shortboard

Question
I  sold a newly bought Bic Techno 160 last summer because, used as I was to a traditional longboard with a centerboard , even a 6.6 sail which was quite sufficient, if not overpowering at times,  with the longboard, could hardly  get me going with the Bic w/out centerboard. Usually I sail with very light winds, which are the prevailing winds here most of the summer in our lakes and also , I guess, because I am relatively unexperienced and stronger winds would be a bit of a challenge. Finding the 6.6 still insufficient, I subsequently bought a 2nd hand 7.6 sail . With a sail of that size I was expecting the board to be... ripped off the water at the first gust of wind and happily start planing.. But no, there was an incremental improvement to be sure,  however I hardly moved and even  drifted downwind more often than not.....
This is why I decided to go for a shortboard with centerboard and I bought a Starboard Rio 180. The improvement, I must say,  was quite significant: I was finally able to put an end to downwind drifting and my board started tacking upwind decently . At this point, I have to say, my ambitions are a far cry from planing, but I am still at the opposite end: I can hold my course upwind, allright, but I move very very slowly!
If I look around, I see people dashing like bullets, with smaller sails and older boards. Possibly " I ain't got it " yet and probably there are tricks I have to learn.However I have also come to the conclusion  that these state-of-the-art shortboards are all-or-nothing boards: they are designed for planing, but, wide as they are,  in sub-planing conditions, that is with light winds, they act like giant brake pads, unless you fit them with sails large enough to propel a schooner.
This is exactly why I want to have an expert's opinion.
Since I don't want to give up windsurfing, I'd like to give it a last try and I am at a crossroad: either I sell my Rio and I buy a longboard, keeping the older sails I have(  5.5,5.9,  6.6, 7.6) or I keep the RIO and I buy a 9.0 or a 9.5 . I have put my eyes on a Severn Gator 9.0, because unlike the Sailworks Retro 9.5, I wouldn't need either  a new boom or a new mast, since I can extend mine with the mast-foot and mast-tip extensions I currently have.
Do you think that, compared to the 7.6, a 9.0 would be a significant improvement in terms of power and speed, or would it be a waste of money?

The second related question is the following: the dealerI have seen for the sails suggests me to  consider buying a longer fin with the larger sail, because it would significantly optimize the performance. I always take salesmen with a ..grain of salt and I'd like to know what is the real score on this..Would it make a difference, really? If so, Is it perhaps because a larger sail would necessitate a stronger lateral resistance than that already provided by the center-board ? Does this mean that a larger sail without a longer fin would put me back on the dreaded downwind drifting course? By the way, the standard fin on the Rio I have is about 50 cm.

I'd appreciate your comments on this

Thank you very much


Franco

Answer
Hey Franco,

The 9.0 would be a large improvement for power in the lighter winds than the 7.6. You definitely will need a longer fin with the bigger sail. The fin you have may not create enough lateral resistance to get the board planing. Trust the dealer on his suggestion of what size to consider.

As for others dashing around like bullets, it sounds like you want to be ripping like them. If your equipment comparable in size of sail/board vs. your size? If so, then it may be you need to work on your techniques. You could get some instructional videos to learn planing techniques and how to go fast. Look up Peter Hart on Google and check out his videos. Another option is to take another lesson or two. Discuss what your abilities are and where you would like to be after one or two lessons. A good professional instructor should be able to assess your abilities and inform you of what you can get out of another lesson or two. Some places even take videos to help show you where your weak points are and help you improve. Lessons are a bit more expensive than watching videos at home but you do get the personal input from an instructor.

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover