Sail Size

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Paddy
Paddy
WA
76 posts
WA, 76 posts
18 Jun 2004 5:31pm
Hi ALl

Does anyone have recommendations on sail size. I currently have a ezzy sail infinity 6.0, very over powered on the windy days for a novice, beginner. I am going to buy a smaller sail, i have a 135ltr Fanatic Cross.

What do you reackon 4.5, 4,6 4.7 5.0 and so on I weigh 75kg. I am just a bit lost. I can not really afford to buy another boom or mast currently have a 460 mast and 165 to 225 boom.

Any help would be appreciated
hardman
hardman
1116 posts
1116 posts
18 Jun 2004 6:44pm
Paddy,

On windy days you want a smaller sail that is controllable. Something around the 4.5 to 4.7 should do it.

The issue will be with your mast being a 460, most newer sails of that size rig on 400's or 430's. I'm sure you could find a second hand a 4.5/4.7 that will rig on a 460, go the more recognised brands in older sails eg Ezzy, Neil Pryde, North etc. Hard to go wrong with one of those that will rig on a 460.

Hardie SoftBoy
Grumpy
Grumpy
WA
60 posts
WA, 60 posts
18 Jun 2004 7:47pm
Paddy

You have a problem in that you are not going to get a much smaller sail that will rig and work properly on a 460 mast.

Unfortunately longer masts are stiffer (stiffness is rated by the ICMS number). A 460 mast is usually ICMS 25, a 430 mast is usually ICMS 21. What this means is that if you could rig your current 6.0 sail on a 430 mast instead of a 460, the softer mast would allow it to bend more in gusts, releasing the excess power and making it less likely to rip out of your hands. It would give you a wider wind range on your existing sail, especially with your light weight.

If you try to rig an even smaller sail than a 6.0 on your 460 mast, even if it has an adjustable head and the sail physically fits, it won't perform properly and will feel either on or off, throwing you over the front in gusts and retard your learning.

I don't know what year Infinity you have, but if you check the Ezzy website the current 6.0 Infinity (2004) should preferably be rigged on a 430 mast with a 30 centimetre extension on the bottom of the mast. It works on a 460 - but a 430 will probably work better. Check your model on the web for rigging recommendations.

You will find many modern sails are designed to rig on a 430 mast with an adjustable base. This is why there are plenty of 2nd hand 460's in shops for sale, but good 430's are much harder to find.

If you need a smaller sail (and you will eventually), I suggest you trade your 460 mast in on a 430 now and buy an adjustable mast base with AT LEAST 30cms of adjustablity, preferably more (Arrows makes a 40cm, Neil Pryde makes a 48cm ext). Then, you can hunt for a smaller sail in the knowledge it will fit, rig and work properly on your new 430 mast.

For next size down I suggest you look around for about a 5.0 sail, which is getting close to the smallest sail that will work properly on a 430 mast, and I suspect probably the smallest possible sail that will work on a 135lt board. If you try to sail a tiny sail on such a big board in high winds, it will bounce around everywhere in the chop and throw you off. That's why you need a smaller board for strong winds.

Sorry for the bad news, but it's part of the learning curve. Those fanatical windsurfers you see on the beach don't have a van full of boards and gear for nothing - the sail and board needs to be fairly closely matched to work properly, so if you want to sail in all conditions you will eventually need more than one board.

While on the issue, are you applying enough downhaul to the sail ? In strong wind pull the downhaul down as tight as you can so the whole top of the sail goes floppy down to about the 3rd or 4th batten - this will reduce the power of the sail as the top twists off.

Before you buy another sail, I suggest you trade down to a 430 mast, take the removable cams out of your 6.0 Infinity to depower it, heave on the down and outhaul heaps to depower it more and try again. If you're still overpowered (and you will be in anything over 25knts), then buy another sail.

Good Luck !
SimonM
SimonM
WA
126 posts
WA, 126 posts
19 Jun 2004 8:55am
I have a perfect condition recent model Powerex Z-axis wave 430 you can have for $150, and also have a heap of older sails lying around. There is an old 4.5m Neil Pryde Combat which fits a 460 mast - make an offer ~$50. A 5.0m KA slalom sail, lots of cams, fits a 460 mast $100. A 6.4m Tushingham series 6 fits a 460 with ~25cm of extension - make an offer ~$70. And a Simmer 4.0m wave sail $50 (does fit a 460, is designed for a 430). These should all fit your boom.

From personal experience, I would keep your 460, cause you will get bugger all for it, and also get a 430. These guys are right, a lot of sails <6m now rig on 430s , thanks to square head designs. Between my wife and i we own 2x 460, 430 and 2x 400 masts, five masts! What a downer :( But they are relatively cheap now, and if you want to be sailing in all conditions ie 3.7 to 7.5, then you will need this many masts. I would take Grumpy's advise and get a 430 and a big extension, and keep your 460, this will allow you to use sails in the range 4-8m. Otherwise, if you were going to get only one other sail, i would recommend a 5.0m - the most used sail in summer for someone of your weight :) Bear in mind that a lot of the smaller, older sail will work on 430s and even on 460s (and were designed for this), but certainly few modern sails under 5m will rig on anything but a 400.

-Simon M
0438880480
Paddy
Paddy
WA
76 posts
WA, 76 posts
21 Jun 2004 8:59am
Hi Simon M

Can I give you a ring about the mast in a couple of weeks I get paid monthly. I would like to get the mast but i will have to wait a couple of weeks ?
SimonM
SimonM
WA
126 posts
WA, 126 posts
21 Jun 2004 2:10pm
Go for it. I am not sure it will last that long tho :( A guy is coming to see it on Thurday - he will most likely take it.

-Simon M
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