2018/19 Windsurf Kit Set Up and Why?

Hi Folks,

I'd thought I'd start a thread that might get a few people posting. The forum threads have been hiberating over winter but spring is just around the corner. With some warm northerly winds are on the way its time to getting the kit back on the water and maybe make a few changes for the coming season.

The idea is sharing what windsurf kit set up your using any changes you thinking about making or are making for the 2018/19 season?

Of coarse you may want to keep it a big secret !!!

So too kick off by example:

I've been using fanatic boards, a 113 falcon and 99 hawk this last year. Both have been great and resulted in some improvements. Both have a generous Vee in them which has been great for handling in short chop and progressing some speeds. But I'm changing to try something different and using the RRD Xfire board. I'm going big with a 130 size x 81wide for slalom and then back to the 115 size x 70 wide for slalom and freerace and 108 size x 68 wide for more GPS. I'm still working through the higher wind option and will continue to test the 99 hawk and a older 100 naish bullet.

I've been using a combo of Niash and North freerace 3 cam sails. They have been a bit more work then the no cam sails i was using the year before be generally I've enjoyed the trade off from a quick rig and light throw around sail for that bit extra upwind and off wind performance. I managed to control a 7.8m in the 3 cam for the first time this year (I'm 81kg) so for next seaon I'm trying a race sail. I'm going to use the Severne Mach 2 and use a Severne OD in the 7.0m

When it comes to fins i have been using Vector and Nitro fins and had been focusing try to improve my off wind speed. This happended but it let me down with lift and crosswind performance at the nationals so I'm going to try some more upright slalom fins and use carbon at 38cm and above, not sure about the 36cm size yet and stay with G10 at 34cm and below.

And I'm still sitting on the fence with the foiling!!!

So i should also mention this post is by no way slalom or freerace focused, if your foiling, wavesailing, bump and jumping or longboading it's all interesting to hear about.

Gday Brynoz, im an intermediate sailor based at GB. Weighing in at 103kg.This september sees the start of my 3rd year back sailing. Loving the RB stuff still. Pushing the big gear to 30kts my goal. 27.7kts PB sofar. I really like the feeling of hanging off the big gear.Sails are Ezzy Lions 9.5 n 7.5. Gaastra Cosmic 8.5 Severne RB 9.5
Boards are Speed 250s, Starboard380 Phantom.
Big quality fins are where its at for early planing. Even on RB.
2019 GOAL to get crankin on shortboards. Ive got AHD Freediamond 149. Older board 2.7m x 77cm. Ofo 50cm. Originally using select freeride 54cm. But everytime im sailing when a gust hit id spin the fin. So plenty of sail tuning rethinking to depower sail. ( im used to RB rig) Just dont need that much grunt on shortstuff. But i was still spinning fin. Worked out its my backfoot too heavy with rear strap outboard. Moved them inboard n NO FIN SPIN. Phew!! Tried multiple fins in the process. I now use 57cm Vmax 3.0. In a straight line i can sail it as well as most. Its just that turning around gig. (Lucky im at GB ) So 2019 for me will be Shortboard Gybecity.
Whenever the wind arrives....
3rd year in and my windsurf obsession is stronger than ever. If its over 10kts im there....
Darkman.

^^ Nothing wrong with longboardin Jeff!!

I turned 2 into 1. Had a dedicated foil board and a free ride board. Now I have a dual purpose one.

It's only slightly narrower and I'm only an intermediate foiler (NP aluminium) and do nnot have a desire to do it competitively at the moment. It means more space in the shed/trailer and a happier wife (who windsurf and likes the new board). Win, win.

No longer sitting on the fence!

Used on days I wouldn't of sailed otherwise in 10-15 Knots. Tried with a 7.8m and 7.0m and both worked well.

The raceboard is great. 0-30+ knots After a while though the 9.5 and big board lost some of its appeal as thee slalom kit plans in around 12 knots. The foil only needed 10knots to get going and at 15 knots it headed up wind like a raceboard.

Nice work Brynoz! Thats exactly what the original foils were designed to do.. Albeit on boats, smooth out all the lumps n bumps. Guessing there'd be a lot more footwork involved trimming the board thru the rough though.

Will the popularity of foils see the decline and potential extinction of light wind boards like the the JP SLW ? What's the general consensus out there?

Formula boards and large salalom work fine for foiling so they will still have a place and use. It's personal opinion that people will opt to use a 6-7m sail in 10-15knots using a foil instead of a 8-11m sail with big fin.

One limiting factor to foiling though is water depth and this will mean some locations will need to stick with the big sail and fin combo.

About half of my sailing sessions are on a foil now.