I was chatting with a shop owner in FLA USA. He recommended I get a low volume, high wind board in the 85 ltr range. I'm thinking that would be cool but would I use it more than 4 times a year? I live in WNC, and sail mostly on lakes. I'm trying to get to the coast more but we'll see. As we know, on lakes its good to be on a board that has enough volume for uphauling, for when the wind dies suddenly and doesn't come back. So, I'm thinking more of a 95 ltr range. But, manufacturers state that 95 ltr boards have a sail limit of 4.0 ish. I assuming this is ideal, but what if I go use the 95 ltr in 3.5-3.7 conditions? Am I going to implode?
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One idiot's thoughts: Implode? No. Bounce around a lot? Yes. At my size, in 3.7 conditions, I'd prefer a 78 l. board but I made do on a 3.4-3.7 day on an 85 because everyone had scooped up the 78s out of the rental shop. It wasn't that bad but when I got hold of the 78, it was a bit easier. The 78 I used (RRD tri fin freewave) ended up being my favorite boards and I grabbed one whenever I could when the wind was 5.0 or below. I suck at uphauling smaller boards anyway. Realistically for me - anything in choppy water below 105 will depend on me waterstarting. That's just one more reason to foil here even on the big days.
Also, it depends on the kind of board. For a pure wave board, 95 is a bit on the large side - it's almost in the float/ride category. True wave sailors will try to go down in board size as quickly as possible, even the bigger guys.
For a true high wind board for 4.7 and down, I think you'd really enjoy an 85. Just be realistic about how often you'll be in those conditions and even more with 3.5-3.7. That's a heck of a lot of wind for even most OBX trips. An 85 and 105 would be a nice short board quiver from 6 (or even 6.5) down. I'd probably do at my smaller size 98 and 78 in a perfect world. Actually, the perfect world is having a rental shop which has boards every 8-10 l.
Look at the wave sailing and gear review sections on seabreeze and kind of read through some threads. example: https://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/Goya-thruster-99-l-2018-or-goya-one-96-l-2018
FoilDodo
That makes sense, I was trying to talk myself out of needing an additional board or two!! The search is on!
A perfect world.
Ionas (owner, on the right) was amazing.
Me: What's it blowing today, Ionas?
Him after peering at the water for a moment: 4.2
Dang if he didn't nail it day after day.
How to sail a "sinker". Worth a watch no matter your level.