Sailing in choppy water: which board to use?

If you want to use a wave sail, that indicates you arent interested in speed, more ease of use, and in 25kts with gusts up to 35 cant say I disagree. From what I have seen at Garda, there is quite a large running chop/swell.
But what I dont think you want, is a slow freewave with tail rocker. They may turn easy on waves, but you dont have waves you can ride.
You still want a board which is easy to get planing as the wind is gusty. A board with a planing flat extending just forward of the front footstraps makes gliding through gybes without losing speed easier, and also aids early planing and control compared to a slalom/freerace rocker line.
I use an Exocet Cross 94l in Poole Harbour, 4.5m to 6m usually. No tail rocker, some 'v' and double concaves to cushion the ride, but not as much as other boards. This is because the excellent doubly density footpads do the cushioning for you.
They are faster than a Fanatic freewave or Severne Dyno, which friends have for use on the sea and in the harbour. Their boards suit them, but I want something a bit faster. The latest Exocet Cross have thrusters, but I think they have just added them in without changing the shape much, to appeal to sailors who think they need 3 fins. I had a Goya freewave for a short time, really hard pads and uncomfortable in anything but flat water.
Very similar boards to the Exocet Cross are JP Magic Move, Patrik F-Cross, RRD Power Move. When the JP came out, Nico Prien did a video talking about the shape and I thought it looked the same design parameters as the Exocet.

Me in Poole Harbour crossing the channel and back with wind against tide, so a bit choppy. Flat on the inside, choppy in the channel. Looks flatter on video. 5,2m Ezzy Tiger sail. I later moved the straps to the most rear positions which gave a bit more speed and no side affects to early planing/gybing/control.

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Any freewave will be way better than a big free ride in that wind

Yep agree with the others.
A fast freewave about 95 litres x60 wide, 4 straps, single fin.

You can use all the usual suspects for this. Some examples:
Exocet Cross, Tabou 3s classic, patrik f-Cross, jp magic move, jp freestyle wave.

The only reason I didn't recommend the severne dyno / fanatic / starboard kode is I feel these are great, but they work best as a thruster with 3 straps. For a lake I'd want to use 4 straps and a single fin. So above i recommended boards more on the classic freeride end of 'freewave'

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MHSA said..
Tabou 3s classic

I forgot about that one.
At one point Tabou changed the shape and made it very short, 225cm or shorter, and mucked it up for the lake/harbour/sheltered coastal blaster. Next year they had a new 3S+, with thrusters for freewave, and brought back the longer 235cm single fin board which remains in their lineup.

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Sed said..
Hi all,
I am new in the forum here but I've read a lot already.

Skill level: water start, planing and jibing tacking comfortably in flat / flattish water, 85kg.
Current set: RRD firemove 109lts (wide 76cm)

I am seeking for a new board to use in Garda Lake (Italy) where the chop is severe and wind is normally 25kts with gusts up to 35.
I am struggling using by board due to its width.

Ideal setup would be wave sail up to 5 - 5.5
I am considering mostly freestylewave boards, can anyone recommend some brand models and share their experience?

Thanks!

If you are at Garda the ideal set up is a Freestyle Wave board & a sail. I sail in the San Francisco Bay Area, that is windier than Garda, extremely choppy, but it also has swell.

For sails I use 5 battens Point-7 Spy, not the four battens Salt wave. 4.2, 4.7 and 5.4, but gaps could be bigger, it is a very rangy sail, fast, slippery, and easy to handle.

For the board I am on a 81L Starboard Kode FSW and RRD 90 FSW. The RRD is used the most because of onshore wind shadows. I am 70Kg, at your weight I would get at least around 95L. Either the RRD FSW or Powermove 96, or maybe the new Duotone 94 Ultra Freewave that as a concept looks very promising. Tempted to get it next year in place of the aging RRD. Don't go too low in volume. Modern FSW are very agile, and the extra volume is a blessing in a place like Garda (or everywhere). A 95 can also handle 6.0-6.5.

And stick with the three fin. With a Freestyle wave in 6.0-5.4 conditions my GPS indicates I gain 0.5 knots 10"x5 with respect to a single fin, but my low wind uptake is worse. Sub 5.5, that is 20 knots or more, the three fin is easier and more fun.

I am 74kg and got a second hand Tabou 3S+ in 96liters from 2019 early this year. The board is very good in chop and fast for such a board. You almost don't feel it. I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a board which is good in chop and turns well. Sailed it with mainly with 4.7 and 5.3.

I think the current model is almost the same. And if you only do flatwater, just buy some blanks for the slot boxes and put in a single fin.

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Maddlad said..
Tabou Rocket is my pick.

I'm with Maddlad on the rocket ,tried many boards and the rocket sure is a good chop eater without loosing speed
thats I guess the big thing about the rocket it still stays fast in hideous conditions ,
it sits down and behaves it self ,put a carbon fine on it and more more performance up wind ,
I have 2 rockets a 125 and a 105 ,the 125 @ 69 wide I use in the ocean with 6,5 and 8.0 ,the 105 at 63 wide ,I use 5,0 -7,0
I have sailed the 105 in 28-30 knots many times no problem ,
you being 85kg I would look at the 95 litre ,there are many other great boards out there to choose from ,it depends on what you can get in your area ,check out what other guys are using at Garda