would gain much as the explosions were great fast slalom boards and thats a good size up from the 96l so unless its leaking or getting soft i would just keep riding it, maybe invest in a sweet fin to match your 8.0. just MHO

Hey Kus and Dave thanks for the replies. Kus I agree that a 4.2 is pushing it and I do have to fin down and yes I usually sail at Nit Nat and another place with similar conditons to the Nat. However I find it hard to believe that you can be on a 5.8 on a wave 95 litre in 12-13 knots! How much do you weigh? Well you must be an awesome sailor. Me I'm an average intermediate and I want to be able to sail on those family days at Pine Point in Lake Cowichan in the summer even if that means sailing an 8.0 and a 130 litre. I always thought the wind to be about 10-12 knots there but I could be wrong. Its nice mellow sailing and its still fun.

Kus I can't see myself kiting for the following reasons:

1. If you kite you need a rescue boat (There arn't many kiters that don't have a boat - a must for learning)

2. You need one or two buddies to watch you and rescue you when you are down.

3. You need one or two buddies to help launch you out and catch you back in again.

4. Time - I don't have tons of time to learn another completely different sport.

and Finally

5. Cash - I dont have another 2 grand kicking around wondering what to do with.

and besides

6. I can't see myself joining the "dark side" . Ha Ha just kidding I'm really not a "purist" windsurfer. I actually have tried to fly a trainer. Sucked at it though.

Dave thanks for the advice on the Starboards and the good news about the Explosion. I agree a newer decent fin would probably help and thats the way I'm going to go for now.

See you guys on the water!

didn't say it would be huge fun lots of work but it can be done, depending on waves to get you going etc. I find marginal sailing actually improves your technique but it can be a bit miserable at times

Yes, I've lost a bunch of grolsch muscle weight and it helps, still around 195 tho

Hi,

I went through the "Carves" as Nat boards a few years ago. At your weight, you should seriously consider the 99 or 111L . The 121 will carry big big sails (8.0+ with the appropriate fin) and be a beast in conditions at Nitinaht when it is 6.0 or stronger (meaning you will be too bouyant and bounce across the lake, rather than sail). I'm 200+ lbs, and for me, the 111/7.5/40cm fin is a perfect balance. I rarely sail the 111/6.0 any more, even at Nitinaht. For 6.0 to 5.0, I prefer a 95L board (Highfly Move, carbon/Kevlar), and below 5.0, it really doesn't seem to matter much about volume, it really matters that you MATCH the fin with the sail. I have sailed an EVO 74L with the same rig size as my 95L and really, the only difference was that the evo handled the conditions better. My best advice (based upon my mistakes - I bought the carve 131, which turned out to be too big for me at Nitinaht), buy 95-100L. You won't regret it with a modern board. HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

I would look at the new Starboard Kombat-Aero 117. The recommended sail size range is 5.2-8.5 which would do you for 80-90% of the summer days at Nitinat. Amazingly it is a 233 cm long board and has a volume of 117 L. It is intended as a crossover board for blasting and some wave action as well.

See: http://www.star-board.com/viewpage.php?page_id=32#

I'm not a Starboard salesperson by the way. I have a Kombat 95 which I use for 4.5 to 6.5 sailing and Carve 121 for 6.0 - 8.5 sailing. Seems to me that the 117 is a good compromise especially if you pack on 20 lbs or so ... like I did in the past couple of years.