This may be a little bit obscure with too many variables, but I'm trying to work out (roughly) what size sails I will need to plan- on flat water- in minimal winds.
To help paint a picture I've recently put together a nice moden(ish) outfit comprising of a F2 Stoke 116 lt, a 400 mtr Ezzy RDM mast with a 5.2 Ezzy sail. With this combo- and bare in mind I'm a learner- I can plan comfortably in clean wind from around 14 knts up. I only weigh 75 kg.
I just got another Ezzy RDM mast, this one 460. Logic being bigger sail options, plus use the bottom of my 400 with the 460 top to make a 430 if needed. Anyway, thinking my next sail will be around 6-6.5 mtr. What wind strengths (minimum) will I need to plan?
And lastly, was thinking of one big sail- a little down the track- of say 7.5 plus. Planing-wise, on light wind days (cause that's all we seem to get
) what strength wind will I need to get up and skidding along with the big bertha?
This is always a tricky questions to answer in absolute terms as wind strengths are always relative to where people measure wind. i.e. what the weather station says will differ from a hand held wind meter on the shore which will differ from the actual wind strength on the water.
With that in mind, I think you have got a pretty good plan for a fairly minimal quiver that will get you out as often as possible! You will probably get planing down to what you measure as 12kts on your 6-6.5m, and maybe 10kts on a 7.5. Exactly what wind strength will get you planing isn't important. I would get the 7.5m first thou!
I'm similar weight to you, and for east coast conditions at our weight, my most used kit would be 100L board + 5.6m sail, gets me out on 80% of my sessions. I would personally skip intermediate sail sizes and go straight to a 7.5-8.5m sail + 120L board for a light wind setup, I wouldn't bother with a 6.5m personally.
I'm with swoosh. I am a similar weight and my light wind sail of choice has been a 7.8 for the last 4 years with a 100 or 120 litre board.
Thanks guys, appreciate the info.
Ok, I'll start looking for a 7.2 up to say an 8.5 then. As I have two Ezzy mast, I'd ideally like to stick with the Ezzy brand of sails- that is unless someone can recommend another brand of sail that will go sweetly with my 460 RDM mast? Not overy worried about having a mix of sails, so long as they perform well on the mast I have.
How much of a handful is the big sail gunna be in around 10-14 knts of wind? Remember I'm still on my L plates... I had a 20 minute play around with a 6.5 the other week, and that felt manageble in 14-16 knots. I'm comfy with my 5.2 up to 18 knots or so, but it's a pain in the bum under 14 knts... I haven't sailed in winds stronger than 18 knts yet, though this Tuesday may well change all that
Assuming a bigger sail around 7.5 meters isn't going to be too much of a handful, I'm ideally looking for a late model second-hand sail if anyone has one they're keen to sell.
Hi Phil,
I'm up at my olds place near Macksville. No wind here but at least the weather is warm and sunny. There is a bit of a north east wind forecast for tomorrow so I might head down to SWR for a sail. If we meet you can check out my bigger sail, a 7.4m and see if it's the size you are looking for.
I drive a white Mitsubishi Delica with a big learner board in a red board bag on the roof.
Trail Bay 1st carpark,12ish for a sailathon ,come on down anyone in the area? yewwwww.Hanging to try my new 6.2 sail!!
So what's the plan, the bay or the river? Ive sailed heaps of times in the bay but never the river. I have no idea where you park and launch from. I'd prefer to sail in the bay as it's a great spot and if there is a bit of swell it's fun even if the wind is Lightish.
Hey Moby,
I just find the bay- especially right up near the corner- gusty in a nor-easter. But I'll go there for a lash. Should be good around 1 pm on, as there will probably be some waves breaking around the point. Either way I'm keen to get wet and see what the bigger sail is like. I'll take 5.2. Maybe you could bring that 6.6 you mentoned?
Let me know tomorrow if your heading down.
Had a ball, pulled off a few floaters and lazy top turns, but paying for it now...
Had a ball, pulled off a few floaters and lazy top turns, but paining for it now... cya tomoz den
how powered up, how good is your technique, sail/board combo, fin/board combo, against tide, with tide, heavy not heavy,
yea its a fun game 
I use a 125 + 6.6m and I reckon I need a consistent 14kts to plane ( 64kgs + camel back c 2kgs..)
You might find that you are actually in a bit more wind than 14kts if you are planing on a 5.2. At 75 kilos i reckoned that i could get planing in 11-12kts on my 7.5 and 115 litre board. It is good to plan for the future even if, as you say, you are still at the beginner stage. I think a 7.5 will be a very useful size for you eventually and if to stay at your present weight you shouldn't need anything bigger. With you ezzy 460 mast you will be able to run theit 7.5 sails if you choose to stay with the brand. If the sport bites you hard you will probably end up with three boards and sails ranging from 7.5 - 4.5, probably five of them, because you'll always be wanting to sail the perfect combo for each sailing day. Get it right and you'll feel like a 12 year old kid who's just been given his very own supermarine Spitfire. Good luck!
Select to expand quote
Cripes I must be bad.. I use a 125 + 6.6m and I reckon I need a consistent 14kts to plane ( 64kgs + camel back c 2kgs..)
I got a felling Shortboardcrazy, that everyone has a different interpretation of wind strength and speed. I can plan comfortably at 14 knts with a 5.2 sail, but my "14 knots" may be really 16 plus? You're 14 knots may be someone esles 10 knots... One bloke I know says it's 15 knots when I can hardy stand up.
Wind strength is like wave size judgment. My "3 ft" (as with most surfers) is actually head high- so technically 6 ft. To avoid confusion, I now simply say the waves are waits, chest, head or scary size
PS- Got a 6.6 today off Moby (cheers mate), so it will be interesting to see how low a wind speed I'll need to plan with this one. I'm hoping 12 knots. Which is somewhere between 3-20 knots depending on who you ask....
So already fully hooked, and already hiding new gear in the shed and telling the missus I've had it for yonks...
Select to expand quotePhilSWR said...
Cripes I must be bad.. I use a 125 + 6.6m and I reckon I need a consistent 14kts to plane ( 64kgs + camel back c 2kgs..)
I got a felling Shortboardcrazy, that everyone has a different interpretation of wind strength and speed. I can plan comfortably at 14 knts with a 5.2 sail, but my "14 knots" may be really 16 plus? You're 14 knots may be someone esles 10 knots... One bloke I know says it's 15 knots when I can hardy stand up.
Wind strength is like wave size judgment. My "3 ft" (as with most surfers) is actually head high- so technically 6 ft. To avoid confusion, I now simply say the waves are waits, chest, head or scary size
PS- Got a 6.6 today off Moby (cheers mate), so it will be interesting to see how low a wind speed I'll need to plan with this one. I'm hoping 12 knots. Which is somewhere between 3-20 knots depending on who you ask....
Gauged from a wind meter reading onshore + add a bit for out further..
So already fully hooked, and already hiding new gear in the shed and telling the missus I've had it for yonks...
