Jp Supersport 135 versus ISonic 144 or Futura

[slimmy]

My biggest board is a 3 year old JP 135 Supersport wood. It is not as wide as the new ones. I sail it with a 8.5 Infinity in a lot of light air conditions. I feel that I used to be able to plane up earlier with some 145L boards I had before.
Could I improve my early planing with a Isonic 144 or Futura 141 with the same size sail? I am told that with the same sail there would not be much improvement in early planing. Is this true? I sure would appreciate your input.

[agrelon]

Wider board = Bigger fin = more lift = earlier planing.

Check out the lightwind discussions going on in the ask the team section, the debate has been going on for quite a while and I sure you'll find some answers there.

Cheers.

[ChrisN]

To Agrelon's point, and given an exhaustive discussion in the other thread, most people recommend the Formula boards.
If you want the more "slalom" feeling and better handling in rougher conditions, then most recommended me the iSonic 150 for sub-10 knots planning, as it is much wider than the iS144, thus it can carry longer fins and bigger freerace boards.

A lot of the discussion was made by heavyweight people (85 - 105 kgs). If you below that then the recommendation would be for an iSonic 133. If you are sailing in rougher conditions like rough chop then you should consider the FUTURAS...

See the detailed recommendation from MarkH (who owns both boards).

Originally Posted by mark h

Hi Chris
Sorry to cut in on the SB team, but just read this and thought I'd chip in with my 2 cents worth

I have tested the iS144 and the iS150 back to back with 9m, 10, and 11m Warps. Here's what I learn't. Bear in mind I'm 105kg and 196cm.

*iS144 with an 11m will "not" go any earlier than a 10m. Too much sail weight on board and slogging is fairly hard going if the wind disappears. 9m and 10m are best for this board.

*In winds ranging from 10 to 20 knots (9m and 10m), the iS144 feels faster, is faster, gybes better and is generally more fun c/w iS150.

*In the winds that you state, 5k to 15k you will need the iS150 and at least a 10m and a grunt 64cm fin. In reality, 5 knots is not do-able, so 7 or 8 knots to 15 knots is more like it. In this lighter spectrum, the main difference between the iS144 & iS150 is that the iS150 will feel more "powered up" and better upwind/down wind angles c/w the iS144 which will be struggling in sub 10k winds. Yes, the iS144 will get going (with active slalom style ridding) in sub 10k, but its very physically hard work to do "all day long" and you will feel "under powered" with poor upwind/down wind angles.

*If your sailing in sub 10 knots most of the time, then your much better going with a Formula board and 10/11m. If your sailing mainly in 10 to 12 knots than iS150/10m is fine. If your sailing in 12 to 15k the iS144/9m is fine. Just depends on whether your in the up or lower end of the wind range you quoted.

As a guide for minimum winds to get planing, and ideal winds to feel fast and powered up, I'd go with this (but bear in mind there are lots of variables):

iS144: Min wind in 10m, 9/10 knots (feeling under powered and pretty slow)
Ideal winds in 9m, 12k to 20 knots, Feeling powered up, big smiles all
round

iS150: Min wind in 10m, 8/10 knots (feeling ok powered, much more powered than iS144)
Ideal wind in 10m, 10 to 15 knots, feeling powered up nicely.

Final point, you would need a freerace sail like NP V8 or Severne Overdrive in the 9.5 - 11 m2 range and then according to Ken you will be "flying"...

Good luck..

[ChrisN]

Slimmy, while we wait til the SB team will provide you with an answer, please check the latest on light-wind boards in the other thread. Certainly something to consider vis-à-vis the iSonic 150.

[slimmy]

Thanks, guys, for your help. What I forgot to mention is that I don't want to go bigger the the 8.5 and I weigh 165. So, is there a 145 or bigger board that would get me planing earlier then my 135. Some guys claim with the 8.5 I would not really plane much earlier.
slimmy