In the never ending quest to find the right board for my needs I have now come to the question of "to be able to attach a sail or not..."
For those of you who have boards which have this option available, have you ever sailed it?
Do you see attaching a sail as something you will do often?
Would the ability to attach a sail drive your next purchase?
Thanks.
I have the starboard 11'2'' which you can sail. I have never sailed it but when I was looking at buying a board it was a consideration. In the end this board came up second hand so i was happy. If I was buying a new board now I'm not sure how much I would take into account its sailing ability.
I can't wait to try mine with a sail on it.
Apparently putting a sail on the big Naish SUP turns it into a real 'Chickmagnet'...
DJ
If you want real wave performance in no wind, starboard aero 117 or 127 is the go. They are only 235 long so they turn more lke a real shortboard. I have not tried the 9.0 SB SUP but SUPs are generally too long for serious wavesailing. You can get out and ride waves for sure but its pretty limited. For cruising they are great.
I have a 12'6" Starboard and have sailed it many times, it doesn't ever quite plane which is great when you get the hang of it because you never actually have the thing in your head "am I planing, is there a gust coming, can I ooch down this chop etc". You actually don't need more than a 5.3 or a 5.8 at the most and surprisingly even in waves you really don't notice lack of footstraps - in fact it is an advantage because you can move around so much more freely. Be careful of carbon mast bases, it only took one good dump in Waratah Bay to "shorten" mine. Once you get used to it the 12'6" points very high so is magic for long cruises, I had mine at Coral Bay in WA last September it was perfect to head out to the reef and work my way upwind for a few k looking at the coral and fish. If you have the option it adds another dimension.
had this in mind myself so borrowed a big starboard for a day. after initial novelty seemed much like an old wally but nothing wrong with that it's just not for me at the moment. I don't really think it is much of a consideration for the people I have spoken to. Really pleased I chose on SUP operability.
Hi There
saw your post earlier and thought I'd give it a go.
today we had 10 to 12 knots flat water
I used a 6m sail on a Naish 10'6"
All I can really say is it was fun
never really got planing just like the wally boards
I think I will try this option again and would think it would be great in the surf.
Jibs nicely wide and slow , going up wind took a bit of effort
but it really was not a great breeze today.
the best thing about suping is that it has wind range 0 knots (paddling) to 15 knots
and then we can bust out the the real windsurfing gear.
JB, will the Naish 11'4' come with a mast track?
have fun
simon
just got back from Lano, demoing a starboard 9'8 with a 5.7 in X on, cleanish fat waist to head high rollers at the back beach......
it blew me away HOW well this board performed....for a sup.
planes at 1/2 speed of a wave board, but feels ample for getting through the waves.
getting over the white water was a synch,
catching waves was too easy
and they turn real well aswell...once ur on the wave, you can keep the power in the sail to top turn, and push the board around ...it was too onshore to properly go frontside
oh yeah, sink a rail and they go high into the wind.
IF i get this board, i'd be using it as a light wind wave board but firstly a SUP, so yeah i would be using it often,,
hope i like the paddle side tomorrow
I find sailing SUP's way more fun in the light stuff that trying to get going on a windsurfer. I use the 10'6" mainly with a 4.7m rig. It's in it's element in 3 - 12 knots. You don't need to plane. And once your on the wave the rig is so light you can pretty much surf like you would SUP. It is definitely something you should take into account if you are a windsurfer.
I know a lot of guys are putting 6m rigs up and trying to get a more windsurfer type ride out of the board, this won't work very well, you just end up have a long and heave set up. Try a very small sail, forget planning, think light and manouverable.
I find in 3-5 knots you will sail about as fast as you can paddle (cruizing) and pumping your rig is like putting in some big strokes, so you will catch as many waves as you would paddling (sometimes more).
Like with everything, try everything! I recommend using a small sail all the time.
JB
I've got no idea of windsurfing, but sounds fun for Perth when the Freo doctor blows everything over in the arvo and turns the waves into white water. If I had a 9'8" starboard and approximately 15-20 knot winds, what should I be looking for sail wise for the board?
depending on your robustness...somewhere between a 5 and 6 for the Dr...
good board to learn the basics windsurfing on, easy to uphaul, tack, gybe etc...plus u get the added bonus of wave capability..unlike all other L boards....
i wouldn't be doing big jumps on them though!
and watch out for the boom taking out the nose of the board.
