|
Syamil
|
 |
« on: November 30, 2008, 09:02:15 PM » |
|
Hi guys. I'm sailing in Kuantan, Malaysia for almost 2 months now. The wind is quite strong at times but usually it's only at the edge of getting me to plane. I'm using a 6.5 sail and an old starboard formula 155l. Im getting more comfortable sailing with front footstraps while planing, but whenever i try to point upwind, the board loses its speed and gets off the plane. I had no problem doing this on a long board though. So my question is should I get a bigger sail, or lose some weight (considering I'm ~10kg off my ideal weight  ), or it is just my technique? Thanks  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
blackhawk81
|
|
« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2008, 11:17:48 PM » |
|
Get a bigger sail .. Your sail is simply too small for a Formula board.. Ideally your sail should be minimum 9m for your board size.. But then again, it depend on your skills and your weight as well..
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Syamil
|
|
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2008, 04:34:22 AM » |
|
Sorry if this question sounds stupid. If I can plane comfortably on my friend's Naish short board with 7.0m sail, in around 15-18knots, would I still have to use say, 9m sail on my formula board under the same condition? It kinda puzzles me because I thought the whole purpose of formula is making it easier to plane and all, so given the same condition isn't the formula should need smaller sail than the freeride board?  btw my board as i said earlier is quite old, i think the oldest starboard formula there is. IIRC a 2000 model. Looks more like today's slalom than today's formula to me. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Denis Wee
|
|
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2008, 10:54:20 PM » |
|
The formula board was designed for course racing. The intention was to develop a board which could be used to sail the same course as a longboard but at planing speeds at all times in winds as light as about 8 knots. Because it did not have a centreboard, it had to have a large fin and carry a large sail so it could plane upwind. It also had to be wide enough where the footstraps were positioned so that the sailor could get sufficient leverage with the large sail and large fin. The large sail was good for going upwind and especially downwind, but not for blasting on a beam reach because the sailor would be overpowered. It is not easy to control a formula board in strong winds and rough water conditions, especially for a beginner. In short, you are using the wrong board for the conditions and the purpose you have in mind. Using a small sail on a formula board would make no sense. You would be much better off on a wide slalom board with a smaller sail and fin to suit the conditions.
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: December 03, 2008, 10:37:55 AM by Denis Wee »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
thye
|
|
« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2008, 07:01:47 PM » |
|
The ability to sail upwind is very subjective and largely depend on board / sail design as well as some basic skill like railing the board, applying mastfoot pressure, closing the sail slot, ect but foremost is Velocity Make Good (VMG) when pointing.
Your long board experience and explanation, I figure if you seat more on the harness, hang forward (to close the slot without over sheeting) and apply foot pressure on the outer rail may be more effective, do avoid sudden or sharpe an angle change that upset this fine balance.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Syamil
|
|
« Reply #5 on: December 20, 2008, 02:13:08 AM » |
|
Hello all. Just some update. With a little more wind and better foot steering I find myself better now with footstraps and upwind. Also sitting more on the harness therefore getting more mastfoot pressure makes foot steering easier. I did get some nasty catapults sometimes though, but once comfortable in the footstraps it makes things a lot less scarier heheh..I guess the scary NE wind & wave here made me want to learn faster Next is carve jibes and waterstarts, so I'll be here asking more questions soon.. Anyway I just want to say to fellow Singaporean windsurfers, please come to Kuantan! The beach is crowded with kitesurfers, nobody wants to windsurf anymore. Surfing alone is definitely both boring and look stupid heheh.. cya! |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
PlaneSailin
|
|
« Reply #6 on: December 20, 2008, 08:04:48 AM » |
|
Hello all.
... please come to Kuantan! The beach is crowded with kitesurfers, nobody wants to windsurf anymore....
Hey, that's great! It means you are the coolest guy on the water - and the best windsurfer, too! Don't worry, in a few years half of those kiters will have gotten bored and taken up windsurfing, and the other half will be using electric pogo sticks or whatever the next craze happens to be. And by then your gybes wil be awesome!  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Meng
|
|
« Reply #7 on: December 20, 2008, 12:57:36 PM » |
|
Hello all. Just some update. With a little more wind and better foot steering I find myself better now with footstraps and upwind. Also sitting more on the harness therefore getting more mastfoot pressure makes foot steering easier. I did get some nasty catapults sometimes though, but once comfortable in the footstraps it makes things a lot less scarier heheh..I guess the scary NE wind & wave here made me want to learn faster Next is carve jibes and waterstarts, so I'll be here asking more questions soon.. Anyway I just want to say to fellow Singaporean windsurfers, please come to Kuantan! The beach is crowded with kitesurfers, nobody wants to windsurf anymore. Surfing alone is definitely both boring and look stupid heheh.. cya! in a few more days, there will be more windsurfers than kiters..... |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Syamil
|
|
« Reply #8 on: December 20, 2008, 11:36:38 PM » |
|
hehe.. coolest guy on the water would be an overstatement for my level. I hope Meng is correct, I'd love to see more windsurfers here. Btw a windsurfer came today, Leong Soon. Now I have a buddy to surf with yeay!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Denis Wee
|
|
« Reply #9 on: December 20, 2008, 11:47:34 PM » |
|
Btw a windsurfer came today, Leong Soon. Now I have a buddy to surf with yeay!
You are in very distinguished company! Give Leong Soon best regards from all in Singapore and tell him not to miss the Singapore Open which is scheduled for 6 - 8 Feb 2009.  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Meng
|
|
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2008, 05:38:47 AM » |
|
hehe.. coolest guy on the water would be an overstatement for my level. I hope Meng is correct, I'd love to see more windsurfers here. Btw a windsurfer came today, Leong Soon. Now I have a buddy to surf with yeay!
u are in luck, u have Penang mafia for company...probably the most hardcore windsurfer in S.E.A tell him to train harder for me... |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
m3l
|
|
« Reply #11 on: December 22, 2008, 02:10:37 AM » |
|
hehe.. coolest guy on the water would be an overstatement for my level. I hope Meng is correct, I'd love to see more windsurfers here. Btw a windsurfer came today, Leong Soon. Now I have a buddy to surf with yeay!
u are in luck, u have Penang mafia for company...probably the most hardcore windsurfer in S.E.A tell him to train harder for me... You sure not the other way around? Hahaha! |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Syamil
|
|
« Reply #12 on: December 24, 2008, 05:21:00 AM » |
|
A mafia indeed, he rigged a 9m when it was gusting 20knots! He speaks a lot about hitting the gym every so often, the 40 mins cycling, 40 mins rowing machine, crunches, push ups, 80kg weight reps etc. I guess the point is when you have enough core muscles strength & stamina then techniques would come a close second. Ok question time. When launching, and there's a few 6ft breaking waves right in front of you, should you practically hit the wave hooked or unhooked? Thanks! |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
38 mph
|
|
« Reply #13 on: December 25, 2008, 12:21:32 AM » |
|
I will be there Jan 1st and Eddie Murrell on Jan 5th.
Where are you sailing from ?
We will be at Leos place.
Tell the sorry old fart from Penang to smile more !!!!!
Oh and we love him like a brother.....
K-21
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Meng
|
|
« Reply #14 on: December 29, 2008, 10:17:24 AM » |
|
Hey that's great. I'm always at Leo's place. Bring some more people-lah. Leo don't windsurf no more these days, he's busy trying to perfect his loop this and that on his kite hehehe.
train hard, see u in Penang |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
