Hi There,
would you have any recommendations? I'm a 100kg heavy beginner on a 180l Funster. I'd like to get a sail which is easy to rig (430 or 460 mast, boom 160 - 223), robust, easy to handle (lerning to gybe etc.), has no cambers and gets me going as early as possible on mostly flat water.
Any ideas?
Thanks for your time!
For start maybe a North sails duke 6.4 or something in that range? Gaastra IQ, NP firefly....
What have you already got?
If you planning on sailing in botany bay, and are learning planning in the footsraps etc. I would be recommend a 7.5M sail just a recent no cam freeride sail. It should get you going reasonably early (in the low to mid teens I would have thought) and be all right up to about 20knots as you will need a little bit more omph than say someone lighter, but wont be so big that it difficult to handle, and progress with your transitions.
Smaller sails will be more use to practise your transitions and when you are able to handle stronger winds. my two cents :-)
unless money is no issue i'd definitely go second-hand as the chances of you giving it a good smashing in the first season is pretty high. as a beginner, you're going to frequently end up falling hook-first into the sail, as well as endure the odd catapult...your sail will age very quickly!
size-wise, i'm with racer-x...you'll need a reasonably large sail to get planing in good learner-intermediate conditions (20knots on a 180lt board will be lively to say the least!), so look into the 7metre range. i've had a look in the buy-and-sell on sea-breeze, and can't find anything in NSW for you but if you look further you might consider something like these
(note - i haven't sailed any of these, nor know their owners, just giving you ideas is all)...
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing/Sails/~bl0eu/2008-North-Ram-F8-68-metre.aspx?search=P6K%2ftsb2rZrARE%2bQ6m0Zxw%3d%3d
(appears to be camless and in good condition)
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing/Sails/~ba0gu/2000-Neil-Pryde-Supersonic-74-metre.aspx?search=P6K%2ftsb2rZrARE%2bQ6m0Zxw%3d%3d
(well looked after for 2000! can't quite make out the specs, you'd need to talk to the owner/look it up on the web beforehand)
matching mast ICMS with sail requirements will make the sail perform much better - do your homework and ask on the forum if you're unsure.
good luck
For your weight and assuming you only want one mast at this stage, definately go the 460 mast and look at the sail range that is possible on that mast, down the track you'll find two sail sizes will greatly increase your sailing time. I'd avoid sail manufacturers that have their own mast bends and stick with a constant curve masts to avoid being stuck with a particular manufacturer down the track. Your sail should be full x-ply and yes good nic, second hand is a good idea to initially save some dough for repair time.
hello:
i also am 100 kilos
i started with old 7.0 and epoxy mast
once in harness and learning to "fly" , i purchased a new 8.5 no-cam sail with appropriate 490 mast
that sail planes earlier for our weight and has a HUGE range 12-20 knots
if steady 20 need to go back to the 7.0
the 7.0 was only good for about one year, but i had done long-boarding before:-)
now i even use a 10.0 cammed sail with 520 mast to go out in 10-15 knots :-)
{after 2 years}
where we sail there is only small chop ie NO waves - so, we can go bigger !!!
enjoy !!!
I'm your weight, I find a 7.5 is my most used sail. As suggested by others go for an x-ply sail in a Freeride style as most have no cambers. With a 180 litre board you should be able to start planing in around 15 knots, 18 knots enjoy the ride, 20 knots+ and you'll be screaming on the fin and you'll need to concentrate. Anything over and you're a braver man than me or time to consider switching to a 6.5.
At around 10knots you will be cruising so it's a good size as an all rounder.
On the other hand a 6.5 will be easier to handle immediately but you will need a bigger blow for it to get planing. Anything under 15 knots and you'll be in non-planing cruising mode.
Personally I'd go the 7.5 and get used to it as quick as possible as it will give you the widest wind range.
I use a 7.5 Ezzy Freeride, sets on a 460 with 30cm extension. Nice sail, light in the hands and contrallable in the upper end. Tuning it is easy and intuitive (as it has markings everywhere).
Thanks for all your tips!!!
At the moment I have an NP Exess 6.9 on a 4.6m mast and some times I get it planing with hooked in harnes lines but mostly only for a short time (board turns into wind - prob. to much backfoot pressure, wind drops off or I run out of water 
- should go further out)
And yes, the board gets very lively when planing ...
Thanks again for all your tips!
I have to talk to my "financial adviser" now ...
That changes things a little. Aim for about 1m spacings, shop around til you find a sail that will fit your mast and boom. Never go full extension on the boom at 100kg.
Try moving the mast foot forward a bit and harness lines a bit to the back, only few cms will change the behaviour of your board a lot...
6.9 excess is a good sail, I liked it a lot when I used it...keep this one and go for 7.8 or 8.0 to add for lower winds
I agree with the point to move your mast foot further forward. When turning into wind too often this can solve it straight away.
Harness lines back a bit as well can help, especially with spin outs and getting into the right habits.
I have experienced something similar as you said, now try variations, of moving the foot by 1cm or 2cm to find what suits you best.
