How big is your gear?

23cm fin

Cheers
We are planning on going back out this arvo and the conditions should be calmer with the low tide so will see if that helps. Sticking the gybes this morning was almost next to impossible.

Tasman said...

I was using a 78 ltr freestyle wave with 2cm fin and a 4.2m wave sail.

If it is really 35 to 40 knots, 4.2m is too big for you! I found a 4.5m in a true blue 35 knot day was more than enough for me when I was 96kgs.

Can you quickly add 20 or 30kgs to your weight?

I have 80kg and 4.5 was too big for me with 28knot const. with 43knot gusts...(gusts were the reason ;) )

Curently saving money for 3.7 to manage strength like that...

R0CKSTAR said...

It's the board that's the problem. With the 4.2 you can down/outhaul the ** out of it when it gets too windy, it won't handle as well as you like, but should be more controllable. 78l for a 70kg bloke in high winds =

I'm 80kg and I have a 78l & a 69l. The 78l doesn't get used past 22/23knots.

Cripes no wonder I had fun in 35kts when I used a 86ltre board ( + 20 on my weight..).I thought it was normal for the board to be flipped upside down by the wind when you are trying to waterstart & bounce around all the time when going..

Have you outhauled you rig too much? Many sailors think that the windier it gets the more outhaul, but thats only true to a cetain point, past that you will only flatten the sail and make it more uncontrollable.

I'm 85kg on a 105l and 5,2 because (i have no smaller) in those conditions... But i find its easier to control with 1-2cm more outhaul, than yanking the sh"t out of it...

Just got back in from the afternoon sail on the low tide.

thanks for all the replies. had a much better sail with the flatter conditions
The board was still boardline out of control but i could keep the pressure down through the board because there was a lot less chop. Dropped the boom a bit and down hauled the sail as much as was practical.
I will definitely be looking for smaller kit as we get these fronts here fairly regularly and yes it was 35 to 40 knots as the weather statiuon is only 100m from where I was sailing so you can check the wind speed for every half hour interval.
Will probably look at a 3.5 and something in the 60 to 70 litre range for a board.
Drinking beers tonight and going to the chinese restaurant to put on some weight

Ian K said...

Had to burrow thru the BOM website to check up on the Windy Point readings. ( Not that we didn't believe you Tas. ) It's about time the LHI wind was included in the NSW Seabreeze obs isn't it? I'm getting that way that I can only comprehend green arrows.

So Ian, where's the link for those of us that are not able to understand the Internet? (or are too lazy!)

edit: Funny how good google works sometimes with the right keywords...

www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60701/IDN60701.95995.shtml

Smaller gear for sure! I am 20kg heavier then you and would use the same gear in those conditons. Ina solid 37kn with no gusts/lulls I found 4.0 a handful

If it is a real 35kn, my mate who is a bit under 70kg would be on 3.2 - but then that is wavesailing so not wanting to be overpowered, he could handle a 3.7 if he had to I guess

I'm 68-70kgs and use a 71L board with a 19-21cm fin. Although now I'm riding a twinny and have 15cm fins. Also have a 4m sail when it gets over 25knots. Honestly I struggle if it gets much more than say 28-30 knots.
Hope that helps

Al Planet said...

I can't see any 35 kt conditions on the obs for Lord Howe though it looks like its been a nice gusty 20 to 33kts?

My mistake, it has been very very windy over there!!

There is a lot of variation between the two Bom sites.

www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60801/IDN60801.95995.shtml

Hey windanza,
you obviously know how the wind swings the swell around to the back of the island.
You are right on the money, we had waves at Middles today about 4ft but went sailing again as it was still in the mid 20's.
Tomorrow will be the day for waves as the swell should jump even more.

This by contrast was on a 25-30 knot day and was using a 4.7

Waiting4wind said...

If it's a FSW78 with a 23cm fin it sounds like a JP? The stock fins are quite powerful as they have a deep base. I use a 21cm wave on mine and it makes a huge difference in keeping the board stuck to the water....30-40 knots would still be pushing it. I'm reasonably comfortable (I'm 90kg) with this set up and a 4.2m in 30-35knots

mmm..Maybe I should get a 25kg weight belt for the big days..then I could stay in control.. Only problem would be waterstarting..