Sail wind range

Question
QUESTION: Hey Patrick,

I plan on buying my first two sails soon. Considering an Ezzy freeride and a Hot Sails Maui superfreak. Plan to sail mostly in southern cape cod. I don't care for the lighter wind days but I want to be able to sail most of the heavier days (15MPH+?). What sail sizes do you suggest? I'm assuming my 3rd sail is going to be a storm sail that I can take into the belly of the beast, but that's down the road.

ANSWER: Without knowing your weight and the size in liters of the board(s) you plan to use I can only give you a vague idea. Assuming you are around 165 to 175 lbs;  For 15 MPH to 20 MPH I would go with a 5.5 to 6 meter Ezzy free ride and for 20MPH to 28MPH go down to a 4.5 or 4.7 for the Hot Sails Superfreak.  The Ezzy looks like it would have more low end power and the Superfreak looks like it should be better in higher wind. I would say the next step down for nuclear conditions would be a sail around 3.5 meters.  Good luck and good wind.

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QUESTION: Thanks! Don't know if this changes much but I'm 175 lbs. My board is a JP Xcite Ride 120. How would a 6.5 Ezzy coupled with a 4.7 Superfreak fair? I want to use the larger sail mainly for blasting and gybing and the smaller for some B&J. If these two sails could cover 15MPH - 30MPH (perhaps 35) that would be great, but I would hate to be getting blown off the water at 20MPH only to find that I'm underpowered after rigging down.

ANSWER: The 6.5 Ezzy is good on that board in 15 to around 22,  but that board, which I am assuming is 120 liters,  is too big to control in anything above 22 to 25 mph wind.  You would be better off going to a 5.2 as your smallest sail to use on that board and you might be able to sail comfortably in the 20 to 25 range.  A 4.7 is too big for true 35 mph wind even with a smaller board and for someone your weight.  If you really think you are going to get enough 30 to 35 mph days you should look into getting a smaller board possibly a used one for those days. Then you would be ok to add a 4.0 sail for those days on the smaller board.

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QUESTION: So, as far as wind ranges go, on a 120 liter board, I'm looking at 15mph to around 25mph (6.5 for lighter wind down to 5.0 for heavier stuff). Past 25mph a smaller board becomes necessary for control (perhaps a 92 liter?). At around 25mph to 30mph approximately a 4.5 is appropriate, and for 35mph winds and greater a 4.0 down to a 3.5 makes sense. Just making sure I understand all this. Seeing as a second board is not really much of an option right now, would adding a smaller fin increase it's range? And lastly, if I do find myself on 5.0 in anything over 25mph, will I be totally blown off? I believe my question at this point has boiled down to how to make the most of two sails and a 120 liter board. Thank you so much for all the help on the last two questions, I know I'm asking a lot!

Answer
I weigh 145 and I like a board in the 80 liter range for anything over 22mph.  For your weight and being your light to mid wind board is a 120, I would say around 85 liters is about right for a high wind board.

"At around 25mph to 30mph approximately a 4.5 is appropriate, and for 35mph winds and greater a 4.0 down to a 3.5 makes sense. Just making sure I understand all this."

Yep, you got it right but that means on the smaller high wind board those sails will work well. A steady 25 mph is whole lotta wind.


"Seeing as a second board is not really much of an option right now, would adding a smaller fin increase it's range?"

Yes, you do have to change the fin but it won't give you much more range.  The problem with a 120 liter board in 30 mph is that the board has too much volume and is too bouyant for the speed you will be going and the wind coming across the bow tends to blow the board out of the water since you will be planing up pretty high with that much volume.  You end up fighting to keep the board in the water.  30mph wind is lot of chop.

"And lastly, if I do find myself on 5.0 in anything over 25mph, will I be totally blown off?"

Like I said above you will be fighting it and depending on your strength you won't be sailing comfortably. Feel free to ask more if you are not clear.