Sport Today

Hi all,
   Searching around for a 50cm Techno fin, it seems the Series One fins from
True Ames are no longer available.  Does anyone have any water experience with
their "Series 2000"?  Judging from the photo in their adverti***t, it looks a
bit chordy.
Michael
US5613

Michael,

I haven't checked into the Series 2000 yet, but I agree with you that
it looks a little "chordy" for serious use. I'm still using my 50 cm
Series I from last year and like it a lot for really powered up 7.9
(I'm a heavyweight). Several other people racing their Technos like it
for similar conditions. As soon as things get the slightest bit
lighter, however, that fin becomes just a little too twitchy for me
(I'm fairly heavy). I tried the 54cm Series I with my 9.1 and wasn't
totally convinced either - not enough low end, even though the high end
was great.

So I've started playing around with some Curtis cr15's. I tried a 52cm
in carbon last season and sort of liked it, but was put off by its lack
of flex. This season, I exchanged that for a g10 version of the 52 and
got a 54cm carbon-g10 (not to be confused with the molded carbon
version); so far, I really like both of those. I use the 54 in most
conditions with my 9.1, and the 52 when I'm really powered on the 9.1
or marginal on the 7.9. Nice compromise between low-end power to get
you planing and pointing and pretty low drag for such huge fins. I'm
now tempted to try a 50 to see if it has better range than the Series I.

At least for me, these Curtis fins seem to work better than the Series
I.

Andreas

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Michael,

I use a True Ames Series 1 2000 54 cm Carbon G10 fin on my custom Basset wide-style
(27" wide) - I too am a heavyweight (240lbs) and I use it with my 8.7 - I can
easily get it planing on the lake in no whitecaps - in the ocean with just a bit
more.  It's very stable from my perspective and I've owned and used a Curtis 50CM
with the same sail - I like the TA 2000 better as it has better low-end lift
(slower planing) and MUCH better high-end control.  Overall all a great fin for
light-air ripping around - oh yes, and you can jibe it fairly easy as compared to
my Curtis.

By the way, I use a 48cm TA "Sweeper" fin with a 7.4 (or the 8.7) when I really
want to rip and/or when the water is choppy.  The G-10 flexes nicely yet still
grips very well.  It doesn't work well in underpowered conditions - like the Series
1 does.

Good luck!
Will V.

wvasquez.vcf < 1K Download

oh ya,

you can buy them on our new website......

www.surfingsports.com

wvasquez.vcf < 1K Download

Hi,

I just noticed your posting about problems with your Curtis 50cm. Can you tell
me which model it is?

I see you are 240 lbs. We have several different fins in that range. It is
possible that you were sold the wrong fin. Please let me know if I can be of
any assistance
Gorge Sport USA
Curtis Performance Fins, Orca Fins
Hood River, OR USA

ph/541 387 2649  fax/541 386 1715

You can try other brands as well. I just bought 'Select Team 2000' 54 race
fin for my Techno 283 + Retro 9.5.
However, I hadn't chance to try it yet...

Mindaugas

Thanks for the compliment. I did hear from the sailor and he had sold the fin,
having bought it from a dealer no longer in business.

What was interesting is that this is the first complaint of this type I have
heard from a heavyweight in a posting. He was probably sold too high an aspect
fin (CR-15). In any case that fin in a 50 is not enough. The 54cm high aspect
he bought from someone else would be an improvement in planing as would the
CR-15 54.

The correct fin for a sailor of this size is a CR-12 51 (possibly followed by
the 55 if even earlier planing is desired). This fin is the correct aspect
ratio for lighter wind. For powered up sailing and racing, the CR-15 54 in
carbon G-10 is the choice.

Many races have been won on the CR-12. Many top racers are too proud to use
anything but the higher aspect CR-15 (type) fins. When the winds are very
light, the CR-12 is faster. The Mid winter Nationals in Florida were dominated
by David Kashy who often switched to the CR-12 when necessary.

I use the CR-12 frequently on my Starboard W30 flapper with my 8.3 in light
conditions. I weigh 208. The Cr-15 is used with lot's of sail power.

I hope this help clarify matters. Many of these issues are discussed at the
website. www.gsport.com
Bill Kline
Gorge Sport USA
Curtis Performance Fins, Orca Fins
Hood River, OR USA

ph/541 387 2649  fax/541 386 1715

This is a mis-representation-- It was either totally nuking or not
planeable the whole time at the Midwinters.  Kashy dominated because he
could hold on to the biggest sail in the most wind.  It had NOTHING to
do with fins.  He was also the only guy with a 10.7 in the sub-planing
races.  The course there had very little upwind, it was mostly
reaching--not a test for fins.  

--
William S. Harper

I would agree in steady light winds, as in typical Gulf Coast sailing
when you get hardly anything outside a 3-5 knot variation. However, if
you have a course that's light at one end (say the start) and gets
heavier in other areas, maybe to the tune of 5 knots baseline
difference, and you add a larger variation (maybe a 5-10 knot
difference between lull and gust), and you throw in chop (say your
typical Bay Area experience), you would probably be much better off
using a cr-15 that's a little large. You'll be able to hang on in the
gusts (and outperform a cr-12 in both pointing and boatspeed upwind, as
well as in boatspeed downwind) without losing too much of the low-end
planing.

Which once again goes to show that the variable are endless... Plus,
much of this is based on how the feel of a fin works for a particular
sailors personal preferences. There are a bunch of racers in the Bay
Area who do VERY well using fins that are much smaller than what common
wisdom would prescribe for their weight/equipment mix and the
prevailing conditions. They do well with this because over the years
they have developed a style that milks pointing angle from boat speed.
As I lack those people's refined sailing style and efficiency, I have
found that I do better if I use fins that are slightly larger than what
you would expect, but are pretty flexy to avoid getting killed in the
gusts and chop.

Andreas

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