discussion

Sorry to hear about your loss, you may want to post about your stolen kites on kiteboardbc.com

5.2 was good

north sails in richmond did an awesome job on mine (panel replacement).

Second that recommendation, good people and great workmanship.

North Sail Canada - 11911 Machrina Way, Richmond (604) 271-2111
is off No.5 Road after you take the Steveson exit off Hwy 99.

It costed me $40 to replace a panel.

You should speak to the guy who does the windsurf sail repairs. You should be able to arrange a pick up and drop off location so you don't have to drive all the way down there. I picked up my sail from his house in North Van.

North sail for sure, ask for Denis!

Hey Alton, do you remember that guys name who lives in N. Van?

Denis or the windsurf sail guy.

If you register on windguru you can add custom locations by entering coordinates or clicking on a map. I can add one if you send me the exact location, either coordinates or a link to a google map would work.

So, day 1 (tuesday) was fully/over powered on 5m and 96L board. and yesterday, wind started late and did my ground kite lessong then was out on 5m 96L and underpowered a tiny bit, so got bigger board. Today's plan, kite lesson all day.

Wind and water has been great. Come join us!

Hi Laura - reads like you're set up for the next two weeks. Have a great time! We're off to the Gorge for 5 days for some big wind and Lompoei’s!

Dan,
that Drake R19 is the standard fin that came with last year's Starboards. Once in a while, those can be reasonably close to the real thing; quite often, they don't quite live up to even basic standards. That said - the shape of the R19 is basically the same as an R13 foil of some length greater than 70 cm (I believe 76, but might be wrong about that), cut off at the tip to result in greater cord length and thickness than the R13. The +8 rake is pretty aggressive. The "custom" Deboichet versions of that fin were aimed at getting the Starboard 161 to fly - that board was one of the first really wide-tailed boards in the past few years, and it needed a lot of power from the fin since (a) you got a lot of leverage from the tail width and (b) you needed that power to get the board to unwet. They had a problem making the fins soft enough, though. Best case, the production version you're getting is a reasonable replica of that fin, worst case it's badly made and will be a frustrating experience. You'll know soon enough.

As for the 05 Roberts - that was a great board; it's tail is a LOT narrower than the boards that the R19's were designed for, though - so the fin's not a terribly good match. R16's are probably a good call for you there; the newer, super soft fins might be a bit too much. Too much forward rake isn't going to work too well, either (due to the slightly longer rocker flat compared to, say, the F2 or Starboards). Elliot's recommendation on the R16 for 9.9 is pretty much right on (although at +8 you're pushing it - that will work in smooth water but be too aggressive when it gets bumpy). For 10.8 and up (light air), you'll need a bigger fin. I used to run that board with a 70 R17 +6 for light air, and that worked pretty well (better than an R13, for sure). In really bumpy water, the R16/R17 are a bit too tweaky (you can't just stand on them and grind).

In terms of bang for the buck - if you can find yourself a used R13 soft in +6 or so for that board, that would be a good light air fin for bumpy water; R17 medium or soft in +6 or so will do the job in flatter conditions (like the Gorge, where the water is nice and predictable swell as opposed to bay chop). Check the Sailworks site for used fins (they come up once in a while).

If you can't find a used fin, then I'd recommend Finworks formula fins (full disclosure - I'm a team rider). The Pro +14 would probably cover the range you're looking for very nicely (light air on the 05 Roberts), with as much grunt and power as a soft R13, but very much competitive speed with an R17. What I like about Finworks is the reproducibility - the fins are insanely consistent, so there are no surprises or "off" fins. A bit more expensive than new Debs, though, but worth it in my mind.

Cheers,
-Andreas

http://g-42.blogspot.com

Hi Andreas,

Thank you very much for the detailed reply.

I'm looking for a fin to use with my 10.8 so I guess it's sounding like I may have made a bad purchase. Although I have sailed for years, I started windsurfing only last year. How will I know when a fin feels right?

My R19 came today so I guess I might as well give it a try. Do you think this fin is advantageous in any conditions or would you resell it?

Also, what are the differences between the R13, R16 and R17?

Cheers,

Dan

I am currently using a 68 cm Deboichet R16 M +6 (The orange fin) with my 9.9. It provides plenty of lift in light winds but remains controllable for me in 15+.

How's retirement treating you Alton? I'm jealous of all the days your getting on the water!

If all goes well, it will end within a couple of weeks. To avoid jealousy and resentment from fellow windsurfers, I've only been logging my weekend sessions at Squamish. I've been losing count of my sessions as one session fades into the next. But I estimate well over 50 sessions this season, most 5.4 conditions or better for 3 to 4.5 hours on the water.

except minimal chop. Perfectly flat water beyond the point.

I know I should've just left my 5.2 rigged up overnight on the spit.

I'm gonna bring my 4.7 just in case.

Yup, 5.2.