Quote:
> I know there have been recent postings about fins, but I don't think my
> questions have really been answered.
Indee, a search in dejanews might be worthwhile.
Quote:
> I'm started using a 75 liter board with a 5.0 sail. I weigh 115 lbs. When
> I try to really sheet in and rake the sail back, the fin has a tendency to
> spin out. It is a True Ames Teardrop fin (10.75") which I suspect is
> rather small for the sail size. Any recommendations on the correct fin
> length (assuming that I'm looking for a swept blade or pure blade?) Or can
> I help the situation by setting something else differently (like moving
> the mast track or the boom height).
10.75 does not seem small to me on a 75 l board with 5.0 sail - maybe
even already a bit on the large side.
So i suspect you just need a bit to get used to the board. I suspect
that
when you "really sheet in and rake the sail back" you give probabely too
much pressure on the back foot, kicking the tail away. Keep the front
leg straight, stay upright over the board, maybe try to shorten
the harness lines a bit, practice and you should be alright
If you have a US box fin, moving it forward may help. You can also
try to lower the boom a bit to increase pressure on the front foot.
Quote:
> Does having too large a fin really matter? (ie does it mess you up badly?)
Larger fins may plane a bit earlier but they are also ultimately slower
and board control gets worse, especially in jibes at high speeds there
will be a tendency to bounce, do unwanted aerial jibes.
Quote:
> Also, is there any good method of recovering from a spinout short of
> unhooking, getting out of the straps and basically dropping out of a
> plane? Can I omit any of the above steps?
You can
+ do a windward jerk with the back foot, pulling the board under your
body
while not applying any sideways pressure at all.
+ do a little chop hop (if you can land without spinning out again)
+ bear off the wind (sometimes not easy and can give nice launches)
The earlier you try to recover the better. Often you'll hear a spin
out before really feeling it.
W.
--
Wolfgang Soergel
Lehrstuhl fuer Nachrichtentechnik phone: ++49-9131-857781
Universitaet Erlangen-Nuernberg fax: ++49-9131-303840
Cauerstrasse 7 email:
D-91058 Erlangen, GERMANY
http://www.nt.e-technik.uni-erlangen.de/~wsoergel