How big is too big?

melpel · Joined: 10 May 1998 Posts: 234

Not sure that combo will get you there... 120 will be a marginal floater for your size, and you will need (or at least want) a reliable uphaul rig so you are not stranded trying to water start. My opinion - you need a bigger board if going for 15 or less winds...

On a separate note - Palo Alto is highly tide specific. I have only sailed there a few times but know it is a mud-pit during lower tides. Just guessing - you probably need a +3-4 before it is sailable, so given your limited timing the number of days the tide is right AND wind is high enough there... may not get you many extra days.

Not sure where in Sunnyvale you work, but consider taking 280 to 3rd. I work in Palo Alto - taking 101 (most direct) can take 45-60 minutes, 280 is reliable at 30 minutes to 3rd.

coachg · Joined: 10 Sep 2000 Posts: 3553

Many people make the mistake of using volume to determing sail size. It is your board width, specifically 1 off the tail, which will determine how big a sail you can carry. So, how wide is your course race board?

Coachg

jp5 · Joined: 19 May 1998 Posts: 3394 Location: OnUr6

I also weigh 225 and have had good results with a 130l board and a 7.1 sail in 14-16 mph winds. I can uphaul the 130l board if need be where as with a 120l board I could not.

melpel · Joined: 10 May 1998 Posts: 234

You launch from a pier, and sail down a short channel before it opens into the bay. It may be only 100 ft (?), but the problem is more how bad, rather than how far. The mud there is soft and deep... I would only be slightly exaggerating by saying you can sink in waist deep in that stuff!

Google maps has a good shot at high tide - search palo alto, california, select satellite image, and zoom in just west of the golf couse/airport. You will see the pier in the channel. Actual channel width is only about 1/4th the water width in this area (rest in shallow mud).

carl · Joined: 25 Feb 1997 Posts: 2674 Location: SF bay area

You cant sail or even walk in/out because it just turns into a big mudflat (and its deep mud thats impossible to walk in, youll sink past your knees). Go there sometime at low tide and youll see. You need about 4ft to sail there, at 3ft youre starting to drag the fin.

As for the board, Is 57cm the widest part of the board? or the tail one foot off the end? If its the widest part of the board, thats a really narrow board for 120L by todays standards. A modern wide shape will certainly plane up much quicker even with the 7.0.

coachg · Joined: 10 Sep 2000 Posts: 3553

If your board is 57 cm wide one foot off the tail, then you should be able to go much larger than a 7 meter. My 115 liter board is only 40 cm one foot off the tail an it can easily handle a 7.5 and probably an 8 meter sail.

Coachg