>Longboards paddle faster than shortboards. >Shortboards turn and accelerate faster than longboards. >Which has the fastest top speed? What are used in large waves and why? >What do windsurfers use for speed runs?
Windsurfers found out quickly that smaller, narrower boards are faster in planing speed situations, and as soon as they perfected the way to get up and going without standing on the board and pulling the sail up, they quit riding floaters for wavesailing and highspeed runs.
The only need for length in large waves is for paddling power, since you can’t ride what you can’t catch. The longer the board, the faster it can go in hull-speed-limited situations, without planing, since the maximum speed of a displacement hull is a function of waterline length.
As soon as you break loose and step up on a plane, the less surface area, the better. This is why Laird and the tow-in crew use 4-6′ boards about 16″ wide for riding huge waves, strapped in. If you don’t have to worry about paddling to catch the wave, smaller (and heavier) is faster.
Subject: Re: Pintails Date: 6 Nov 1995
> What’s the story on pintails anyhow? I’m hoping for speed and control in >the pit (i.e., I want more barrels!).
Pin tails hold in well in big, powerful surf because of the limited amount of area in the tail and the great amount of turbulence (drag). More control, but a lot of speed is sacrificed for the control. What some call a positive feel in the pin tail is actually resistance. The resistance can be negated by putting a greater degree of cant on the leading fins. More cant creates lift in the tail, which could be a problem in powerful surf. Sounds like a conundrum, huh?
Some people love pin tails, others hate them. It just depends on the individual.
You might try a twinzer type. If the fins and rails are set up properly they will hold in better than a pin and give you greater speed than a square tail.
