buying board!

Question
QUESTION: I weigh about 175 pounds and have about 7 years of summer windsurfing experience. I can water start and plane and am looking to head into jibing and other planing manuevers. Mostly my experience has been with larger floaty boards such as the techno2 145. 145 liters was stable but im looking to get a little more advanced with a shorter board. I will be sailing in flat water to chop, no real wave sailing. Also in about 10 - 25 MPH winds, perhaps heavier if the oppurtunity is there. hopefully in next few years move up to bump and jump surfing. Im thinking I can overcome any balance and stability issues with practice. Is buying a board at about 105 liters or 114 smart? Im currently looking at the ...
GOYA FXR 105 2006
GOYA X1 105 2007
MISTRAL SCREAMER 114 2007

Any thoughts?




ANSWER: The volume of those boards will not support sailing in any wind below 15 MPH with maybe the exception of the screamer 114 regardless of what the sales people will tell you. You would be best using a 125 liter board.  I weigh 145 lbs. and I sail my 125 liter board with a 6.7 mtr. Sailworks race sail in everything up to about 18 MPH.  The boards you mention would be best used in winds around 17 MPH and up given your weight.  I base this on the fact that I have friends I sail with in your weight range and they have boards in those volume ranges.

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QUESTION: Thanks for the answer! One more question, im planning on purchasing a North Duke 6.4. I need a new mast and I am curious as to how important the IMCS is. The Duke wants 21 - 25 IMCS and the mast im most interested in is 19 IMCS. Will it make much of a difference? Also, how important in the Carbon percentage for a sailor like me? Will I notice a difference between say 55% and 95%? Thanks again.

Answer
Today's sails are built with very critical measurements which take into account the mast flex (IMCS).  I am not saying you won't be able to use the mast with the sail but you will lose some of the characteristics built into the sail with the wrong mast flex.  If the flex is lower that means the mast will bend more causing the sail to lose power in the lower wind speeds and it will also reduce the wind range of the sail. The more carbon the lighter and more responsive the mast.  I insist on all carbon masts, it is definitely worth the difference in price.