WA
1933 posts
Does anyone out there use wavesails bigger than 5.8m?
If not, why not?
If so, how's the handling?
WA
12885 posts
My biggest wave sail is 5.3, I'm only 70kg and 170cm.
Think it's just my technique, but I get the clew caught in the lip every so often with the 5.3, but not with the 4.7.
If the sail was any bigger I'm sure it would happen more often.
There's also the weight/maneuverability factor.
With my low wind wave board, I can grovel around in 12kn fairly well.
Gets upwind, and picks up waves fairly early.
Starts planning around 15kn.
A bigger sail would get me planning earlier, but don't think it would improve my fun on the waves.
VIC
300 posts
Yeah I use a 6.2m Search although I'm about to sell it 'cause upgrading to '08 gear. Biggest sail I've got and I use it for waveriding in light conditions. I'm 85kg so need a bit of power to get going on the light days, works really well.
BTW: If anyone is keen on an excellent condition 2005 6.2m NP Search then let me know.
WA
8894 posts
I use a 6.6 NP Soul, It's pretty cool getting out when not many can
WA
1109 posts
my dad uses a 6.3 super freek and a 8.5 ezzy the sf is a cross over and i think the ezsy is a wave but not sure about that one, both extremly stable. but the largest sail i would use for waves would be a 5.8
WA
3183 posts
i'm thinkinh of getting a 6.4 kult.....at the mo 5.7 foce my biggest.
i think for you as a light weight, you shouldn't need more than a 5.8...maybe get something grunty force/blade/x over.
adios
WA
23685 posts
I use a 6.1 Simmer Vision. (All else is 4.0 - 5.6 Simmer X-Flex)
Only use the 6.1 on desperate days though....
My problems with it: for real waves anything bigger than 5.5 risks blowing window panel out in big wipeouts as there is just so much area to take the impact. Plus yeah the clew problem... ok in DTL conditions but riding frontside on cross-on gets harder.
Anyway: off track now, back to durability... so for bigger than lets say 5.7 you want all x-ply. Buuutttt then the sail is less stable... all mono is much crisper and a bit of preset fullness (than an x-ply sail rarely has) is good.
For me all the tradeoffs are much smaller in a 5.0 size, so it is easy: x-ply wavesail. Once you get up to 6,0 you really want a freestyle / crossover in all mono and avoid the big wave days with it.
Having said that, in real DTL where I was (Esperance) on the head hi plus hollow days, I'd rather take my 5.6 X-Flex out and grovel, than take out the 6.1 all mono Vision .... harder getting out, but the wave rides were waaayyy better.
However on the waist hi DTL days it was nice to get planing with the extra power of a 6.1 on the way in, as the waves didn't have enough power to make a 'drop' and get my fat lazy arse planing. Was nice to be able to catch them when I hadn't done my part well.
More questions than answers from me (as usual) but food for thought.
I dunno about the square root of the velocity of the hypotenuse .... it is corretc BUT how often have we all said "f%& I wish there was 2kn more today!!!" ..... 0.5m often makes the difference
NSW
42 posts
Lift increases as a function of the square of airspeed. That is if the wind doubts the force in the sail is four times what it was.
The same goes if you halve the wind speed. So if the wind drops from say 30kts to 15kts you will need a sail four times the size of that you had in the first place. (ie 4m2 will need to up size to an 8m2)
From 5.8 to 6.2 is not as much as it sounds but is a whole lot heavier to use on a wave.
Had one, wouldn't go back.
NSW
441 posts
Used to use a 6.2m but found that the boom would always drag on the wave face when turning. Not so much a problem for backside riding but it really didn't work for DTL sailing.
I would steer clear of big wave sails (5.7m+) unless it is going to be aimed at use in light on shore conditions rather than cross off conditions. Maybe and wider/bigger board or stifer more upright fin instead?
NSW
79 posts
I'm slightly less than 70kg and I found that I don't plane any earlier on a 6+m sail than on a 5.8:ish.
I used to sail with a 6.2 but the board (85lt) never released properly and wave ridin' was not easy with a big sail like that.
I thus got rid of that big sail and went down to a 5.8 sail which is much better for me being just under 70kgs. The 5.8 plans just as early and the board release properly and wave riding works just fine.
NSW
1173 posts
I use a 100ltr waveboard and this year went up from 5.7 to 6.1. Not sure how it'll handle but i need the power as i'm creeping towards 95-96 kgs.
NSW
3105 posts
Ive used a 6.2 Gaastra Grind for years now. Its a great blasting sail and still works pretty good in the waves. Im 90kgs and use it on 104 ltr and 94 ltr wave boards.
Its been thru the rinse cycle truckloads of times and is still in good nic.
I reckon if your a bigger or heavier guy being a wave snob and using 5.8 and less makes you miss a lot of TOW.
Lots of guys around here have 6 and bigger wave sail.
NSW
193 posts
gaastra have the poison in 6.2 but most guys are now going with the remedy 6.0 or 6.4 because the ealry planing is much better and in most lighter conditions you need the extra speed to get planing in the white water and for jumping.
WA
2331 posts
I've got a 6.2 alpha, havent used it yet, but its replacing a 6.2 North which got used quite a lot. 100kg's so need some drive on those lighter days.
WA
348 posts
Hi Folks,
I've been using 6.3m Ezzy SEs for years and now have the 6.5m 2007 version. Works fine with my 97l Fish, but you only use it when the wind really is light. I've also got an older 6.9m. Now that is large, but I have occasionally used it at Margarets and Avalon. With that size the sail really needs to be rigged properly, and your timing on the wave needs to be spot on because there's a lot to wrestle with when you are in the wrong spot at the wrong time!
I haven't had any issues with damage, but given Ezzy's construction, I guess you'd expect that.
Cheers, Jens
VIC
218 posts
I find My 5.2 is big enough. Any bigger, and I find there is just too much material to move around. I can feel it jumping or riding waves. 5.2 is ok, 4.7 is my fave.
