New Formula 167 wide too hard to control?

[yves dudli]

Dear Team,

I am one of your Swiss team riders (Super Grand Master, 78 kg, 180 cm) and owned every Formula boards since the 160 and a dozen of isonics, they all were easy to control. Since predominantly for regattas on the lakes with lighter wind and little chop only we always select the wider model and last year's HWR suits me so well, I luckily kept it (and there is demand by other racers for it who also don't like the harder to control of the new 167 wide), as it turns out the new 167 wide is very hard to control for me. It planes much earlier and goes upwind better but as soon as a gust hits its a fight for control and to keep the windward rail down. The new double chicken straps do not help a lot and feel strange to get in. should i have bought the narrower model? is it really designed for heavier and stronger racers? would a change of straps and fin help? I use a 70 cm Hurricane. best rgs, yves

[pfaffi]

Hi Yves!
How you describe it is not the board what is struggling you! In my opinion it is the fin which is to big and produces to much low end power. If you like to keep it rake it more backward! Second can be a to deep sail much backhanded (use more outhaul)
I love my 167w with 10.7 and 12.0 Reflex III and have not any problem with control even not in strong winds. Very long I am able to use the outside straps, much longer than on the HWR :-)) 93kg/184cm
BR pfaffi
(fin: G1 see www.pfaffi.at)

[Remi]

Hi Yves
On this board please do not use your favorite fin for the Hwr, the 167 Wide need the most slippery fin due to the fact that the board is already powerful.
If you have problem to control after changing fin, put your mast base more in front, you can go even all the way in front. My favorite one until now is the standard 70 Virus one.

Hope this help

All the best

[Gyurmo]

hi yves,

what you write is more fin problem - as pfaffi said. hurricane have couple of very powerful model, what not fits to this board. i tried the 167w with deboichet R20 fin, what was perfect for my 162, but does not work in 167w, was good only in low end but in gusts and stronger winds in chops the board getting nervous with it.

for me the Virus 70 was perfect, if you prefer hurricane talk to otmar and he can help you to find the right fin for 167w from his range.

let us know,
gyurmo

[yves dudli]

Tks for the tips guys, I will try also my other Hurricane fin FRB 10 S-4 (but it had more lift on my old HWR) next to the FRB 6 S-3 I tried it with. I also have some older Deboichets 70, 67 and 64cm R13 which I used on my older 160 and 161 Formula, but thy might have too much rake for the wider boards today. i will also put mast track forward and give full loose leach to my NP EVO III in 10.7 and 10m2 I sail with....and findally more training and fitness studio for muscle power, that might help best...but my old HWR I will keep for 20 kts plus winds and chop (lake Garda) or sea races...hang loose, yves

[Bluefinz]

Remi - Any special reason the inward straps are twisted inwards rather than parallel to the outer straps?

I do agree with the rest that the 167 need a less powerful fin , unfortunately it took me 3 months to find out.
Enjoy the new 167

[SeanAUS120]

Originally Posted by Bluefinz

Remi - Any special reason the inward straps are twisted inwards rather than parallel to the outer straps?

It's so they follow the curve of your sail... When you are going downwind and oversheet (which happens here and there) the sail doesn't actually touch the straps at all ... like it does when you use parallel facing straps.

I think it makes it a bit easier to get in and out of as well?

[Bluefinz]

I'm light weight 70Kg. Yesterday was just 15knots. I used a old R13 66cm 0 rake, The 167 was so sweet, upwind angle was good too. It confirm again the board does not need a powerful fin. After almost 3 months, Im enjoying the board now.