I had my first proper sail on my new 2015 Naish Force Five 5.3 at Port Hughes yesterday which I brought from Reg at Windsurfing Perth as a clearance sale model. Winds were cross off shore, about 20-25knots. Pretty gusty. Not North Haven gusty or Sellicks Beach gusty, but getting there.
I'm a particular with my needs. I'm a small guy and I like small powerful sails. I don't like flat sails. Over the years, I've had a lot of disappointments. I know first run if a sail is going to be compatible with my style. I really like this sail. It's neutral handed and wasn't twitchy or hard to handle. Arms weren't burning out like some sails do. Gets on the plane well, and gybes well. It's nice and easy to use and you know this when you come to the end of a run and do a nice full tilt gybe !. I sailed this sail for over four hours yesterday. It eventually became too windy, but was too knackered to change down.
Rigging wise, this sail has a very tight leech. It still twists off, but you have to be careful not to overdown haul it (I come from a Severne background - leeches very loose on Severnes). Other than that, very easy to rig. The sail also looks very well made.
This sail is a keeper !, and when I go to replace my other wave sails, I'm be getting Force 5's for sure.
Just a plug about Port Hughes. 90min in the car, why aren't people coming here ?. It's a good B&J and slalom spot in winter and a B&J spot in the seabreezes. I've been sailing this spot for 6 years. I'm the only guy that sails it. The northerlies in autumn, winter and spring and very reliable that blow all day. Unlike metro where it's windy for an hour and you are sailing in poo. It's a perfect freeride spot. It's got a nice flat inside which you can do nice big happy gybes and out the back has got some nice ramps to practice starboard jumps (which for me need improvement). The water quality on the inside is like a swimming pool. If you live five minutes away from metro beach, then that's fine. You can put up with poo water and the 45 min of wind before packing up. If you are driving 30 minutes, then spend another 1 hour in the car and come to this location. At I said, it blows all day long. If you take your family, there's a kids play ground, showers, toilets, barbeque areas, a Kiosk that makes a good fish and chips and a jetty if you want to do a bit of fishing
How much downhaul do you put on it? I normally have the crease extending to the black seam, so only the white part is floppy.
I saw a guy on the beach rig it so it was floppy 2/3 of the way to the mast between the 2nd and 3rd batten from the top. He also has about 2 or 3 cm -ve outhaul... I think he thought it was a race sail.
I have the 5 and 5.7 same as yours, absolutely fantastic sails. I don't understand why you don't see more of them, but the fellas that have them normally stick with them for years.
Hi Tom. Yep, exactly how you mentioned. Me and Joe (CPTSLOW) went down to our local last week. The wind didn't show, so we pulled out this sail and had a play with it. Joe deduced that that's how the designers wanted it to be rigged (ie: crease touching black seam). Thanks Joe for your help the other day :)
Cheers jn1, had my 5.7 out today and rigged it with that downhaul. Outhaul to let the sail touch the boom in gusts, plant to get going when others were on 7.5s.
Sail has plenty of twist without being loose
I was so happy with my Force5 5.3, I brought clearance sale 2014 4.2 Force R1 at the start of the year. However, because the winds haven't been very strong last season, I only got to use it twice. The first session wasn't very good (2 over powered runs). However, I used it in a 25 knot stormy two weeks ago. It felt very similar to my 5.3. Very stable, powerful, and light. I'm very happy with it.
