This may be a little bit obscure with too many variables, but I'm trying to work out (roughly) what size sails I will need to plan- on flat water- in minimal winds.

To help paint a picture I've recently put together a nice moden(ish) outfit comprising of a F2 Stoke 116 lt, a 400 mtr Ezzy RDM mast with a 5.2 Ezzy sail. With this combo- and bare in mind I'm a learner- I can plan comfortably in clean wind from around 14 knts up. I only weigh 75 kg.

I just got another Ezzy RDM mast, this one 460. Logic being bigger sail options, plus use the bottom of my 400 with the 460 top to make a 430 if needed. Anyway, thinking my next sail will be around 6-6.5 mtr. What wind strengths (minimum) will I need to plan?

And lastly, was thinking of one big sail- a little down the track- of say 7.5 plus. Planing-wise, on light wind days (cause that's all we seem to get) what strength wind will I need to get up and skidding along with the big bertha?

I'm with swoosh. I am a similar weight and my light wind sail of choice has been a 7.8 for the last 4 years with a 100 or 120 litre board.

Hi Phil,

I'm up at my olds place near Macksville. No wind here but at least the weather is warm and sunny. There is a bit of a north east wind forecast for tomorrow so I might head down to SWR for a sail. If we meet you can check out my bigger sail, a 7.4m and see if it's the size you are looking for.

I drive a white Mitsubishi Delica with a big learner board in a red board bag on the roof.

Trail Bay 1st carpark,12ish for a sailathon ,come on down anyone in the area? yewwwww.Hanging to try my new 6.2 sail!!

Mobydisc said...

So what's the plan, the bay or the river? Ive sailed heaps of times in the bay but never the river. I have no idea where you park and launch from. I'd prefer to sail in the bay as it's a great spot and if there is a bit of swell it's fun even if the wind is Lightish.

Oi Moby,Phil and I usually sail the bay,thats where Ill be tomoz.Do you know the National Sparks and wildfires works depot @ Trial Bay? its the 1st beach access when your heading along the road to trial.If you drive right up the beach access you can unload and set up just off the beach on he grassy patch under the tree's(hopefully unoccupied @ 12ish)Swell has dropped heaps but should be some little ones to get on.Cya there

mybrosweeper said...

Mobydisc said...

So what's the plan, the bay or the river? Ive sailed heaps of times in the bay but never the river. I have no idea where you park and launch from. I'd prefer to sail in the bay as it's a great spot and if there is a bit of swell it's fun even if the wind is Lightish.

Oi Moby,Phil and I usually sail the bay,thats where Ill be tomoz.Do you know the National Sparks and wildfires works depot @ Trial Bay? its the 1st beach access when your heading along the road to trial.If you drive right up the beach access you can unload and set up just off the beach on he grassy patch under the tree's(hopefully unoccupied @ 12ish)Swell has dropped heaps but should be some little ones to get on.Cya there

Hi Ian,

Keen to check out ya new sail and get wet. You should notice the power difference hey. Will see you there- if the wind behaves itself.

Dunno how long I will last mate, as the old back got a flogging after a 3 hour wave session there a few days back... Had a ball, pulled off a few floaters and lazy top turns, but paying for it now...

how powered up, how good is your technique, sail/board combo, fin/board combo, against tide, with tide, heavy not heavy,

yea its a fun game

You might find that you are actually in a bit more wind than 14kts if you are planing on a 5.2. At 75 kilos i reckoned that i could get planing in 11-12kts on my 7.5 and 115 litre board. It is good to plan for the future even if, as you say, you are still at the beginner stage. I think a 7.5 will be a very useful size for you eventually and if to stay at your present weight you shouldn't need anything bigger. With you ezzy 460 mast you will be able to run theit 7.5 sails if you choose to stay with the brand. If the sport bites you hard you will probably end up with three boards and sails ranging from 7.5 - 4.5, probably five of them, because you'll always be wanting to sail the perfect combo for each sailing day. Get it right and you'll feel like a 12 year old kid who's just been given his very own supermarine Spitfire. Good luck!

ikw777 said...

You might find that you are actually in a bit more wind than 14kts if you are planing on a 5.2. At 75 kilos i reckoned that i could get planing in 11-12kts on my 7.5 and 115 litre board. It is good to plan for the future even if, as you say, you are still at the beginner stage. I think a 7.5 will be a very useful size for you eventually and if to stay at your present weight you shouldn't need anything bigger. With you ezzy 460 mast you will be able to run theit 7.5 sails if you choose to stay with the brand. If the sport bites you hard you will probably end up with three boards and sails ranging from 7.5 - 4.5, probably five of them, because you'll always be wanting to sail the perfect combo for each sailing day. Get it right and you'll feel like a 12 year old kid who's just been given his very own supermarine Spitfire. Good luck!

Lol. I already feel like a 12 year old with a supermarine Spitfire- but one with 2 lazer beams, firing steel melting beams So already fully hooked, and already hiding new gear in the shed and telling the missus I've had it for yonks...

Interesting you mentioned wind interpertation. When I say "14 knots", it may well be 16 plus. Dunno, but I seem to get moving fairly easily in what I feel are lightish winds. The bigger sail idea steemed from a total struggle session recently, where in two hours I planed twice, when others (weighting 15 kilo more than me) were flying. One fellow said he got 30 knots on one run on his gps. Most had 7 meter plus sails. Now with my new 6.6 I'm hoping I'll plan and get simular speeds under those same conditions. Time will tell I guess...

PhilSWR said...

ikw777 said...

You might find that you are actually in a bit more wind than 14kts if you are planing on a 5.2. At 75 kilos i reckoned that i could get planing in 11-12kts on my 7.5 and 115 litre board. It is good to plan for the future even if, as you say, you are still at the beginner stage. I think a 7.5 will be a very useful size for you eventually and if to stay at your present weight you shouldn't need anything bigger. With you ezzy 460 mast you will be able to run theit 7.5 sails if you choose to stay with the brand. If the sport bites you hard you will probably end up with three boards and sails ranging from 7.5 - 4.5, probably five of them, because you'll always be wanting to sail the perfect combo for each sailing day. Get it right and you'll feel like a 12 year old kid who's just been given his very own supermarine Spitfire. Good luck!

Lol. I already feel like a 12 year old with a supermarine Spitfire- but one with 2 lazer beams, firing steel melting beams So already fully hooked, and already hiding new gear in the shed and telling the missus I've had it for yonks...

Interesting you mentioned wind interpertation. When I say "14 knots", it may well be 16 plus. Dunno, but I seem to get moving fairly easily in what I feel are lightish winds. The bigger sail idea steemed from a total struggle session recently, where in two hours I planed twice, when others (weighting 15 kilo more than me) were flying. One fellow said he got 30 knots on one run on his gps. Most had 7 meter plus sails. Now with my new 6.6 I'm hoping I'll plan and get simular speeds under those same conditions. Time will tell I guess...