Hello All,

Went sailing at the weekend, i was using a fanati shark 160 and a 6.4 sail. I think the wind was around 15ks but i still couldnt get the thing to plane and when i did the nose just wanted to turn up wind, im thinking that need a bigger sail? can anyone recommend a easy to rig sail around 7.5mtrs

cheers

I think maybe either i hadnt set the sail up very well or the sail was not big enough to pull the board up its 165 ltr and im only 67ks.

Mobydisc said...

How strong was the wind?

If you were in Sydney on Saturday then the wind was plenty strong enough to plane with a 6.4

lee1972 said...

Hello All,

Went sailing at the weekend, i was using a fanati shark 160 and a 6.4 sail. I think the wind was around 15ks but i still couldnt get the thing to plane and when i did the nose just wanted to turn up wind, im thinking that need a bigger sail? can anyone recommend a easy to rig sail around 7.5mtrs

cheers

Get someone to check you out, you should be planing in a true 15 kts, unless you over-estimated the wind, in 11-12 kts you might need a 7.5.

I'd suggest checking the board trim out while you're getting going - if you're on the verge of planing, you're probably pushing a small hump of water in front, and if you don't have the board flat crosswise, it'll tend to slide off one side of that hump or the other. It may be that you've got your weight a little more on the windward rail, and that's causing the board to slide off the upwind side.

Also worth looking at your boom height - if it feels like you should be planing, but you're stuck to the water, try raising the boom to around neck or eye high when you're standing by the mast. That'll help get the weight off your feet, and get the board to un-stick better. It'll also transfer a decent chunk of force to the mast foot, which'll definitely help with the turning upwind thing.

Try consciously pushing down and forward through the boom - like you're trying to push the board along. That helps get over the 'hump' and to get planing.

What size fin do you have on there at the moment? A bigger fin might be an easier/cheaper option than a new bigger sail if the existing one is a bit small for the job.

Yes and stearing more downwind just before you are trying to plane. Most people are trying to plain on a beem reach and as you sheet in you put pressure on the back foot and the board rounds up. If you are sailing on a broad reach 45 degrees off the wind and sheet in the pressure goes through the mast foot and front foot and you squeeze the board on the plane then gradually steer the board upwind as your weigth goes back and the backfoot goes in the strap.

Boom up higher is also a key.

It may be your rigging or it may be your board size. Don't know how long you have been at it, but assuming you are just starting out, the common thing is to expect to just be pulled onto the plane. The more experienced guys go out with smaller sails and work the board and sail to get on the plane. I am really not the one to explain these techniques, but there are some good DVDs and plenty more experienced than me to help.