hey guys ,
sorry for the silly question , but as i am just learning and i ve got the buzz and want to learn every thing about this great sport
i have swap my old 6.7 m sail with the smallest sail in the shop
*F2 arrow speed slalom 5.7m - boom 190 luff 465
( thought i was pretty smart now i know what "luff" mean :)
but from my old ebay board i brought 2 years ago i thought i could use the old sail(2) as they look smaller
there no measurement on the sail , but with the tape they are
450 luff - bottom 200 - 250 top
boom is 190
my calculation = 8m
but it is smaller then my new 5.7 m sail
guessing that due to the flex of the sail and not a true triangle
they did have a 1 piece mast which is the same as my new 2 piece 470
my boom fits on both the 1 and 2 pieces
next question , should i use the new 5.7 sail or the smaller older sail(2)
which mite get damage while i am learning
out of the 2 sail , which one should i use
the yellow "alpha" or orange "bombora" sail
i have notice that the boombora sail clear plastic stuff feel and sound like tissue paper but does have 3 batten , and look like the mast flex more , has mesh in the mast pocket to let the water out -
the alpha sail feel like a "old tent" martial / shade cloth . is cleaner then bombora , only 1 batten at the top . more of a triangle shape .
feel lighter when rolled up . is a little smaller when place on top of the bombora
Hello Billyboy,
don't worry if your area calculations don't line-up. The projected area (of a full sail) may be different to the total sail area.
I'd like to suggest that you do not use the Alpha or the Bombora for learning. There has been a "little bit" of a progress in the field since those sails were made. Both those sails will suffer from a limited wind range and a shifting centre of effort, which will make them appear unstable.
The 5.7 F2/Arrows should be better for learning - those are great sails - I had the 5.7 in the same colours. You may want to get hold of a "pulleyhook", which may make it easier to downhaul the sail.
I agree. Use the newer battened sail even if it is bigger. It will be much easier to control.
5.7 should be fine as long as you are not tiny or going out in strong wind.
Aim for 10 - 15 knots of wind if possible.
what is a pulleyhook
i have a uphaual rope that has a bit of spring to it
so even tho they are smaller , they will be harder
Yes, they may be smaller, but with no battens to keep their shape, the "pull" will shift from the front to the back arm whenever a moth flies by.
Pulleyhook:
You stick the hook end into the bottom clew, and the rollers help quite a bit with the downhaul. With that mastbase, you will need it...
Pulley hook is a pulley block with a hook on it 
You hook onto the tack grommet and thread downhaul rope through the pulleys - much easier to downhaul it fully. If you put the downhaul rope through just a grommet a couple of times, as you downhaul the rope is rubbing on itself and it takes a lot more force.
Whatever that black thing is that you have threaded the downhaul through, don't use it.
Yes those old sails will be a handful, imagine how much they will flap / change shape compared to the rigid newer sail.
Edit: D1's computin' skills must be better than mine, found a pic and all before I could 2 finger type my reply
any idea where i can get one . ebay?
can only find this one , but they wont post to austhttp://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Windsurfing-down-haul-4-wheeled-pulley-hook-/270942246230?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Windsurfing_CV&hash=item3f156a9556
Maybe a windsurfing or marine shop would sell one. Most sails nowdays have pulleys built into them so a pulley hook will be a bit hard to find. In fact I haven't seen a modern sail without an inbult pully block. I used to have one but lost it. Never really needed it again as more modern sails don't need them. That ad says they will post to Australia.
The sail I will drop off for you has a pully built in so you won't have this issue with it.
This is not a recommendation but a suggestion, most shops will have them, go to your localhttp://www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/showProduct/Windsurfing/Windsurfing+Accessories/363474/Surf+Sail+Australia+Trim+Hook+3+Pulley
haha , i just got new gear , and now ppl are saying the gear too old
so $20 AUD off ebay is ok ?
in sailing they'd call it a block or pulleyblock
I got one with hook from SHQ windsurf shop in Melbourne recently,
I'm sure they'd post one
I tied it to the sail cringle to stop it getting lost again
but you can go to any marine shop and get and 3 pulley block, if it has no hook tie it tight to the sail tack cringle with cord or a
