I have been windsurfing about 6 mths now and want to plane more often...I'm about 100 Kgs,am riding 150 l board,and have a 5.8 & 6.5 m sails..I am starting to plane more often but am looking to buy some gear...for about 15 to 20 knotts...just wondering what would be better bigger board or bigger sail?

Are you pumping the sail like hell to lift it onto the plane?

Seems to be a bit of a dying art these days.

Yep, you definitely want a bigger sail if you want to be planning more often. I only weigh 68kg, and I have a 7.4m sail for lighter days. So at 100kg, you need a larger sail than 6.5m for those 15kt days.

Just for reference, my sail quiver is 4.7m, 5.3m, 5.9m, 6.6m, 7.4m. This suits me from 12 knots to 30+.

What size and type of fin are you using with the 6.5?

Agree a bigger sail is the go.

at 100 kilos you definitely need bigger sail AND fin
if you wish to go slowly and less money, start with a 7.5
the fin s/b okay for that
for me, it is an 8-8.5 in that wind range with a 48 cm fin
also started using FreeFormula with huge fins and sails
now i can plane in 10 to 15 knot winds :)
it is NOT as expensive, not as large a fin and since i do not race i do not need a 12-oh sail

also, for me i like cambers in sails over 7-oh
it can be 2 cambers or full on race with 4 in my 10-oh
this means you can stay on the plane if the lull is small AND pumping gets you on the plane in no time

150 liter should keep you happy in a big sail range and some of them can handle quite large sails and fins

ENJOY - even if not planing :)
TOW/ time on water is vital !!!

Bristol said...
Are you using a harness yet?

Getting your weight off your feet and down through the mast foot will definitely help lift you onto the plane, and help you stay longer on the plane in the lulls.

(Agree with the other advice above)

Yeah mate in the harness ..still trying to sort out the foot straps.

kpb said...

Yeah mate in the harness ..still trying to sort out the foot straps.

If you are still working on the foot straps you may also need some work on your technique. 6.5 @ 20knots on 150lt should get you planing.