After having a great sail yesterday 
and almost landing my first backloop, today was a serious reality check.
The wind had gone to a solid 35knots gusting to 40 and I spent the entire short session trying to keep my board in the water and not taking off into orbit. Still managed to have a few huge crashes 
when the board lifted off the top off a few small waves.
I'm only 70kgs ringing wet, any tips on making your kit work in these conditions, or do I need to go to smaller gear?
smaller gear probably, assuming you've already explored the limits of you sail's adjustment.
Guys that regularly sail in that sort of wind I am sure will chime in...
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.
Sound like great conditions, wish I was there.
23cm is pretty big for those conditions, a 21cm maybe a better size.
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.
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...
I'm about 12kg heavier than you and happily on a 3.7 if the average is 30. In 35 (which as an average is super super windy) then it would be more like 3.2, so at your weight with a 4.2 you're going to get smashed! If it's that windy you probably want a board that's at least below your weight in volume to be comfortable. Then again, unless it's that windy all the time (if so please send your location) it's probably not worth having a 2.7 and a 60L board just in case 
( + 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..
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?
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
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.
blatant plug warning....if you go to the Lord Howe Windsports website there is a link.
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
Cheers Mark
we usually are only wavesailing in the ESE which gets too gusty over 30 knots out on the reef.
this gear would mainly be for on the lagoon in flat water at low tide and bump and crash
/jump at high tide.
Speaking of crashing I'm off to bed, the beers and Chinese food have done the trick.
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
middles must be cranking by now Tas and surely you are surfing without the mast by today. the low looks to be right in the window for swell on the east side.
this coast is mastless today and beautifull bejewelled runways with concave faces. for the wave jockeys only.
At Al.......yeah you need the Windy Point Obs because the other one doesn't get the SW accurately.
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.
its pretty hard to keep the board down even for big guys .
This is a photo of me at sprecklesville beach (maui) in 35-40 knots of wind using a 84 lt Tabou pocked and a gastra 4.0 sail. As you can see i was having trouble keeping the gear down and i was about 100 kg at the time.
I was trying to keep the board down as i was lining up for a gybe when i got the air.
Personally i hated using the 4.0 - it was totally different to what im used to - ie 6 meter race / slalom sails that i would constantly fall on my arse when ever i tried sheeting in.
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
Only problem would be waterstarting..
Good idea about the wave fin in a smaller size(can sand one of my other ones down), but I think that in the end smaller gear will be a better choice.
Has anyone used the quads(four fins) in strong winds as I hear they are good in those conditions and I will be able to wave sail with it as well?
Don't know about a weight belt though.
