G'day everybody, I was hoping to get your input on a few thoughts floating around in my head. But first a quick bio to help the situation a bit. I started sailing at 8 years old, windsurfing at 18 years and I'm 46 now. My technique is ok but my body isn't. Arthritis and type 1 diabetes mean that the mind is willing but the body has other ideas lol.

My gear is an old 12 foot raceboard built by andrew reagan. It's a dinosaur and I do love it so lol. I also have a seatrend 68 about 10 years old, It's an old "flapper" style race board about 270 x 70 cm. It was one of the early generation when boards went from long and skinny to short and wide. It goes well upwind and reaching but gets a little "catapulty" off wind. Last but not least is a bullet proof caveman custom slalom built by john gillis. It's 9 foot by 20 inches and about 70 to 80 litres I guess. It's not just dated, it's carbon dated. It's rediculously small by modern slalom board standards lol.

My sails vary from ok to prehistoric. I have an 8.2 sailworks NX that goes ok and a 7.0 sailworks retro that is nice. after that my sails get a bit dated, 95 to 97 models.

So now that you know my gear, My question is, how much better is the new stuff?

I've been idle from the sport for about 8 years due to marriage but now its time for one last hurrah before my joints fuse together. I always try to do my homework when buying gear and I like the look of the starboard futura's. I'm dithering a bit over volume between the 101 and 111. I dont want to go to big as that role will be filled by something else. I weigh about 80 kg's and the biggest sail I would carry on the futura would be my 7.0 and smallest about a 5.5 . Severne is my choice of sails. taking into account performance, quality and price they look pretty good. And after reading some very helpful posts on this forum I will be using 70% carbon masts :-)

I am also thinking seriously of getting into formula. I want some light wind gear but light wind slalom is not what I want, I like to sail upwind for a few km's and reach home again so the upwind/broad reaching nature of formula seems appealing. when I was younger I would regularly beat 10 km's into a southerly with an OP sail just so I could reach home again at any angle I want lol.

I understand the formula gear is challenging, however as soon as I can get going on the futura the formula will very likely be put away. so it's light to medium conditions it will be used in. There is a local sailing club about 2 km's from where I live that races formula so I will definately rock up and get my BUTT KICKED lol.

So getting to the point of my second question, am I kidding myself about the formula and should I just go light wind slalom? I have some physical limitations from my arthritis and to a smaller degree my diabetes but to be honest my mindset is it's only pain, stop whinging and harden up lol.

Any input much appreciated, cheers everyone.

This question is straight forward considering the following points:

1. You have a great Lake to sail on and explore all parts of
2. You have a great little club and group of guy's down the road that races every weekend
2. You don't want to pump around all the time in the light to medium winds on slalom kit
3. Sounds like you have been fully into the sport previously
4. You want to get the most out of every opportunity you can get on the water

Answer

1 x Formula Board
1 x 11m sail
1 x 110l slalom board
1 x 7.6
1 x 6.6

That should cover pretty much all bases, well at least to 20 -25knts

Get on down to Marmong, come up to the down under pro at Hawks Nest and have a look around, Formula is really one of the best sailing classes going and the NSW racing scene is exceptionally well organised and attended.

I don't plan on missing a season anytime soon.

All the best.

Thanks for the advice fellas very much appreciated. Jamesf That's a very generous offer of a test sail that would be a big help. I might take you up on that! Maybe not this weekend though, big southerly coming apparently.

Jmetcher you hit the nail on the head regarding my concerns. I was watching the formula guys at marmong the other day and the sail sizes they were carrying stopped me in my tracks and made my jaw drop. That type of thing just isn't going to happen with me and it's not really what I want anyway. I'm just looking to be powered up in light to medium stuff but I do enjoy good upwind performance. I brushed over the formula rules last night and it seems I can run with 3 sails? If thats the case I'm happy to just carry something smaller and get left behind downwind. That doesn't really bother me to be honest.

Thanks for the help fellas

Cluffy said...
just a quick bump for closure.

I've decided to go with a starboard ultrasonic rather than a formula. I was out in a southerly today with my 7.0 retro and I was nice and comfortable. I tried my 8.2 earlier on and I wasn't really enoying it. I was watching the formula guys and they looked to be running 10 and 11 metre sails. that's not really my cup of tea sorry guys.

I love the upwind power of the formula's but I should of remembered that performance like that is going to come with a trade off. An ultrasonic with a 60 cm fin will satisfy my upwind needs just fine I think

The ultra sonic was a narrow winner for me over the JP super lightwind. In the end it came down to the tail width and the slightly narrower tail of the starboard suits me a little better I think.

Happy sailing fellas!

Where we you sailing? I was watching someone off Valentine..

I was watching them in the distance.I was crewing on a yacht.One of the buggers cutting up the water off Valentine.For once I didn't feel I was missing out as it looked pretty gusty..Great to get some rain but hope the NE's blow this week!

i call the JP SPLW, the SB US and my BIC Techno Formula "free formula".
they are a little easier to handle, plane early and may not require such long fins.
i too have read that the SB US is slightly preferred over the JP SPLW.
here is a SB video showing that the US is NO slouch !!!