Picked up the Kona One/Style this morning, unfortunately it was around 1-2 knots and pity there was a nice break at the back which would have been ideal for this board.

I've only got small wavesails with the largest 5.8. To get more sailing time I reckon I need 7.0, with my 100kg weight probably larger like an 8.0. I feel I would benefit more with camless sails as I'll be longboard wavesailing this board. Without consultation with anyone I just guessed that cams are just going to break when dumped even in small wave applications. Research tells me that I can depower a camless sail quicker than a cammed sail which is preferable, I've never owned a cammed sail, let alone bigger than a 6.1, so don't know from experience if this depowering is true.

Trouble is because I have returned to the sport from a near 2 decade break I don't know the model names of sails that are camless. I'm specifically looking at sails more than 5+ years old as newer ones are still out of my financial reach.

Can anyone please give me some model names to look up. Better still if you are updating your old big sail please contact me if you want to flog off yours, be warned I'm looking for a cheap sail.

Thanks.

You probably want one with rod battens rather than tubes. Most of the camless freeride sails have tube battens. The Ezzy Infinity used to have rods but they also have a very low foot.

if you are going longboard light wind wavesailing don't bother with anything over 5.5. I'd recommend a 5.0, even in about 5 knots.
What happens when you drop in on the wave is your apparent wind increases and swings forward, so if your sheeted out even slightly you get backwinded and fall off. The bigger the sail the worse this happens.
Smaller sails make it easier to uphaul in the break and get away before the next wave in the set.

Bertie said...

if you are going longboard light wind wavesailing don't bother with anything over 5.5. I'd recommend a 5.0, even in about 5 knots.

I seriously don't think a 5.0 will get me out in 5 knots. Because of the Kona's nose volume it won't take much to change it's direction as it will bob up if I don't have enough power, I'm not talking about planing power but punching power (momentum) to go over or through white water. As I already have a 5.0 Gaastra Wavefoil I will test your theory, just have to get out and try.

What happens when you drop in on the wave is your apparent wind increases and swings forward, so if your sheeted out even slightly you get backwinded and fall off. The bigger the sail the worse this happens.
Smaller sails make it easier to uphaul in the break and get away before the next wave in the set.

I experienced this a couple of times but blamed it on me pointing too high on a wave due to the board/wave relationship...same thing? I've got a great story to tell but will save it for another time..."phew" says the masses.

I've been aware of the other obvious problems using too big a sail mainly the longer boom and deeper foot getting caught on a wave but was not aware that the larger the sail is the more a problem apparent wind becomes. So thanks for that.

There are 2 guys that have been influencing me in light wind longboard wavesailing, these guys are Jeff Henderson from Maui Hotsails and John Ingebritsen (Kona rider/demonstrator), they use 7.0 sails...both Maui Super Freaks. From the vids seen they are riding in small waves and in wind around max 10 knots, my preferred conditions at the moment. Because of the small size waves perhaps this has not given them too much of a backwinding problem?

Neil Pryde Supersonics from the early 2000's are the go get them cheap as and they work really well. if ya trash them in the surf just buy another for 100 bucks,

completely agree with bertie,

in the surf on longboards anything over 5.8m is a waste.

a good designed nose and good rocker will allow your board to pop over the white water.

i've taken 8.5m race sails and formula boards in the surf (when it's small) and it still feels like you are sailing a race board.

on a longboard with not footstraps and a small wave sail you feel more like you are surfing a mal.

p.s. less than 5 knots and go mow the grass or go surfing

Bertie said...

please try with a small sail first before buying anything bigger than 5.5
You would still be surprised by how you can pump around a long board with a small sail.
but yer in 1-2 knots get a paddle.
5-15 longboard.
16-18 freestyle board.
18+ wave board

5 knots is my minimum, anything under and I'll do house chores to score some valuable brownie points in case it does blow.

I'll give the 5.8 a shot. Today is a good example of one of the reasons I gave up sailing a long time ago, 12-15 knots and I have work on. Sigh...it's all déjà vu

MauiSails Pursuit.

Had a great sess on big boards with Bertie and the crew a few weeks ago

The weapons of choice were Neil Pryde 5m wave sails and JP SUPs

It was back to the future for me with a 12 footer in the waves

Bend zee knees, opposite rail gybes and mellow enough to enjoy the scenery

In the gusts i was being lifted off the board (thats why they invented footstraps)

As long as it cross off and over 5 knots you'll have a ball. ( Sure beats paddling)