wind conditions I+ll be sailing most: summer breeze up to 15knts most of the time.. a stable consistent wind

go for the smaller, will still give you 60 litres of floatation and will be much easier to handle in stronger winds and chop once you start improving

Here are the specs:

RRD Firemove 2014
material: Carbon
Volume 130l
Size 238 x 79 cm
Sail size 7.2-9.5
- use board but like new

Fanatic Shark 2013
material: HRS
Size 245 x 73 cm
Sail size 6.0 - 9.0
-used and cheapest board of the three, but I will have it repaired


Starboard Carve 2014
material: Tufskin /AST
Volume 121l
Size 252 x 72.5 cm
Tail width 47
Thickness 12
Sail size 5.5 - 8.5
- new and most expensive

yes, the fanatic and starboard are almost the same size. it's much of a muchness. get the fanatic because it's cheaper.

be careful it has no water in it because if it does it's ready for the tip. you need to weigh it and see how far out of spec it is.

Would JP X-cite 135l (250 x 73cm) ride for example be better than 121l Carve ? .. by better I mean for learning jibes and getting into footstraps in moderate winds?

paddymac said..

Zgirl said..
Would JP X-cite 135l (250 x 73cm) ride for example be better than 121l Carve ? .. by better I mean for learning jibes and getting into footstraps in moderate winds?

Very similar design criteria, both classic freeride boards, comfy in a range of conditions, great to gybe and a good turn of speed. Any modern freeride board around those dimensions will fit the bill. Less width will make it less stable, more width will give you control issues at your weight. I reckon 70-73cm wide and ~250ish long.

control issues at which wind speed? I think like my max will be up to 18knts with my 5,3 sail

Zgirl said..

paddymac said..

Zgirl said..
Would JP X-cite 135l (250 x 73cm) ride for example be better than 121l Carve ? .. by better I mean for learning jibes and getting into footstraps in moderate winds?

Very similar design criteria, both classic freeride boards, comfy in a range of conditions, great to gybe and a good turn of speed. Any modern freeride board around those dimensions will fit the bill. Less width will make it less stable, more width will give you control issues at your weight. I reckon 70-73cm wide and ~250ish long.

control issues at which wind speed? I think like my max will be up to 18knts with my 5,3 sail

To put some perspective on it.

I weigh round the same as you (60kg).

my largest board is a 117Litre thats 75cm wide I can (with a 7.5m sail) get it going in around about 12knts of wind.

In 15knts of wind with the 7.5m sail Its great fun, the board gets planing with no pumping, feels lit up, but not out of control

In 18knts with the same sail, the board is quite flighty. Any little bits of chop and it wants to flick me off,mainly owing to its width and my lack of weight to be able to hold it down.......

Taking into account that its a 5.3m sail youre sticking on it, you'll probably need at least 15knts before you might get it planing, 18knts of wind and you'll probably find it gets flighty like my board unless youre sailing on super flat water....

Its a good next step though, I'd definitely go for the combo/sizes youre looking at, when youre ready for a bigger sail, you can stick it on that board and get planing sooner.

I weigh about 63kgs and have a 115ltre 75cm freemove board.
It behaves well in chop and the width is great for gusty conditions. It's more forgiving than a narrower board so I don't need to worry as much about getting in and out in gusts & lulls. ( compared to my 125 Rocket that was 69cms wide) Easier and more forgiving to gybe too.
I wouldn't want to use it in much more than consistent 18-20kts in chop as although it behaves it bashes you around more being bigger.I'd be using a 6.6m in those conditions and wanting to change down to my 95ltre. I'm an intermediate female sailor.

Windxtasy said..

Zgirl said..
as a conclusion, you all mostly think it will be best for me to take the Starboard Carve 121l (252x72,5cm) to pair it with my 5,3 sail to sail it mostly at light and moderate winds and when I get more skill to go on stronger winds?

It will combine better with that small sail than the bigger boards too - more balanced

which one the shark? that's the smaller board.

you'll be cruising. lots of fun ahead.