I saw something really interesting today on the Windsurf Journal website.
It's a new line of windsurfing fins called "Maui Ultra Fins" or "MUFins". The fins are designed on a fancy computer by a German aerospace engineer named Rick Hanke. Mr. Hanke has thrown out a lot of the common assumptions about how fins should look, i.e that wave-riding fins should be curved in a sicle shape, in favor of sticking with what the math says will work best. The upshot is that all his fins have a similar, simple shape, regardless of whether they are intended for slashing up a wave or for speeding in a straight line.
The only thing missing is a "Weed MUFin" (one with a 45 degree rake angle that can shed seagrass).
wild! I wanna ride one! Are there any reviews out there yet?
ReplyDeleteHey Aaron,
ReplyDeleteThere are very favorable reviews on the MUFins site, but like book reviews on the book cover, they may only be showing the best ones. That said, all the reviewers seem to be saying the same thing; that the fins achieve the impossible compromise of being early planing and resistant to spinout while remaining fast and maneuverable. It makes me real curious to see a trusted third-party review or try the fins myself.
I love the link for the "weed mufins" going to get a whole new type of readership with that one.
ReplyDeleteChris
I love your sail/fin/board calculator!!
ReplyDeleteIt really is helping me as a beginner to figure out my next board and sail. I have a 6.9m I use with my 160liter board and am looking for a lighter wind sail so I can get out on the 10mph days frequently seen on the upper chesapeake. Also a smaller volume board that might be easier to learn to carve out jibes. I'm thinking a 115l board and possible a 8.5m to 9m sail.
One minor correction on the calculator: (2.2 lb = 1 kg).
Paul- Thanks for pointing out the typo. I've changed the file, but I'm having a problem uploading it to the host so it might be a while before you see the fix.
ReplyDeleteAn 8.5 or a 9.0 would be a good complement to your 160 liter board. You should go for it! (BTW - what kind of board is the 160 liter?)
Small boards (i.e. 115 liters) do turn with less effort than big boards, but they are actually harder to jibe because they're sensitive to mistakes and fall off plane easily. So I would recommend sticking with the big board for now.
Thanks for the advice. I guess I'll wait on getting the smaller board until I am confident enough to jibe the 160l at planing speeds. I just pulled off my first full water start with the 6.9m two weeks ago... woohoo!
ReplyDelete(BTW - what kind of board is the 160 liter?)
My board is a 1999 Mistral Explosion 315 (160 liters).
James may or may not agree, but waiting till you can plane through jibes on a 160 liter board before you buy a smaller (115-120) board. Once you can water-start comfortably, get the smaller board, and use it when the conditions call for it. Practice technique and jibing on both boards; while they will require some different technique, much of what you learn on one will improve your skills on the other.
ReplyDelete*Edit:
ReplyDeleteJames may or may not agree, but waiting till you can plane through jibes on a 160 liter board before you buy a smaller (115-120) board will slow your windsurfing progress.
Many sailors struggle for years to learn consistently planing jibes; but it shouldn't take you that long to learn to use a smaller board. Once you're waterstarting, using the harness and comfortably blasting around on the big board, you're only a three or four sessions away from doing that on the smaller board.
I agree with uglyjiber. You don't have to wait until you can jibe to ride a small board. Of course, you shouldn't hesitate to aggressively attempt jibes on whatever board you happen to be riding at the time. Worst that can happen is that you end up getting a lot of waterstart practice. :)
ReplyDelete