160 or 161 (162)

[SeanAUS120]

Hi Britt,

From what I am told the R20 is not going to be available until the beginning of the European season (March-April??). So I haven't actually sailed one, but I was writing based on the comments from Michal Polanowski (POL-16) about the fin as he used one at the Brazil Worlds.

Lots of things seem to be going on in the fin world these days. There are some nice Selects, Kashy's and even Hurricane fins being used by the top guys at the Oceanics. Somebody told me the Hurricane fins are only 150 euros? ... so I'm hoping to try one later in the week - wow, that's sooooo cheap if they are really that good.

[Britt]

Thank you for your reply, especially seeing how you are quite busy with the organizing and racing.

When the dust settles, could you give a bit of what you saw in the fin world at the Oceanics?

Thanks,
Britt

[SeanAUS120]

Hi Britt,

Here's the gear list for the event: http://www.fw-australia.com/2008/wp-...ist-fw2008.pdf

...and for interest, we've put up the courses, prize list and a few extras you can find on the mainpage (www.fw-australia.com/2008/).

Lots of interesting things on the fins again, but at the same time it was still possible for guys to do well on the standard fins from 5 years ago.

Steve Allen used a Hurricane fin most of the week (which REALLY threw me, because it had a lot of torsional twist - generally speaking, most of the fins that are fast now are super soft in flex with rock-solid torsional stiffness to get the speed, this was the exact opposite, so I really don't know how it was working).

Jesper Vesterstrom used his usual Kashy's from this season. There were a number of NSW sailors using the new VMG Blades being developed in Sydney. They are pretty new on the scene and I'm not sure if there's plans for production of them at this point. However, I have tested a few in the last few months (only the F models, not the new K which everyone is using) and I was super impressed with them. They are again following the trend of the super soft fins with absolutely no twist which I think seems to be the way to go with fins these days but have a different looking foil which is really cool and seems to be very fast downwind.

I used a proto R16 70 S-- from Steve most of the week (payment for me lending him my new Vapor board). A little annoying that this fin was really sweet because I've tried R16's before and they DO NOT work in the Starboard boards so I wouldn't suggest anyone buying one for these boards, they work far better in the F2's. This proto is obviously so far different to anything a "mere human" can order from Deboichet (I'm really hoping with the new fins on the market this year, the "fin gap" will hopefully subside and everyone can finally have comparitive gear).

I used an R13 70 S from 5 years ago in a few races also (light and heavy winds). Such a great fin. Its still on par with the best and I recommend everyone to have a good R13 in their kitty if you are sailing a Starboard of any model.

Jesper Orth punished me all week on an even older R13 70 M, so they've still got the goods. I felt my R13 struggled a little on the lightwind day on friday compared to the other sailors on Kashy/Blades/Hurricanes etc, however it was fast downwind so I still liked it.

I actually felt all week I wasn't really the fastest around the course (even inside the top 7) because these Kashy/Blades/Hurricane softer fins appear to be better all-round fins than my R16/R13 which were a little specific in the breezes they were working. But this was a lot of fun as you really had to switch on and make sure your starts/laylines/tactics were perfect as there's still a lot of ground to be made up around the course through just "sailing" rather than your gear.

Its hard to know whether to tell people to buy new fins all the time as yes, they do make a big difference, but you really have to package it with your sailing ability and knowledge and there's so much speed to gained around the course with simply your starts. Believe it or not, as soon as Jesper Orth beat Steve Allen and Jesper Vesterstrom off the start in the first race he won by a streak. Once you are in front you have clean air the whole way... Jesper Orth probably wasn't as fast around the course as Steve/Jesper all week, just better at starting in that first race. He didn't spend any money on super fins compared to others...

Thanks for checking out the event.

[Remi]

Hi SeanAUS120,

Nice report on this event.

Did you try until 15 knots the R19 soft -- rake + 8 cm, over the R13 medium or soft rake + 6cm depending of your style or water conditions?

The R13 haven't enough power in light wind.

All the best

[SeanAUS120]

Hi Remi,

Yes, I have tried the R19 S-- rake 8cm in under 15. Normally I would like this fin, but I've found this year now sailing a 12m Gaastra (versus 10.7m NP as biggest last season) I have too much power so I like to go smaller on the fin and use R13 70 when its under 15 knots.

You are right, a lot of people will find the R13 not enough power in the light wind however I am finding I do have enough power with the way I setup my gear (each to their own I guess).

The results on my R19 depended on which R19 I tried however; my own one (one of the earliest available, purchased during 2006 FW Worlds in Korea) I found had great height upwind but didn't have the speed I wanted. Down wind it was great. I tested another R19 of Hubert (POL-25, can't remember how to spell his last name!) which really had great speed upwind and the same height which was nice, but I couldn't get my R19 to perform the same as this. So I gave up to use my R19, however there's still many people using it successfully, I think you just have to setup your gear for this fin specifically.

Btw, Jesper Vesterstrom raced a couple of races at an event in Australia a few weeks back and used the standard Drake fin (R19 shape) and smoked us. So I think the R19 foil is good, it must just depend on the layup you have in your R19 as to its performance.

[Remi]

Hi SeanAUS120,

As you know Deboichet is always under devellopement, so the last one is even beter, but yes very important to trim your self with the R19 soft -- rake + 8 cm to have really great results.

All the best and have a great season

[Britt]

Thanks Sean for your helpful attitude and thoughtful anwers.

Britt

isn't it possible for companies (sb, np) register two different boards,sails for competition, and still upgrade every year? or nobody had that idea?

I wont to get back into formula
I guess its best to buy a 160 or 162 or Vapor

not the

161

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I wont to get back into formula
I guess its best to buy a 160 or 162 or Vapor

not the

161

TAKE a 161 and TAKE AWAY that REALLY SLOW fin (R19)... you'll see 161 performances are not so far from 162 and 160 !!!