If your talking about very high winds and wanting to improve your gybes, def a freewave / FSW
A Fox handles chop well yes - but you want a bit narrower, a bit more rocker, and a bit more rail tuck for gybing in crazy conditions.
I have always believed that a good FSW is a must if trying to perfect carve gybes in windy stuff. So many people persist with a freeride say 20 or 30L above their bodyweight and when the are going warp speed in 20kn plus they can't bury a rail - so step on the tail and kill the speed, the carve, everything. They do that for years and say they can't get the carve gybe.
I couldn't think of anything worse than your AtomiQ actually. Keep it for the nice planing days that aren't crazy, and get a FSW about your bodyweight or preferable a bit under, with a fin about 1 size smaller than standard. Use the latter in 30kn and you'll get a lot better.
Agree with the Atomiq point. I actually have a first generation Atomiq 110 from 2014 and a Dyno 105 and Dyno 85. I think the Atomiq is a brilliant and underrated board having also sailed Fox/Blast/Super ride as well (all nice boards). The Atomiq is so fast and lively. But I wouldn't go near it in choppy conditions if there was enough wind for either Dyno!
At 85 kg (same as me) you'll want a mid 80 litre board for 25 kts + . FSW is ideal. Just copy what the other sailors are using in Wellington, they have already done the spot-specific R&D. Also don't be tempted into a less-than-suitable-but-convenient secondhand or "on special" choice in the hope that it will work. You'll just waste your money. Figure out what really works based on sound research and buy accordingly.
P.S. For winds into the 30kt range you're going to need a little wave board too, sorry to say...
Select to expand quotekuotadriver said..
Any pointers as to where I should be looking would be appreciated. Sailing in 25-40 knots and choppy water.
Cheers
If is is a real 32.5 knots average, at my weight, 72Kg, and assuming I would like to get out in a storm, I would only consider something smaller than 80L. Certainly not a freeride board. I would pick the smallest production wave board around ... and probably would have to go custom.
At 80Kg, and 20-25 knots average (that is most likely the case, few people can sail in 35-40 knots), I would pick a 80-85L FSW. In 3.7-4.7 conditions (whatever that is in knots) I use a Starboard Kode FSW 81L.
i have the Fox 95 and loving it in the high wind conditions. Watch Karo van Tonder youtube on the fox and why she chooses it over the Isonic in high wind and chop. Would advise changing the fin to even stabalise it more
The high wind sessions can be crazy fun.
At 85kg a Patrik Trailer Wave 78l is my go to board in 3.3 and 3.7 conditions. if its really nuking I am using a 16cm Scorcher center with 2xEzzy Assy 10cm from K4 Fins in a thruster setup. It works very well to reduce the center fin size to keep the board pinned down.
Last high wind session was 60+knots and overpowered with 3.3 screaming madness. THe water is boiling and its very difficult to keep the gear down when waterstarting. One needs to be up and going between two waves because there is no way to keep your gear down on the wave top . Both feet in the straps , lift the sail for power and boom the rocket launches, great fun..... No way to keep the grin out of your face. Gybing is close to suicide but a great feeling when nailing one . Great fun to always have to much power, makes one forget the subplaning days....
Windtech Magic Bullet is a stunning accessible FSW, extra length makes it sail as if a bigger volume, even easier in high wind rough water than Silver Bullet (I have both) - go 95 if you are heavyweight, or 85 if lightweight - adjustable tail really changes ride and extends wind range
