Florida formula sailors

[Steve]

This Sunday (the 25th) a group of Formula sailors will meet at Kelly park in Merritt Island for some training. Anyone interested should be at the park in Merritt Island at 11:00. Let's hope we get some wind.

Best Regards
Steve

[Unregistered]

Steve,
Who is going? Are we racing?
Thanks,
Joan

[toi]

So far there are about 6 sailors who have committed. I would say that if there's wind, sail around for about an hour, maybe do some tacking/jibing drills if anyone's interested (everybody stay close and tack or jibe every time the leader does) and then do some racing in the afternoon around some of the daymarks. I'll bring a shortboard and an anchor we can use for a mark if desired.

Tom Ingram

[John I]

Keep in mind the wx guess. Rain is somewhat likely. Still kind of too far out for a real accurate(yeah, right) prediction on % and coverage. Sounds like the workout could be fun if the wx cooperates.

[Steve]

I could bring a mark or two. One thing nice with formula boards is that we can do upwind downwind courses. We can do dingy starts where one person starts on port and everyone else has to cross behind their stern. I think we can find a channel marker for the upwind mark. The wind forecast for Sunday is SW 15 to 20.

[Chuck]

oh no. the nws now says becoming 15-20. becoming to me means "better bring your fromula gear." south of cocoa beach becoming 15 late. don't shoot the messenger.

[Steve]

Forecast is looking good and it sounds like a good turn out as well.

SUNDAY...SOUTH WINDS INCREASING TO 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET.
INTRACOASTAL WATERS CHOPPY.

I have a new Exocet Turbo Formula 2, to try out as well.

[John I]

It's days like these where the Limp Biscuit cover of George Michaels "Faith" song runns thru my mind. There's a high pressure ridge off the Cape running East - West. And a nice wind field off the west coast. Hopefully all wil shift east sooner than later... Looks like formula maybe by noon? Only the wind god knows.

[Unregistered]

Well, how did it go?
I am sorry I missed it. Besides, Eolo was good to us here in the FL panhandle; 12 to 15 mph.
Thanks,
Joan

[Steve]

Hi Joan;

We arrived at Kelly Park all optimistic about the 15 to 20 forecast and looked out at near glassy conditions. There was the normal talk about shooting the weather man. The turnout was really good for an informal training session. I would say there was at least 15 formula boards plus a bunch of other light wind stuff. The wind did fill in at around 3:45 and everyone was planning on sails from 12.5 to 10.4 sails with 11.0 being the call for most formula guys. So it looks like the weather man will go unharmed. We got started so late that we did not do any organized racing but there was plenty of people to spar with. Sorry you could not make it was tons of fun.

[Unregistered]

I am telling you, we are gonna have to spend the extra money and get the iwindsurf.com forecast.
I would like to know what they were predicting for Kelly Park. Hopefuly, after all this free advertising, they got it right.
Joan

[Jason Voss]

Hey guys and girls,

I wish I would have been there. I could use the practice. No wind in the Bay Area this weekend. It's been toooo long since we've had some sailing weather. I hope to see all of you next month in Sarasota and Kelley Park.

Steve, What size/kind of fin were you running with the 12.5? What fin comes stock with the board?
Could you have used an 11.0 instead of the 12.5?

For those of you that are thinking about joining iwindsurf.com, I can save you some $$$$ on the plan you pick. I thought the $$$$ signs might catch your attention rather than just repeating how great the service is. The pager is a MUST for people on the go here in CA. We can see the wind making it's way through the bay without hooking up to the internet. Then come up with our own forcast for later that day or the next, if we don't have time to log in.

When you sign up for a membership go to:
www.iwindsurf.com/jv
it will save you some money and at the same time, show them that it's a discount program they should keep.

waiting for more wind in the SF Bay area,

Jason Voss, US - 8

www.JRVwindsurfing.com
or
www.windsurfinginstruction.com
Please keep all these companies in mind when making purchases
......Aerotech (sails)
www.aerotechsails.com
.....Exocet (boards)
www.exocet-original.com
.....Fiberspar (carbon products)
www.fibersparsports.com
.....Epic Gear (hard & soft goods)
www.aerotechsails.com
.....Ultra Nectar (clothing for all conditions)
www.UltraNectar.com
.....iwindsurf (wind reports & much more)
www.iwindsurf.com/jv

[Steve]

Hi Jason:

The new Exocet Formula board comes with a Select Ro3 DC wide medium. A pretty awesome fin for a stocker. On Sunday I was using a Deboichet R 13 M+. I will have to do some head to head testing to see how they compare. I could of been on the 11.0 on Sunday still not sure when to get off the 12.5. The 12.5 still feels good im 15 knots but I suspect the 11.0 might go faster upwind when it is that strong.

[toi]

Steve wasn't on his 11 in part because I was using it - it really felt good, light weight, and powerful in the light stuff, then when the wind picked up to 15+ (and after I added downhaul for more wind) it was stable, easy to handle, and had a lot of forward drive. Best of all, no monofilm - after ripping two panels earlier that afternoon on my "old" 2002 model 11.0 sail, I can't be too excited about new monofilm sails with the panels as big as they need to be for the larger sizes. I'm 160 lbs and was using it on a ML 100.

[Unregistered]

I also have a 2004 VMG 11m. This year's sail is completely different from last year's model. I still own two of last years big brand name sails and I never use them anymore. The VMG is faster on any direction but specially upwind. Even though the low end is very impressive, so is the high end. It is very fast at 7 knots and, for me, up to low 20's, is still extremely fast. Another strong point of this sail is that it has way more than one year life span so, when you sell it, it still has value and life left in it.

Joan

[windsurfpunk]

Formula sailing sucks. I cant believe you people like it. Its not even close to real windsurfing. A 12.5 sail,,,,,,,,,geez, come on!...... I have a 10.6 V8 that I used 2wice. It sucks. the sail is too big tooheavy boom is too big. and theres no wind!........Isnt a 9.0 and down much better with the more tradional boards. I rode a formula, sucks, goes upwind on autopilot. I'd rather eat pretty girls' poo than ride a formula,,,,,,,,T in Miami

[LeeD]

Hey Tony
Funny you should say that!
I think you are nuts to own a 9 meter sail. Biggest I carry in my car is 5.7 Wave.
The guys at the coast and the Gorge think I'm nuts to carry anything that huge, and my bigger board is 90 liters. That's a tank for them guys.
Lots of my buds who weigh in at 200+ lbs. think a 5.5 is too big to own, and also anything close to 90 liters a pig floater.
Different strokes for different folks.
If you don't want to join them, you can just razz them.
Or, you can just let them be.

[Koen B-12]

It is hard to compare an offroad vehicle with a formula 1 car, but does this mean it is less fun?

I don' want to go to deep in this everlasting debate, but the FW boards and sails have brought real racing back to windsurfing and a lot of "planing" fun to low-wind area's.

Last year, I used over 60% of my TOW the 12.5, I loved it and I know there are more people out there that have the same opinion. That is the only thing that count.

[Unregistered]

Hey guys,
Very interesting impressions on the new race sails!
What masts are you using with them?
Do you downhaul at the max or a bit less?
Thanks in advance
MEF

[Unregistered]

I am small guy (70kg/155lb). I always rig my 11m at its max unless it gets really windy. Then, I down-haul it over the max.
Joan

[Tom Ingram]

MEF - the 11 I used was on an Epic 550, which felt very light and seemed to work well with the sail. Steve has recommended that I use a 520 in that size because of my lighter weight (160/74kg). As to downhaul settings this was the first and only time I've used the sail so with that in mind, it was set at about 551 (from bottom of tack block) at first, then about 554 or 555 later (at or near max).

Tom Ingram (toi)

[windsurfpunk]

Lee...sorry, you have lost all credibility with me..........especially on the AHD forum.......as far as 9.0, yeah its big, and just big enough. When I refer to formula gear, I directly mean the boards. They suck..............and, so do pure wave boards for that matter........so, hows that!

[John I]

Hey T, great to here your input. I wish life was perfect enough so all anyone needed was a 5.5 or smaller and an 85 ltr EXO Original Wave. I agree with you that dedicated wave boards are probably too specialized for Biscayne Bay. That's why I mentioned the OW 85. Steve and I took it to the Gorge along with the Compact Move 100. They both were highly suited to "crossover" applications. There are a class of wave boards that take that role and excel. They have a nickname of "Euro Wave."

If you get a chance to ride either I think you'll like it. As far as formula boards and rigs are concerned, they serve a great purpose for me. I stay in shape for those few epic days we do get. During the week of Hurricane Isabel, I was glad to have logged as much time on any gear because then I was able to get out and stay riding those huge, long super fun waves for up to 1/2 mile! How many more bottom turns can I do after I've done 12.5 upwind/downwind sessions than if I hadn't? Hard to measure the difference, but I think you can see my point. Oh, the office worker hand syndrome was not an issue either. Saw some shreaded palms as well as masts that day.

[Koen B-12]

The Epic 550 (and 580/520) is a super mast, it is similar like the Gaastra Ignitions, Gun Dominator and gulftech. Light and above all, very responsive=fast. This mast is among the best available today on the market for max performance.

[Unregistered]

Hi Koen,
What brand is the "epic"?
What stifness do you use in 12.5, 11.0, 9.8?
Are the new sails developed around these masts?
Thanks in andvance
MEF

[John I]

Epic Gear is the brand. Available through some Aerotech dealers. Thanks for asking. :)

[Unregistered]

Thanks John!
But still.....
What stifness and lenght do you use in 12.5, 11.0, 9.8?
Are the new sails developed around these masts?
Thanks once more
MEF

[John I]

What to use on those sails depends partly on your weight. Steve and I are about 94-96 kgs. We like the 520 for the 9.8 and 550 for 11 and 580 for 12.5. Steve has suggested to lighter folks shorter, therefore softer, masts. So, what mast would depend more on you. A good rule of thumb is average weight folks might be better off skipping the 580 and using the 520 for 9.8 and 11. Then using 550 only for the 12.5. Budget-wise the latter alt. works out $ cheaper too.

Sorry I don't know the tech specs on the masts. Steve will be back from vacation sometime next weekend.

[Marse]

The epic gear 100% race masts are available in the following sizes/stiffnesses:

580/37
550/34
520/33
490/30
460/25

warm winds,
Marty
Aerotech Sails, Inc.

[Unregistered]

Thanks a lot Marse and John!
MEF

[DBL]

Any idea when some of the 580 masts will be available?

[Steve]

Hi

We should have Epic masts in about 3 weeks for the USA market.

[Unregistered]

What will be the US retail prices for these masts?

[Marse]

100% carbon race masts:
580 = $699
550 = $575
520 = $550
490 = $515
460 = $499

100% carbon RDM wave masts:
460 = $425
430 = $400
400 = $375
370 = $350

regards,
Marty

[Unregistered]

thanks a lot,

this are very competitive prices

[matchstickman]

will there be 75% 550's

[Steve]

Not for 2004 but a strong possobility for 2005.