I have been sailing for a long time but haven't sailed much over the last 5 years. My boards are a Bic Veloce 298, Tiga 275 ACR and an old Bic Regee. Most of my days have been spent at Galts. Most people know what conditions are at Galts. Much of my time is spent trying to uphaul during a lull or waiting for a gust to water start. It tires me out so quick that it almost isn't worth it.
My question is, do the new wide style boards help with this problem? It looks like to me they would be much easier to uphaul because balance would be much better. It also seems like the stability would help in the gusty conditions of Galts. I am after a comfortable shortboard that doesn't kill me in the first 30 minutes. I am also not extremely concerned about speed as long as I am planing.
I weigh 185 so I was thinking about something in the 160 volume. Any advice would be appreciated. My sails range from 4.1 to 8.0.
Thanks
Alan,
My $.02. I think the wider boards will help because of the increased stability. You won't have to fight as hard to balance when the wind drops or picks up. 160L is plenty of volume for your weight and since Galts is pretty much flat water, so the extra width won't be too much when the wind picks up. Maybe Randy can comment since he has a lot of experience with both Galts and wide boards (Techno Formula and Hypersonic).
For reference, I sail at Galts too and am about 180lb. I sail a 2003 Naish Titan 268 (V=135L, l=268cm, w=66cm) and an 2000 F2 Phoenix 320 (V=188L, l=320cm, w=70.5cm). I've found they both work great for sails 5.4 (with smaller fin) through my 9.0. Over the past four years at Galts, only once have I ever needed less than my 6.5. Note that the Titan is a wideboard and only 3cm wider than the Veloce.
You didn't mention what type sails your using. I wonder if you should consider upgrading your sails before your boards (that Veloce still looks like a good shape). I think the modern sails will help because the loose leach gives the sail a lot more range than older tight leach designs. The top of the sail twists off in the gusts and keeps the sail managable. Both my 6.5 and 9.0 are Sailworks Retro's and no cam designs and are well known for their range.
Galts on a W or NW can be challanging no matter what your sailing. I've sailed there many times well powered up on a 6.5, only to get backwinded with little or no warning. That's why Randy calls it "Gusty Galts". Ocasionally you'll get a pretty steady W/NW day but don't expect it. E and NE are sweet and generally steady. Galts is nicer that VP if your not looking for ramps to jump, as the water's never that choppy.
Good luck and check out Gene's consignment shop.
Bill H.
Bill Herderich
I'm with Bill. Sure the newer boards help, but it also sounds like you might benefit from sails with a wider range. You seem to encounter more than your share of lulls - a larger, rangier sail should keep you going in those lulls without killing you in the puffs. Galts isn't so big that you'll end up in SC if you get a little too big - the water is reasonably flat so you can always limp home.
The newer boards help, not so much because of the uphauling (well, that is easier) but also because they coast through the lulls better.
I didn't consider upgrading my sails. My sails are all early 90s except one 6.5. It is a no cam design that is only 1 year old. I haven't had the right wind to try it yet. I am going to Cape San Blas this weekend so I should get to use it there.
My Veloce is a great board and I can uphaul it but it is still hard, even in the small chop of Galts. I was hoping the wider boards would be a lot more stable and wouldn't sacrifice much in how they sail. I do wonder about the long fin. Seems like that would limit where you can sail. I am going to Merritt Island this summer and may rent a wide board to try it.
Thanks for your time. Hopefully others can offer some help also.
Alan,
I've sailed both wide (100 cm) and narrow (57 cm explosion) at Galts and Lanier. First, the wider boards are much easier to uphaul for 2 reaasons. First and most important you don't fall off nearly so often. Second, on a wider board you have more leverage on the sail - you can "step back" from the center of the board, and its easier to pull the sail up. Also its much more stable.
As for sailing in general, the wider boards are also much less tiring, at least at a fairly flat water place like Galts. Again, the extra width of the board gives your body weight much more leverage on the sail. So this means that you can hold onto a bigger sail and power better through lulls. Also, in the really nasty, gusty conditions at Galts you can manage an unruley sail better. I think wide boards probably help more with the psycho winds at Galts than at a place with psycho chop like Lanier, since the disadvantage of all that width bouncing around in the chop is not such a big issue.
The wider boards will also plane in less wind (which is their main advantage) and are much easier to get into the straps with. However, it takes a big fin sometimes to take advantage of it all. With a big enough sail you can plane much deeper in the season. One thing I've done a lot is sail them with a smaller fin when the wind is really strong. Then if the wind falls off, instead of rigging a bigger sail, I put on a longer fin, and can often keep planning a lot longer.
Today was a sort of typical (though windier than average) day at Galts. I sailed my 77 cm hypersonic on a 5.2; Eddy sailed his 70 cm Techno on an 8.5 first, then a 5.2, and Jimmy sailed an 80 cm wide board on a 5.7. Despite the really gusty winds, Eddy was able to manage the big sail, though I was planning most of the time on the 5.2. He eventually went down to a 5.2, and he still seemed to be planning. So sailing on a wide board helps you manage things even if pretty overpowered.
You Bic was a pretty wide board (64 cm I think) so unless you go to something like 75-80 you probably won't see that much of a difference. I don't know what you 8.0 is like, but you said the 6.5 was pretty new. Your smaller sail is older, as I recall, but I doubt ultimately you would be using it that often. We've had much more wind this year than normal.
Wider boards now are also shorter, making them easier to transport. My hypersonic is only 227 cm long (7.5 feet).
They do have some down sides. Guys who have mastered the narrower boards may not find them enough of a challenge. Jibing is easier, in that you stay dry, though it may be harder to plane all the way through. (I can't plane all the way through on a wide or narrow, so this is theoretical). Generally, those who excel on the narrower boards think the wider ones are not as exciting. (Then again, how exciting is it to wait for a gust at Galts to waterstart?)
Give'm a try down in FL and see what you think. Most people nowadays are sailing wider boards. Webguy has a 100 cm, for ex and so do I. I sail my 77 cm (105 liter hypersonic) by far the most.
BTW - check and earlier post under the For Sale pages for a post from "Speedsailor". (He has a couple of them). He has an 80 cm wide seatrend that might be worth considering.
Good luck,
Randy
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
That is exactly what I was looking for. I am going to look around for some used ones and see what I can find. There is a Starboard on ebay that I have talked to the guy about. He is considering a trade for my Tiga 275. I may also break down and get a "good" large sail. Everything has progressed so much in the last 10 years. I just hate to put another $2,000 into this sport. Next time I see you at Galts I want to spend some time talking to you about my stuff.
Thanks for the help. I am off to Cape San Blas.
Alan
Alan
You should consider My 80cm seatrend It is really wide and stable ,it's a flapper design .... surprisingly fast. Your welcome to meet me at lake juliette and try it out sometime.
Alan
404-878-2716
I think it's more the venue than the gear. In my (limited) experience there, Galts is a lot of work. I am curious to see if Alan finds his stuff easier to sail in the CSB seabreeze.
cv
I totally agree with Chris. I was getting really frustrated on lake juliette yesterday, It's not a new/old gear thing when the wind blowing 7 to 36 and shifty. later in the evening it steadied out and I had alot more fun.
Isnt it amazing, back in the day we had one long board and one or two dacron sails and used it in all conditions.
Alan,
If you decide on a Starboard, check out our local members before you go to Ebay. Jibes and Rasheed both have a Starboard that they are looking to sell.
Patrick
Patrick's right, I'm selling my Start board.
Mimi
Had a good time. Sailed the boat most of the time. Balanced the wife and windsurfing with success. This meant limited windsurfing but did rig my 8.0 and sailed a while. Rigged a 5.0 for her and she tried it for the first time. She wants to try it again so that was time well spent.
On the trip I thought a lot about all the advice. The bottom line is my gear is old!. I sailed the heck out of it from 1989 to 1995. In the steady winds of the coast I am perfectly happy with my gear. My intentions were to try to stay out of the water as much as possible at Galts. It really gets old laying there wating for a gust to water start. I have a Tiga 275 ACR that is a great board. I only use it when I go to the coast and sail in shallow water. It is fast and bullet proof. I may try to sell it or trade it for something like a Starboard. If one of you guys really want to sell yours let me know. I think I would like one between 150 and 180 liters.
Thanks for all the help.
Alan