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TheAdmiral
Joined: 27 Dec 2009 Posts: 43
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Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 11:56 am Post subject: Best low wind windsurfer??JP Superlight!! |
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Currently in Florida(west coast) and need help on new board purchase.Sails,9.5Infinity,8.5&7.5 Retro and smaller. Just sold 145 Fanatic Shark and usingBic293OD as light wind board.(mandatory weed fin area).Proficient with harness and footstraps as an intermediate windsurfer.Looking at JP Superlight in the larger size(92 wide with inboard strap position). Has anyone tried this board??Have used a Kona and other sup but prefer a windsurfer.Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Mark |
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beaglebuddy
Joined: 10 Feb 2012 Posts: 1120
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Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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I was looking into one of these but the opinion seems to be that yes they can get you up onto a plane at around 12 knots but if the wind is less than that or there are lulls you are slogging very slowly as compared to a longboard, no real glide.
Also a bit expensive and possibly fragile as it's pretty thin. |
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jingebritsen
Joined: 21 Aug 2002 Posts: 3371
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DanWeiss
Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 2296 Location: Connecticut, USA
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Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 7:58 am Post subject: |
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I tend to agree with John about super-wide short boards, their limits and how those limits challenge sailors.
One of my favorite boards at last year's Windsurfing Mag light-air test was the largest Starboard, the 147 Ultrasonic. That board felt instantly familiar because most of my racing board experience in the last several years had been FW. I found it super-fun because it reminded me of a very light, small FW shape. It jammed upwind better than any of the other boards, in part due the ease of which I could go fast and how the tail powered through lulls. Its light weight made handling and jibing a breeze, but that light weight could make the hull feel "flighty" through spaced chop unless the sailor is familiar with technique required to keep the board's nose down and speed high.
Sail selection makes a huge difference when describing the ease of sailing any board. Race designs need sails that generate a great deal of mast base pressure as part of the overall balance of power. MBP adds stability and stability makes for comfortable speed. So when a board is capable of maintaining high speed over a wide range of apparent wind and water states, it often requires a high-stability sail in order to feel comfortable.
Light air windsurfing on a short board requires large sails and even free sailing techniques naturally lean toward FW methods when the wind comes up. Not all people find these circumstances especially fun. Others may struggle to develop a comfortable range out of large sails because personal tuning of large gear unfortunately remains a black art for most.
Still, I'd recommend the Ultrasonic 147 to anyone sailing smaller chop and willing to embrace large, full-cammed sails. RAF? Not unless the wind is rock steady. _________________ Support Your Sport. Join US Windsurfing!
www.USWindsurfing.org |
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lrrry
Joined: 12 Sep 2016 Posts: 61
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Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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Hi,
I'm also on the west coast of FL, and get a lot of light sea breeze winds and I'm also looking at the JP Superlite, and appreciate any comments or reports on it. And other boards that work well for planning in very light conditions.
Currently, I'm using a Bic Formula 160 and a Prodegy for light winds. Both with a 12.5 sail. The Formula does "reasonably" well perhaps in the 8 to 9 kt range, and once on plain, skoots along fairly well. The Prodegy takes just a bit more wind, and doesn't go quite as fast with light winds.
However, the Formula is a pig if it's not on plain, where the Prodegy does ok.
Comments? |
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jingebritsen
Joined: 21 Aug 2002 Posts: 3371
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TheAdmiral
Joined: 27 Dec 2009 Posts: 43
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 11:48 am Post subject: |
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Hi all, First I want to thank the great advise given to me .Dan, sorry to hear about the problems in MASS.(I"m heading to N.H. for the summer and had planned to sail there) Looked at many options and didn"t want true Formula with my intermediate skills. I Purchased a 2007,starboard ISONIC145,224/88..Sailed yesterday wind 11-14.Instantly on plane!!Never sailed such a wide ,short board..Recently sailed Shark 135&150 and sold my 145 Shark. The Isonic,retro8.5 planed way earlier and the instant accelleration in such low wind was amazing.THE sHARKS AND bIC 293od would sometimes almost plane going downwind but sheeting in only stalled the sail and upwinded the board.Sailed with another sailor with a Starboard formula and he GPS us at 23mph.Next outing plan to move the straps out on the rail and see if there"s more to be had!! I'M hoping that I won't wake up and find this wasn't just a dream!!I Felt like I was sailing my Rocket 115 in steady 18 mph wind. Thanks All Mark |
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d0uglass
Joined: 28 May 2004 Posts: 1286 Location: Bonita Springs, Florida
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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Lrrry-
I think the JP superlight will be basically the same as the Bic Formula. I.e., planing about the same time with the 12.5 (if you use a big fin) but also being a pig when not planing.
The RS D2 looks like it would great if you have a million bucks to spend and you know the special techniques for the daggerboard and mast track. A more traditional big raceboard (like the 380) would also give you really good non-planing performance but wouldn't plane as early as the prodigy or the D2. I had a mistral equipe raceboard for a while but I got frustrated with how much wind it required to plane.
Some people say a good 11.0 will get them planing as early as a 12.5, but I think it depends on your weight and how you pump the sail and stuff.
I'm moving to the FL West Coast this summer so I'm going to have to adjust my own quiver accordingly. I think I'm going to get the Exocet Windsup 11'8" so I can have an early planing longboard that will also be good as a SUP.
-James _________________ James' Blog: Windsurfing Equipment Size Calculator
http://jimbodouglass.blogspot.com/2010/11/updated-windsurf-calculator-online.html |
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dllee
Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5328 Location: East Bay
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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Problem here is, what do you want to do?
SUP windsurf is great for a little of both, but needs more wind to plane and perform.
Pure light wind slalom is the earliest planing and jibing, and also is a fine SUP for less than 8mph winds.
Formula is every bit as good in light winds, but jibes like a horse compared to light wind slalom, and is a fine SUP in less than 9mph winds.
Most normal sized riders agree and 11.5 is earlier planing than 12.5's, but non pumping big boyz will disagree.
I assume most of us want to windsurf as often as possible, leaving SUP only for the deadest days. |
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SeaDawg
Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 384
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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My 2cts, If you expect to see alot of 5-12 knt winds a starboard serenity will really make light winds interesting. I almost always use my 6.5 Infinity on mine. For sub planning winds I don't think any other board will beat it. Not really sure you can call a Serenity a board though.....For lite air it's in a class by its self. |
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