I saw a formula board, a 550cm mast and a 12.5m sail a few weeks ago at a shop. The board was the size of a door. I chuckled when I saw it, I didn't expect it to be that big. The mast and sail were about two stories high. The sails were hanging from the ceiling and the mast were put together. Not sure if it would fit in the jeep but I'd love to try it some day.

Got myself a 2nd hand starboard formula and I enjoy sailing when the others are waiting for the wind to pickup......!

Sounds good to me. I know nothing about formula boards, so could you put on a more manageble sized sail (say around 7 meters) and still plan in light winds around 8-12 knots?

I'll happily go out on my 116 lt board and 6.6 sail in 10 knots, if only to keep the muscles working, get practice tacking and slow gybing and enjoying the freedom and scenary, but if I could plan in those winds I'd be stoked.

I would happily grab an old formula board if a cheap one came up. The kids would have a ball cruisng around also.

From my experience I need 11/12 knots with the 10.0 to get planing. I cannot pump and weight 80 kg + gear. I don't think a small sail would work in light winds because of the large wetted surface of the board and the straps position.

Mobydisc said...

powersloshin said...

From my experience I need 11/12 knots with the 10.0 to get planing. I cannot pump and weight 80 kg + gear. I don't think a small sail would work in light winds because of the large wetted surface of the board and the straps position.

Would not the larger wetted area also mean there is more volume and planing area with potential lift?

gotta have the grunt though to get past the extra drag

Here is another good article and site if your are interested in Formula

www.hugedomains.com/domain_profile.cfm?d=windsurfingtour&e=com

I prefer the feel of a 7.5m to 8.0m on a 85cm wide early planer than a monstrously heavy 9m or 10m/formula board.

It won't get you going quite as early as a formula board/huge sail, but much more feel and topspeed across the wind.

Negative outhaul key to getting going early,sail should be touching other side of boom,still need decent downhaul if wind above 13 knots.

Sailed Wednesday in a moderate easterly,averaging around 14knots. Jasper was on 82cm wide F2,7.9M and 44cm carbon volt,was planing in around 12 knots. A light weight could have got this combo going in around 10 knots.

If we all stopped knocking off family blocks of chocolate,crisps,take-away,coke and especially beer, we wouldn't need any bigger than 7.5m.

Formula windsurfing has benefited from the obese epidemic and will further progress.

Get back to nature and consume whole foods such as fruit,veg and nuts .If you are strong enough willed you can do it!

Go watch the TV and drink some coke for sh!t sake!!!

I try give the TV a miss,only drink pepsi when depressed about lack of wind.

Any gear that gets you out on the water is fun and healthy.

Just find with formula gear,there is quite a small window of wind,8-14 knots when it's only really enjoyable. Above 14 knots prefer smaller gear.then
the added hassle of carrying large gear in your car.

I'll stick up for you Peter...

I guess if want to go down the 8-12knots needing to plane, then your really looking at two sports.

'sail' boarding v 'wind' surfing

Under 12 knots I can Sup sail and teach others, or even go for a SUP to keep fit.

Rather save my $$ and use that for a 'windy' destination holiday!

Regardless of the sail and board size and $$$ 70cm fin in around here is impossible!, 36cm is hard enough.
If Formula was attractive more would do it, its been around long enough to prove its not, size and cost would be the biggest reasons why its not.

Mobydisc said...

I'm a bit worried about dropping such a big sail and never being able to either water start or uphauling it and busting my back in the process.

Formula windsurfing does look like fun though. I wouldn't mind an older formula board with a slightly smaller fin than 70cms and a sail of about 9m. Just for getting going in lighter winds.

Moby, the purists may tell you it doesn't work with a small sail, downforce required from a big sail etc... I think that for racing = yes, you need the big sails as you are cranking tight angles upwind and deep angles off the wind.

BUT... if you just want to extend your time on water (like me) without paying a truckload of money then formula gear is the way to go.

I have used a 7.8m and had heaps of fun. just put the mast track further forward than the big sails. I've had a go with a 6.4 in super gusty conditions, great laugh, and yes the board left the water once. I have even taken my five year old out, two up, with a 5.3 wave sail and jagged a gust to get on the plane. Awesome. All with the stock fin. And with the 11m I can pump onto the plane when there is very little wind and experience the joy of sailing on really flat water and go exploring.

All up, I am super stoked that I bought formula gear, heaps more time on water. You would have heaps of fun with a 9m and an old formula board and maybe a 56-60 fin to start with so your legs don't burn too bad.

my issue(s) with formula sailboarding is money and too long of a fin
do have a 10-oh , but NO formula board
instead I went with a Fanatic Ultra CAT longboard that cost me next to nothing
i have adjusted the universal mast base to take the bit from the CAT
now I can come in when the wind drops and swap the same sail to the CAT
most of the time this is my 8-oh
as a heavyweight in lighter winds, the MS-2 8-oh free-race sail is my most used sail
the CAT can plane in 10 to 15 knots and after that it is an AHD FF 160/79

and thus I am covered from 10 to 20 knots with just this equipment

the 10-oh goes on the longboard that planes well at 10 knots and glides well in 8

unfortunately, it is getting VERY difficult and $$$ to get a new longboard %^&*()
there are plenty of new and interesting designs - Exocet , AHD , etc