11.5 or 12

[<JW>]

Suhkdev,

I need a new sail for lightwind FW racing (only national). I have a 12 meter N2.5 and I want to trade that one in to get me a new N5. BUT:

I'm not sure wheter to go for the 12 or the 11.5. The first year I had the 12 I sailed the star156 and the board could not really handle the sail and so I ended up more using my 10 then the 12. In 2003 I sailed the DevilII and my 12 came more into play. But it never gave me the absolute ...

The sail feels a bit heavy/draggy and it is as if I am not tall enhough to get it twisting and breathing correctly. (I have used arrows 550 and Ignition 550 with the sail). Now that I am going to buy a new sail I wonder if a 11.5 might be just a fraction better for me. On the upwind the sail is maybe even better because of the less drag. On the downwind there might be a little less power.

I'm 80 kg and 167cm tall. I sail the devilII now . I primarely sail on (big) lakes with not that much chop.  90% of the windrange is between 6-14 knots and mostly pretty steady (not a lot of gusts)

Most of my trainingpartners use 12 (or 12.5) as their biggest so I'm a bit afraid to have less sail then them BUT on the other hand it might just be a fraction better for me. 'A more optimum choice' so to speek. Btw next sail in line is 10.5. But the most important is 12 versus 11.5.

I got smoked a couple of times by a friend of mine who only used 11 as max (RS3 that was) so it can be done....

Thanks upfront for replying.

[sukhdev]

JW,

I used the 12 N4 alot when it first came out and like it alot. one thing about n4 is very small tuning changes can be felt,eg i've been on the 10.5 alot and we have others here on that sail (IJ for example) and the consensus is just varying the setting a small amount makes all the difference between smooth and slippery or heavy and draggy. The N4 is far away from the N2, the sails have evolved quite a lot, so if you are considering N5 then size for size its clearly not apples to apples comparison.

If its flat water, for me (1.83m 85kg) I'd stick with the biggest I could handle and tune the hell out of it.

In a way it doesnt matter much if you go 12 or 11.5, thats only a 4% step down.

Lastly, I don't know your sailing style but for some sailors efficency works better than power. If thats the case maybe an 11 is in order as I would think that the choice between 12 and 11.5 is rather small.

I had a good lesson in efficency a few days ago. Took out the new 158 in 12 to 20 knots super gusty wind with only an 9.3N4/C3 F series 70 so i was underpowered almost all the time, yet the combo pointed extremely well when pacing some other sailors. At your height going for an efficent rig which can twist better might be the way to go, in which case you may want to consider 11 and tune it for conditions as appropriate.

Last factor : your entire quiver. if you are keeping the 10.5 then 11 is no point, if you are changing your whole quiver then a possible set up is 11, 9.8. I'm running 12, 10.5, 9.3 for N5. Meng is going 11.5, 9.8.

[<JW>]

Sukhdev,

Thanks for your reply.

I will take your advice into account and will make my choice soon.

Kind regards

Jan