waaaaay overpowered, you mean? I'd rather have a bit smaller gear in those conditions, mainly due to my lack of ability, and the fact that I'd be getting airborne and catapulting too much!


But sure looked like fun

Looks like a pretty typical day at Kanaha - tough going!

jp747 said...

AUS1111 said...

Looks like a pretty typical day at Kanaha - tough going!

typical!wow..they seem so relaxed jibing and controlling that's why they're pro's..any guesses as to what sail size and board these guys are usingbtw nads me wanna have too just like them

Really uneducated guess - maybe a 5.0 to 5.4sq.m sail and 90 to 100 litre iS (Albeau).

Now in my mind that is 30knots of wind unlike the Hervey Bay video recently posted proporting they were sailing in 30 to 40knots. The Sunday week ago when I foolishly decided to go sailing with cyclone Hamish hanging off the coast, it was blowing 34 to 39knots, the sea was a mass of white water and I couldn't control a 5.4m slalom sail. In fact I couldn't even control my bowels I find it highly increadible if anyone says they can sail a 7.0m sail in 30+knots.

Anyway as they say 40knots is the new 30knots.

??

I would be guessing at best at the top video, but have a look at this one:



Scroll to about 1:04 mins and watch Antoine. That was 55-60 knots as confirmed by many sources at the time. Antoine is using 5.0m NP with a proto iSonic 50 speed board. In a solid 30 knots, Antoine would be using 6.7m AT LEAST and I'm sure in flatter waters even 7.2m; So would Bjorn, Micah, Finian, Ben vd Steen even maybe Kevin. That's normal for the top slalom sailors.

There's quite a difference between trying to race at the highest level and going sailing for fun. If I was sailing for fun, I'd always rig about 1m smaller than usual. 30 knots with a 7m is indeed quite possible although (as mentioned in that cyclone video's earlier post) we were using a 6m that day ;)

Ps. What's the red board the guy is using at 0.50 secs on this thread's earlier video? Looks like a gnarly painted Naish hybrid! Now THAT'S impressive to use in +30 knots!!

i noticed as i progressed thru the week say during the races that a 7.2 in 18-25kt winds seems a handfull in even semi flat waters but day after day i guess your muscles get used to it and maximize every bit so bottom line is water time..but for the pro's obviously they'd be using 8-9's depending on height and weight and me am 2/3rd's their size on everything