I literally broke my 131 Starboard Carve in half yesterday on some very corrigated headon chop. I had stupidly put some cracks into it by landing some mast high jumps almost flat and so yesterday was the final cut. ( I realise I shouldn't really be wave jumping that board). The board just folded in half on me. Kind of wish I caught it on film.
Anyway.. to the point...
I now only have my 103 JP freestyle which is great over 20 knots with my 6.2 and 6.5. Even though the recommended max sail size is 7.2 I was wondering if I could use my 8.5 sail for smalled winds on the 103. Being a freestyle it is slightly wider than other boards of the same litres. Obviously this is going to have some side effects. What can I expect and to what degree with that board/sail?
I can guess maybe
- easier to spinout if I pressure my back foot too much?
- maybe nose dive the board during waterstart if I don't weight the back quick enough?
Appreciate your opinions.
depends... how much do you weigh, waist vs chest harness, low-boom vs high boom, etc. A few more details would be useful...
Just try it and see..
I know a guy who has run a 6.2m freeride sail on a 77 litre Acid with good results, and that's way outside it's specified sail size, not to mention severely under-finned.
I tried a 7m sail on a 90L board once and even though you could sail it, the board seemed to be pulling sideways in the water and didn't have it's usual acceleration. Bummer about the board
you could probably pick up a second hand board for like $400 ish. Otherwise spend like 30mins on the board lady website, buy a heap of epoxy and glue that sucker back together :).
btw, mast high jumps on a starboard carve 133? no wonder you break so much gear lol.
Hi Leman I think ya pushing it with an 8.5.
Prob is having a big enough fin in the board for the 8.5 and even if ya did
you would only have a small range before ya got over powered.
but there's no harm in trying it 
ta Vando
Yeah I figured I might be pushing it with a 8.5 on a 103litre. I'll give it a try sometime when the wind has the potential to drop below the knots for my 6.5. Just not that keen to set up only to embarrass myself.
Regarding gluing the old carve back together. Well I kind of took off the footstraps and fin then half squished it into the beach bin because I just cleared all the rubbish at home. Wish I had of taken a photo of it. Never actually knew what they looked like inside until i ripped it in half. Mostly just foam with thin wood and epoxy on the outside. Not sure how they justify the costs.
I'm actually strongly contemplating a formula board. The idea of cruising with the local yachts on a 13-18knot summers afternoon seabreeze really appeals to me and of course this time it will force me to keep the bigger board for flat water only. Then I'll always have my smaller board and sail for the bigger days.
Leman, I used a 6.6 on my JP 78 FSW a couple of weeks ago. It went absolutely fine. The only problem was that it did not really feel like a small board anymore.
That's only about .5 over recommended. I think I will be about 1.5 over recommended and 2 metres over ideal. Still perhaps the difference can be greater at bigger board sizes, I'm unsure. Happy to just plane when I can, it takes the edge off the cravings. Guess I'll take the plunge and go for it.
Leman, i think at 95 you wouldn't want to use anything bigger than a 6.2 on it, and no fins over 25cm, after all it is a FREESTYLE board. 
And only good over 20 knots? You are sheeting in arn't you?
Of course have a go!! I like to try different gear combinations, but especially like to try wierd things that everyone says will never work. Everyone has become so precious about what can go with what. Why not even try the 8.5 on an 80 Litre if you get the chance. 
That doesn't quite add up to me, 103 litre board, 95kg sailor + rig + board weight, still wouldn't have thought you'd sink to your waist, knees is about what I'd expect, unless the board has less than advertised volume. Although I guess an 8.5 isn't light.
I'm 88 kgs, and i can get going on a 5.3 on a 94 litre freestyle wave in 15 to 18 knots no worries and the biggest fin i own is 24cm.
Just thought I should fill you in incase anyone else has the same question.
It works just fine!! 8.5metre v8 on a JP freestyle 103. Yeah the sail is heavy and cumbersome but it was anyway with my 131 carve. It powers up nicely in smaller winds and even when not planing it is more comfortable than my smaller sail I guess cause it pushes through lulls better. The only downside I notice compared to using the sail on my 131 (apart from no uphauling) is planing upwind is not so easy, in fact my upwind ability is even less than with my 6.5 sail.
Anyway I'm happy. I have a low wind option until I get my new bigger board.
^ What size fin?
That's good to know. Where do the recommended sail sizes come from, especially the maximum size? Importantly, has anybody every broken anything from too large, heavy, powerful a rig?
PS - Loved that you helped snapped the Carve 133 by "...landing some mast high jumps almost flat...". Pushing the envelope a bit. (fingers crossed I didn't just jinx my own Carve)
