Very long fin on F158

[<Arnaud>]

Hello,

I will get a Formula 158 next week, for use in very light winds (6 to 12 knots) with a 11.7 RS3 sail, I'am 1m88 and 83Kg

I don't race, so I can use fins biggers than 70cm

Is there a big difference in getting (and keeping) planing with a 80cm fin vs the original 70cm ?

Anybody have somme experience with this ?

Arnaud

[sukhdev]

Arnaud,

I have a 77cm Deboichet R14 that I've used on a few formula boards eg Drops mb14, 186, 186x, Bic fw1.4. I tried it on the 147 but didnt really like it though it worked really well on the other boards especially on mb14 and 186. On the boards where the 77 worked well it made a massive difference especially going upwind in light air. I'll get around to testing it on the 158 sometime when our light wind season starts (soon).

[jand]

Hello Sukhdev

You mentioned:

Arnaud,

I have a 77cm Deboichet R14 that I've used on a few formula boards eg Drops mb14, 186, 186x, Bic fw1.4. I tried it on the 147 but didnt really like it though it worked really well on the other boards especially on mb14 and 186. On the boards where the 77 worked well it made a massive difference especially going upwind in light air. I'll get around to testing it on the 158 sometime when our light wind season starts (soon).

I am interested to improve my light wind sessions on a 158/nitroIV 12m. Can you give me some feed back about the 77 cm R14 experience in combination with the 158?

[mark h]

I would be interested to hear comments relating to powerfull light wind fins. I use a F158 and a Select Ultra 70cm and a Nitro 11m. I can get my 100kg (£1000s worth of pies & larger) going in around 6 knots if I pump like a demon, trouble is I dont think my shoulders can take to many more years of this. Do lager fins really help or do they just hinder, is there a super powerfull fin out there that I should consider getting, it might be more economical to buy a top flight fin now than paying for major shoulder surgery in a few years time. Any imput would be great as where about to hit the light wind session over hear in England.

Happy sailing

[sukhdev]

I never did get around to using the 77 on the 158 though Meng used the C3 B (high lift fin for low wind). The high lift fins, be it through length like the 77 or the B 70  do make a huge difference under 12 knots but top out very early around that point and become a handful (literally a drag). I'll probably try out the 77 soon on the 159 as our light wind season is upon us now.