Looking to get some lighter wind gear. Currently doing most of my sailing in 15 to 20kts on JP Allride 106 with NP Firefly 5.5.

I am looking at something in the 6.5 sail range and boards something like the Starboard iSonic 122ltr, or the JP Slalom 130.

Would be very interested in thoughts on boards in particular. I want something I can get planing in the more marginal conditions. I weight 75kgs.

Cheers.

i enjoy it when someone says light wind is 15 to 20 knots
curious to know what the high winds are for you
in those winds i would guess a 6.5 or 7-oh would be great on a 115 to 120 liter board
not knowing your skills, width preferences, location, etc
lotsa luck !!!

for me light winds are 10 to 15 knots and can be a lot of fun

Sputnik11 said...
light in my mind is 8 - 14kts

i can usually have my 106 allride planing with my 5.5 in anything 14kts or better, i am looking for some gear to get me going in light (my definition) winds

i agree 15 to 20kts isn't light

If you want to plane in 8 to 14 kts at 75kg's I'd get a board about 75cm or wider, and a 7.5m or bigger sail. and a decent fin to go

I'm about 72kgs and in 15knots I plane with my 82L quad and 5.7 rock

actually looking at 2 boards as a comparison:

2012 JP Slalom (240cm, 130 ltrs)
2008 Starboard iSonic (232cm, 122ltrs)

any thoughts?

We really need more information to correctly advise you.
What level of sailor are you? Are you ready for a slalom board or still at the free ride level?
Flat water sailing or ocean?
Be realistic about the wind range you are looking at. There is a big difference between 8 knots and 12. 12 knots is 50% more than 8 knots, and 14 is 75% more.
8 knots you are needing formula gear and really big sails to be planing.
12 -14 knots most guys on flat water will be out on 120L -130L boards with 7.5 - 8.5 m sails and planing.

Of course there is planing, and there is planing.
Wave sailors are happy to be just planing. Flat water sailors are rarely happy with just planing, they want fast.

Windxtasy said...
We really need more information to correctly advise you.
What level of sailor are you? Are you ready for a slalom board or still at the free ride level?
Flat water sailing or ocean?
Be realistic about the wind range you are looking at. There is a big difference between 8 knots and 12. 12 knots is 50% more than 8 knots, and 14 is 75% more.
8 knots you are needing formula gear and really big sails to be planing.
12 -14 knots most guys on flat water will be out on 120L -130L boards with 7.5 - 8.5 m sails and planing.

Of course there is planing, and there is planing.
Wave sailors are happy to be just planing. Flat water sailors are rarely happy with just planing, they want fast.

Have been sailing for close to 30 years, I sail almost entirely in the ocean. Realistically I am looking in the 12-14kts range, with lulls sometimes a bit less than that. Don't want to get onto formula gear. I'd prefer not to just plane, but sometimes given the conditions, planing is good enough. I've reviewed the number of days where it close but not close enough, ergo, the bigger volume and bigger sail are the solution to get me 20 more days of sailing over summer, which for me is well worth it. I was considering getting a kite surfer, but think this is the b etter option.

I am same weight and experience as you.

I had a go on the 111 futura starboard. It is awesome. Really fun to jump off small chop when cranking full speed. easy to jibe.

At 20knots and swell over 1m it became hard to control. Nevertheless sounds perfect for you. I used my old ezzy wave 5.7m in 18 knots and it was simply perfect.

Sputnik11 said...

Yuppy said...
I am same weight and experience as you.

I had a go on the 111 futura starboard. It is awesome. Really fun to jump off small chop when cranking full speed. easy to jibe.

At 20knots and swell over 1m it became hard to control. Nevertheless sounds perfect for you. I used my old ezzy wave 5.7m in 18 knots and it was simply perfect.

Hey Yuppy - what about 12 kts? I am fine in anything over 14kts, I want light wind gear. In 20kts I am on my Allride or Freestyle Wave.

A Futura would be a perfect light wind ocean freeride board. Better in chop and swell than the iSonic yet early planing and fast. At your weight, for 12 knots of wind you would probably want the 133L and a 7.5- 8.5 sail.
http://www.star-board.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15332

Something freeride/freerace in the 75cm wide range with a twin cam 7ish sail based on what you've described. The iSonic 122 is a great board but favours a race sail with solid mast foot pressure, may be a little flighty otherwise.

What did you decide? We are all hanging on tender hooks.

John632 said...
What did you decide? We are all hanging on tender hooks.

actually went for starboard, but not iSonic, something with width and volume, but more forgiving . . .futura

p.s. - believe it or not, its tenterhooks, generally hooks aren't very tender

Windxtasy said...

Sputnik11 said...

John632 said...
What did you decide? We are all hanging on tender hooks.

actually went for starboard, but not iSonic, something with width and volume, but more forgiving . . .futura

p.s. - believe it or not, its tenterhooks, generally hooks aren't very tender

and what size?

board - 122
sail - to be decided (i am still leaning towards 6.5, but many, many have said its too small)

I have a 122 futura and it is great with a 7.8 and 7.0, but have ridden it with a 6.5 and 6.0 and both smaller sails are fine. powered 6m weather is pushing the limits though it is not to bad.

At 110kegs, my 130l with 7.2m sail will get me going in about 10kts - from 15kts, my weapon of choice is a 116 with a 6.6 sail (used to be a 109 that performed similar). The 122 iSonic with a 6.5 should be more than enough for a lightweight like yourself. Also look at sails with a large rigging range (ie; a 7.0m sail that can be downhauled to a 6.5 equiv).

Sailhack:

110 kegs = 110 kilograms ??
if so , how can you "get going" in 10 knots on 130 liter and 7.2 sail ??
at 100 kilos, 7.2 for me is used in 30-50 kph winds or about 20 knots !!!
10 knots is 94 cm wide FreeFormula with 10-oh !!