that is insane

hi Jb could you tell what size sail do use under 10knt wind? thanks sergio

Hi Sergio,

I always use a 4.7m Naish Force no matter how windy it is. The main goal is to keep the rig as light as possible. I weighted all the sails and found that the 4.7m had the most power for the lightest weight. For sail supping in light wind you want to keep the board as responsive as possible, so the least amount of mast foot pressuse the better. I find I sail about a fast as I paddle in 5-8 knots, but I can definately catch more waves with the sail. Once your on the wave it is crazy, the first thing that happens is your sail back winds from the board speed as you go down the face, but then, as you bottom turn and build your apparent wind up the power comes back on and you can sail like you would 20+ knots because the SUP keeps your board speed up through all the turns. It is a lot of fun. I have ridden well over head waves in under 10 knots, and it was so much fun.

JB

For learning to windsurf on a SUP board, around 5m would be the go for sure. But you wave riding I totally disagree with JB. SUP boards are so big that a 5.5 or 5.8m wave sail feels tiny anyway and the sail when wave sailing actually provides drive into turns. I use a 5.8m sail quite often with a 92 litre board and its fine. The boom length on later model sails is not a problem in 0 to 12 knots of wind.

Scotty...I think a slightly bigger sail pumps better also..You can pump a small sail all you like in light wind and it doesn't do much at all.

So if you're into pumpimg..Bigger might be better....

Or for trying to get onto the plane..a slightly bigger sail will help there.

But imo there's nothing better than riding a wave with a small light rig.

DJ

I have tried 5.7's and 6.2's, and they are good to get some extra sail power. But you can't snap the board as hard with that much mast foot pressure. You can drive into and out of your turns using the sail, but you can't step back and really use the tail of the board and back foot slam it round. I would even go smaller than 4.7 if I wasn't so big. In cross off conditions the sail power is good I agree for more sail orientated riding, but I am really trying to maximize the board potential. I ride in cross on conditions most of the time unfortunately, and I really find a light rig is awesome, especially for upwind riding, but also for passing through the winds direction and hitting the lip clew first down the line. I like to use the board a lot like I'm actually surfing to get my speed, I pretty much just use the sail as if it were my paddle.

Anyway, I think both styles look great, and it is definately worth trying both to see what appeals to you. Sup has so many variables, 12' - 7', long paddles - short paddles, large blades - small blades, big rigs - small rigs, and the best thing is they all work in nearly every condition so you can totally customize you gear to what you like, not what is needed for conditions.

It weird for me because the type of wavesailing I like on a SUP is totally different to the way I windsurf, I am normally way over rigged, and love the power, but a lot of that is because I'm 95kg, and it's hard to wave sail using small gear unless it's over 25 knots. The Sup feels so nice and free, and I love the small sail feeling. I don't even own a wave board at the moment because I just ride my SUP, and I'm having so much fun!

Keep trying stuff, and use what works for you.

JB

I love it with out footstraps. Being able to walk the board is great, you can really surf the waves at a different level to what you can do on a sailboard. I have a tail block on my board as far back as possible, and when you get back there the board is really snappy, and you can slam it round like your riding in world class conditions, footstraps would restrict such moves. I also like biasing my back foot to the rail I am driving off to concentrate more power through the turn. I actually change rails with my back foot between bottom turn and top turn. This gives you so much more power than you would ever have with your foot stuck in the middle of the board. It's also really cool fun nose riding, and going into heli spins and doing flaka's and stuff with your rig on the wave, adds a real other deimention to wave freestyle. But I would imagine riding is stronger winds and big waves Foot straps may be of a benefit, but I would probably ride a sailboard in those conditions, actually, no bring on the challenge! The best thing is experimenting, I love being able to do all the things I can't do on a sailboard because of wind and wave restrictions, it's like re-writing the rule book for wave sailing.

I don't know if it will ever happen, but I think maybe there will be a new breed of wave sailor. Like what is happening in Kitesuring, sailboarders may start riding their boards with out straps, could be interesting.......

JB

Don't know what the top board is in the sequence, but the wood deck board is a Naish SUP.

Thanks! Now I know what to buy!