Formula Interest

[Sepharis]

Hi all, I'm a 1.7m tall and 50kg guy. Just finish mastering the basics and wanna get my own equipments.

(1) Currently, I've got an interest in formula sailing, do you guys think that i'm too light to do that? (since they're useing HUGE sails for them)
     
(2) If not, why size of sail should i get for my size to sail on a freeride board?

Thanks all. 

[m3l]

Spend some more time training on longboard or anything that allows you to train your tacks and gybes easily.. 50 is really light.. So maybe put on some weight if you wanna consider formula sailing.. The sail size itself would post a major problem if you jump immediately to formula. Then after which other factors like usage of harness, board pressuring, planing and many other stuff, assuming you already know some how or rather or learnt during your basic course.

[Sepharis]

Ok, then formula sailing is out of my range. I'm trying to get my freeride board soon, what is the ideal sail size for my weight?
Btw, I was thinking of getting a 7.5 and abv rig.

[m3l]

Personally im in that range as well.. So i would suggest between a 7.8 & 8.5.. When the winds are light the 8.5 would get you planning in no time.. Whiles when the wind pick to a good 20 knots and above you can downsize to a 7.8.

One more thing is cause youre pretty avg in height you can have more leverage when the winds pick and go faster..

More importantly pract your tack and gybe well before you jump further to any other class of windsurfing.. Then comes the stuff i mentioned earlier.. General fitness would need to be above avg to truly enjoy this sport.

Hope you stay on further till youre ready for formula. Have fun.

[Sepharis]

Alright, thanks, will be looking forward to my formula days.  But 1st gotta build up my basics 1st. See ya.

[PlaneSailin]

But why on earth would you want to sail Formula, when you don't have to?   

Heavier sailors use Formula gear so they can plane in lighter wind, but most would be more than happy to trade it in for a small board and sail, if the wind permitted. 

Thinking back to all my wonderful 20-25-30 knot days at Mui Ne, using a 5.8 or 5.0, I never once said "Damn I wish it would drop to 10 knots so I could use a door board and a 10m sail"...and I didn't hear anyone else saying it, either!

You're 50 kg, so you can get a nice speedy little freeride or slalom board, and have maybe an 8.0 and a 6.5 for 99% of Singapore conditions.  Lucky bugger!  I wish I could drop 35 kilos or so!   

[Meng]

Hi all, I'm a 1.7m tall and 50kg guy. Just finish mastering the basics and wanna get my own equipments.

(1) Currently, I've got an interest in formula sailing, do you guys think that i'm too light to do that? (since they're useing HUGE sails for them)

===== U are not too light for Formula, if u know Thye Hock at PA, he's about your size/built and can sail a mean Formula in strong wind on 9+m² sails. And in lighter wind, he is probably the only PA sailor who can plane the earliest.
Formula is probably most clocked watertime when the wind starts picking up from 6 knots onwards. It is widely misunderstood due to weight, board/sail size, cost and only 'heavyweight' can sail on it. But it poses a great challenge to sail on it, once u get thru the initial stage, u will appreciate Formula more than before.
(2) If not, why size of sail should i get for my size to sail on a freeride board?

===== If Formula is not 'right' for u, a freeride board (30% Formula/70% Slalom) will be ideal for S'pore conditions. It should cater to your needs in general conditions minus the super light wind or stormy wind. U have to decide on the volume of the board, I reckon a 130L board and around a 8.5m² as these specs are very popularly found at PA now. With the tail-end of Northest monsoon, these specs should be ideal for the coming light-mid wind season.


Thanks all. 

however, if u are 1 of those novices who hasn't got your basic right (jibes/tacks/sailing in slightly strong wind), i suggest u should stick to your 1st board till u are ok.
these boards that u are seeking, needs higher level to sail on.
too often, many people double or triple etc...jumped into higher advance boards and rigs, and till now are still sailing like beginners.
when the wind pick up, they will be either struggling, refuging on the beach or got rescued back by boat.

to sum it up, it's like earning to drive a car in S'pore, will u start from an easy Auto car or a slightly harder Manual car so that u won't be handicapped?

whatever the outcome, it's up to u on the learning curve, fellow forumer m3l gave rational advice as he has gone thru proper training and gear, and he's already sailing for S'pore national team.

[Sepharis]

But why on earth would you want to sail Formula, when you don't have to?   

Heavier sailors use Formula gear so they can plane in lighter wind, but most would be more than happy to trade it in for a small board and sail, if the wind permitted. 

Thinking back to all my wonderful 20-25-30 knot days at Mui Ne, using a 5.8 or 5.0, I never once said "Damn I wish it would drop to 10 knots so I could use a door board and a 10m sail"...and I didn't hear anyone else saying it, either!

You're 50 kg, so you can get a nice speedy little freeride or slalom board, and have maybe an 8.0 and a 6.5 for 99% of Singapore conditions.  Lucky bugger!  I wish I could drop 35 kilos or so!   

I just want to plane earlier and feel the speed.  But i guess gotta train more on an easier board before moving to boards like formula.  But what advantages does light weight sailors have that heavyweight don't? 

Meng: Thanks.  I'll be getting a 7.5-8.0 sail, so i don't have to wrestle the sail the wind picks up. 

[Denis Wee]

I just want to plane earlier and feel the speed.  But i guess gotta train more on an easier board before moving to boards like formula.  But what advantages does light weight sailors have that heavyweight don't? 

Meng: Thanks.  I'll be getting a 7.5-8.0 sail, so i don't have to wrestle the sail the wind picks up. 

You said you have just finished mastering the basics.  Well, between this stage and planing on any board there's a whole lot of water time.  How much depends on how quickly you learn.

[PlaneSailin]

But what advantages does light weight sailors have that heavyweight don't? 

Everything else being equal, a lighter sailor will get planing in less wind. 

[Syamil]

My strategy for sail size is to deny any possibility that i might not be able to handle whatever size in whatever wind. More than often it doesn't work well but at least it gets me on water.

[Sepharis]

Something that i found out during my learning on the PA's equipments; there's no harness lines on the boom and the board has only 1 foot strap to recover and launch the board, how do beginners like me get to start planing before getting our own equipments? 

I've always been on the 6m soft sail and mistral prodigy, when the wind picks up, i can go faster by standing more to the back pulling the sail along, but that's not planing right? I still don't get the speed i'm desiring for. 

[Syamil]

Bear off, sheet out a little then hang like a monkey from the boom and push from your toes. This will lift some weight from your feet which is the same act as when you're hooked in, or rather more efficiently. Guy Cribb described it in detail HERE

You can also try pumping a little because the board can be sticky to the water sometimes.

[Denis Wee]

As Syamil said, you have to be able to hang like a monkey from the boom.  Have you learnt how to do that yet?  You do not need a shortboard to do this, it is easier to do it on a club board.  The next thing is to learn how to use a harness.  Beg, borrow or steal (did I say steal?) an old harness from someone.  Get two lengths of lines of about 1.5 metres each and 8mm diam. and tie them onto the boom of the club board.  You now have harness lines for the rental board and you can practise using the harness.  Of course if you are one of the lucky few for whom money is no object, then by all means buy the best harness you can get and also ready-made harness lines.

[Sepharis]

Yep, i always do that when the wind picks up and i can hang off the boom using my body weight, hands are straightened and body leaning out. So i guess it's time for harness.

I've a question bout foot straps; how do they help in planing? cause i've not stuck my foot into any foot straps before when windsurfing. The club board's only foot strap is too far behind for my rear leg to slot in, therefore i've never been able to reach it.

But at least i'm alr feeling bits of the adrenaline rush when i hang out like a monkey.  It really gets me excited when i go faster than usual. Guess will be getting my harness and lines soon.