Which Fin?

I've almost got all of the stuff together to get into the water - I'm just beginning, did I say that? Just waiting for a daughter to bring a mast extension back from Perth for me. I'm well over weight, unfit and nearly 60, so I have a hyoooooj beginners' board - a JP Funster 205 (Nimitz class!) which I got 2nd hand in really good condition. It came with 3 fins - a JP Ride 42, a JP Seaweed Wave 26 and a Flying Objects 320 Weedster. Which one should I use, at least to begin with? There's no real weed problem here. No use suggesting any other fins as I won't be buying anything else for a while yet. I need to get started with what I have.

Good morning, Dinsdale,

I presume that because you are learning, your sail will be relatively small, say in the range of 4.5 - 6.0m. For these, the Flying Objects 320 fin would be more than adequate.

I think that Joe's suggestion of the JP 42 may be off the ball a little: the 42 will inhibit you trying to do beach starts, where you need less depth of water to get up on the board and, if you do get some speed up when coming back to shore, the 42 would tend to find sandbanks faster then the 320.

Hope this helps.

I'd go the 42, big boards need big fins especially if your getting planing without the centreboard.

Assuming your going to go out more than once , there's no harm trying all of them anyway

Dinsdale,

With respect to advice of others, you may be getting a 'bum steer' from some considering JP specs for the board and std fin fitted which I believe would be closest recommendation to follow:

Funster range 2007-2010: JP Freestyle 28cm fin + daggerboard
Funster range 2011: JP Ride 34cm fin + daggerboard
(both fins appear to have roughly the same surface area)

Ref: http://www.jp-australia.com/2011/index.php?id=587

Out of the three fins you have, the 320 Weedster would be the closest in surface area and relative performance to either of the std fins but would probably sail a bit different to the others. This may not be a problem though, if anything I think the weedie would make learning easier as weed fins usually soften the ride and handling a bit compared to more upright fins like the JP Ride, though this may be at the expense of upwind performance. Once you've mastered the basics and start planing faster using larger sails in light-moderate winds then the JP Ride 42 would be worth trying.

Another thing, if you're planning to learn to sail on Princess Royal Harbour at Albany which is probably the most popular spot for learning, be aware that weed can be a problem in warmer weather particularly near the shore (usually Jan-Mar). I sail on the Harbour occasionally but mostly in the ocean off Middleton Beach and found that the weed last summer in both areas was the worst I have experienced for many years! (bought my first ever weed fin in Dec last year and came in handy a number of times).