Advise for semi-starters

Question
QUESTION: I weigh about 170 lbs, I have taken a windsurfing course years ago  and I have practiced it for a number of years on a very (!!!) old 2nd hand swedish board ( probably 10-15 years old!)220 lt , very heavy, narrow, unstable and hard to move around.
All in all, I learned the basics, but I didn't progress much as I got a bit discouraged. Probably, on a 1-10 scale I am at 2, possibly 3..

Now I got excited about the new technology boards and the world of planing . So I decided to get back in and put my hands a few days ago on a new BIC techno 160 for an excellent price.
What attracted me is the much needed stability afforded by its  width ( 82 cm), the  feather-like weight and the shortness, which allows me to store it in the locker of my condo.
But I did a leap of faith by buying a board without a daggerboard and I am now having second thoughts.

Since we are now in the dead of the winter here at 20 below zero , the board is obviously unused and I can probably return it and exchange it for an AHD  Zen with a daggerboard for a slightly higher price.

I 'd like to have your thoughts on this :

1): Would it be too much of a trouble for me to get re-initiated with a board w/out daggerboard ?.
The salesman was very cooperative and explained that there is a  limitation in  not having a daggerboard, but it is only  in non-planing conditions, as it may be  more difficult to tack close up-wind.
However  I am not racing and when you are leisurely surfing on a lake , all directions are good.. I don't think  tacking close upwind  is an absolute necessity ,if I can go non-planing on a broad reach or other points of sail, right ?  How serious is this limitation, really?

2) Besides, what determines non-planing conditions? Is it a matter of choice for the surfer ( in which case, I'd obviously opt for planing as much as I can, after learning the skills) or are there any conditions which make planing impossible and necessitate falling back on the non-planing mode and the use of a dagger-board ( center-board)?

3)What is the smallest sail size I can use for learning planing in light winds? At this stage, I wouldn't want to get overpowered with too large sails and/or too strong winds and I'd gladly sacrifice speed for control and stability while  learning planing. I have recently bought a quiver of 2nd hand sails,  3.8 mt, 5.6 and 6.8  mt.
The recommended size for the Bic 160 is about 7 mt. Can I go any lower  and how far down, for light-wind planing ?

Thank you  for your advice


Franco Vivona  

Montreal, Canada

ANSWER: With your weight and the 160 liter board you should be able to plane in about 12 to 13 mph wind with a 7 meter sail.  You will probably be able to sail without planing in less wind but keep in mind you must use a large fin.  What size fin did the board come with?  You will probably never use the 3.8 meter sail with this board.  You can probably use the 5.6 sail for learning but it could get frustrating with such a small sail if the wind really light or is anything but steady.  The 6.8 would probably be the best sail to learn with.  I would definitely keep the 160 and grow with it. The 160 will be difficult to keep control in winds above 16 to 18 mph unless you switch to a smaller fin for those days.  I would say maximum wind speed you could use this board would be about 20 mph. If all you want is to sail leisurely on a lake without planning then I would exchange the board for one with a daggerboard.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Wow! This was fast! Thank you very much !
What do you mean by a " large " or " small" fin ?The fin which comes with the board is  50 cm long ( 20") and 10 cm  wide( 4") at its widest point ( top part). It tapers down and it has a curved profile.  Do you mean smaller ( or larger) than this?

Also, pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean by saying that a 160 lt becomes difficult to control with winds above 16-18 mph ? Is it because  160 lt is too much volume or too little?

I'll take your advice and keep the board, because in the absence of any specific caveat on your behalf for not having a daggerboard, I assume  it is O.K. not to have one, even at my level. Definitely, I would not switch to a daggerboard model if this precluded the possibility of planing, as I seem to read in your reply.

Thank you again

Franco Vivona

Thank you again


Franco Vivona

Answer
The 50 cm fin should be big enough to use with the 6.8 sail.  You will have to try it to make sure but if you start sliding sideways a lot you may need a bigger fin but don't buy a bigger one unless you try it first in about 10 to 12 mph and see the need for it.

160 liters is too much volume to control in high wind.  In high wind, the board will plane up very high, the wind will start to push the board around making it very difficult to control.  The large volume and big fin also creates more drag when you are going fast which results in the sail getting pulled out of your hands.

I would say it is a good idea for you to keep this board and really try to learn to sail it.  It will never sail as well as a board with a daggerboard in very light winds but once you master sailing this in 12 to 15 mph you will be rewarded with a truly exciting experience...planning and you would not be able to experience planning at speed with a board that has a daggerboard.