I bought the Da Curve a few years ago, for those big wind days but last year's season I did not ride it as the wind was not that great.
A mate gave me a Wave Slate 95 which I have been trying to ride and I also have a Fanatic Freewave 105.
I was going to sell the Da Curve but thought I might give it one more go. Went out on both Wave Slate and then the Da Curve same 3.7m sail with the wind howling. I find the wave slate dam hard to get upwind it seems like it is two boards in one and I am constantly trying to keep speed up and keep pointing to get upwind. But the Da Curve is just amazing. With it, I have lost my phobia of ending up downwind, something that has been bugging me since I changed over from slalom to wave riding.
Today was a little bit less wind and I went out on a 4.2m and I am still blown away by the Da Curve. I am like a completely different sailor. I was jumping higher, going upwind, catching the small waves, and being able to play on them.
Compared to the Tabou, I find both the Freewave and Wave slate absolute pigs to ride. They don't seem to get through the lulls very well, and I am constantly battling to stay upwind which results in good leg exercise but really I would prefer to use my time better.
I have a few questions regarding designs if you all would not mind chiming in
* Do I need to ride stubby boards differently to keep them upwind?
* What is so special about the Da curve shape when it comes to upwind?
* The Da curve did not seem like it was a sinker, I think me+wetsuit+rig would be 95kg+, Is there more foam between the staps and mast track to keep everything buoyant? (I don't think I could uphaul on this board though)
* I was watching Cedric Bordes talk about the Da Curve and he said he is 90kg and his favorite board is the 86L Da Curve. Doesn't that go against the new style of wave riding where we are no longer using sinker boards?
Select to expand quoteHenners said..
I bought the Da Curve a few years ago, for those big wind days but last year's season I did not ride it as the wind was not that great.
A mate gave me a Wave Slate 95 which I have been trying to ride and I also have a Fanatic Freewave 105.
I was going to sell the Da Curve but thought I might give it one more go. Went out on both Wave Slate and then the Da Curve same 3.7m sail with the wind howling. I find the wave slate dam hard to get upwind it seems like it is two boards in one and I am constantly trying to keep speed up and keep pointing to get upwind. But the Da Curve is just amazing. With it, I have lost my phobia of ending up downwind, something that has been bugging me since I changed over from slalom to wave riding.
Today was a little bit less wind and I went out on a 4.2m and I am still blown away by the Da Curve. I am like a completely different sailor. I was jumping higher, going upwind, catching the small waves, and being able to play on them.
Compared to the Tabou, I find both the Freewave and Wave slate absolute pigs to ride. They don't seem to get through the lulls very well, and I am constantly battling to stay upwind which results in good leg exercise but really I would prefer to use my time better.
I have a few questions regarding designs if you all would not mind chiming in
* Do I need to ride stubby boards differently to keep them upwind?
* What is so special about the Da curve shape when it comes to upwind?
* The Da curve did not seem like it was a sinker, I think me+wetsuit+rig would be 95kg+, Is there more foam between the staps and mast track to keep everything buoyant? (I don't think I could uphaul on this board though)
* I was watching Cedric Bordes talk about the Da Curve and he said he is 90kg and his favorite board is the 86L Da Curve. Doesn't that go against the new style of wave riding where we are no longer using sinker boards? ?si=jjtaaTnBAGDhMiL5)
* 86L Da Curve recommends sail size from 4.2 to 6.1 do you think that I could get away with using a larger size sail and just using the Da Curve?
* What's going to happen in gusty conditions when the lulls stretch out? Am I going to end up non-planning?
I know some of these questions are going to be answered over time. But most of you have been around for a long time in this sport and
well, it might take me seasons and seasons to figure it out. Thank you very much for reading.
1)You don't need to ride stubby boards differently to go upwind well. In fact the more parallel rails & flatter rocker should go upwind better. (not sure about the Slate...) The wider tail may like a slightly bigger fins. IMO the first thing you need to do is compare the Stance & the rocker lines. Try to replicate the exact stance you like on the DaCurve on the Slate: Check fin position vs Foostrap position & Mast oot position. Check the tail rocker particularly.
2)NO. Nothing special.IMHO...The narrower tail may help & if I remember it has a fast(ish) rocker for a waveboard. But my guess is it is simply set up better for you(stance as above...)
3) I can usually uphaul a board with volume close to my weight in kg.
4) Cedric can do what he wants, he is a Pro.
5)NO. Do not use a sail bigger than 5.7 or so on the DaCurve. It is not designed for it. If you set the Slate up well it may take a 6.2 with slightly larger center fin...
6)Yes. It is a wave board, & will not go through lulls that well. Either the Slate or the Fanatic FW will be better for going through lulls, quick planing, & going upwind. You just need to set them up better.
Trouble is you're comparing apples with oranges.
A classic proven wave shape that just works, vs a marketing exercise that suited few (people and conditions) and consequently hasn't lasted
Unfortunately stuck with the current boards unless someone does a swap with me. It would have to be next season until I can look into getting something else.
So that leaves me trying to get the same stance or correcting poor technique in upwind travel.
Slate has one center slot box and mini Tuttle side side fins
Freewave has a center powerbox and two slot boxes
If I am comparing the Da curve against the other boards is it better to replicate
* the center of the mast foot distance to the front strap and then try to keep the same distance between straps OR
* from the center fins base or tip keep the back fin under the same position as the rider's back foot and then try to keep the same distance between straps
Nice one about Cedric but I find it very hard to find the "everyman" review of most of these boards. I was under the belief that 10% (or something like that) more of body weight in Litres was the norm for windsurfing boards but I am finding in my riding that this is not the case.
Also about the larger sail, I meant that I would go out slightly overpowered rather than underpowered. My biggest wave sail is 5.3. Sorry, I can see why you would think that I meant using massive sails, even after reading again myself I was scratching my head.
