We tested the Windsurfer LT for the german windsurf magazine dailydose.de. The video shows scenes from the test. The Windsurfer LT planes very early and ist extremely versatile.
I'm more on Facebook, but cannot concur enough with this - +1 too with the (visibly) annoying water spray around the dagger well, at least with the racing dagger in my experience. There is something with the LT that makes it "stick" to water in heavy chop and not require footstraps. My sailing was mostly in Australia and freestyle, but I've seen Aussies in 25 knots easy on the 1-design rig and no footstraps. Cheers!
hey Chris, I've got a kona 11.5 (exocet 11.5 now its called I guess). How would you rate the lighter wind performance between it and the WS LT..not in light wind waves but in sailing in general. Thanks! jd
And a question for Chris T - Did you use the 'stock original LT fin' in this video? Or... have you used other hi-performance fins in the LT, to get better hi-wind fun? Your thoughts? Thank you!
I used the original fin and had no issues. I guess that the biggest amount of drag results from water that enters into the daggerboard compartment. (No complaint from my side, I just think that‘s a limiting factor.)
@@chris.5731 - Thanks! And about the original fin - I've had it 'spin-out' a couple times when using a BIG sail, not a big deal, got it back under control before crashing. But I've also used a Kona One fin (46cm)... and Select carbon race fin (48cm)... and really liked both of them (upwind - downwind - speed - control - no spin out).
Hi! How big was that sail and is this a freeride or freerace or whatever? I just ordered a new LT and want to fit a bigger and modern sail for lightwind on the lakes here in switzerland. I think for something around good 7sqm. What should I take? What kind of sail will fit well with the LT? I haven‘t been surfing for around 30 years and don‘t know much about the „modern stuff“…. I ordered the 5,7 and the 4,5. So what to take above that sails? Im around 83kg….
That day I used a rather small sail, no camber, freewave. If you say you havent been windsurfing for such a long time I would take it easy and opt for a light, no cam sail. Why not just try it with what you have before upgrading your sail quiver further? In my opinion, the LT works just fine even if you sail underpowered. In light winds, the daggerboard will help creating pressure. If you really want something big, I would opt for a freeride sail, thats easy to handle and fast to rigg. The LT is most fun, when you take it easy. If you sail in Switzerland you might be able to read our german article at www.dailydose.de/story-windsurfer-lt-fahrbericht-20210315.htm
@@chris.5731 Ja, spreche deutsch. Schöner Artikel, der eigentlich aus dem Herzen spricht. Morgen soll mein LT endlich kommen. Werde es erstmal mit dem 5,7 er, welches mir aufgrund der Einfachheit auch sehr sympathisch ist, ausprobieren, oder wenn der Wind, wie so oft hier im Binnenland mangelt, es mal etwas SUP-en…. Bin schon sehr gespannt, auch und gerade weil ich keine Ahnung habe, ob, bzw. was ich überhaupt noch kann. Zig Jahre älter sind ja auch zu bedenken, was Fitness, Kraft und Beweglichkeit angeht. Bin aber auf ein „Desaster“ vorbereitet…. 😉👍🙂
There's a reason the LT has the sail it has - it's because it's such a good match for the board. A "modern" sail is normally much heavier and has a very open leach and flat cut. Size for size, the 5.7 LT sail produces a lot of power and speed, while being very light. Once you get to know how to set it up, it's an ideal rig for the board.
It was very gusty that day. The smaller boards were in a kind of stop and go mode, while the Windsurfer LT just continued going due to it's high volume even though I used a smaller sail than most other guys. Also: The daggerboard allowed the Windsurfer LT to blast upwind in the lulls while the small boards without a daggerboard had to go upwind during the gusts because they were barely moving during the lulls. It was definitely a fun, easy and relaxed session on the Windsurfer LT. In that configuration (modern sail) the Windsurfer LT has the spirit of Balou the bear from the Jungle Book. It's a bit chubby but has loads of fun and just dances along and doesn't care about the conditions.
I’ve windsurfed a Starboard Cruiser in 30 knots plus with a 6.5 at Hood River. My biggest issues was that the front end would be way out of the water and I would be on the rail so much my feet would cause drag😏 how is the Windsurfer LT in higher winds?
It's hard to recognize irony from people you don't know. So I'll answer as if you're serious. To sail a 6.5 in more than 30 knots in a controlled manner you need to have a really good level. The World Cup guys use 6.6 - 7 in those winds. - Not knowing you, the first thing I would suggest is to use a much smaller sail. - The windsurfer LT isn't made for such high winds at a spot like hood River. Even carrying an LT in 30 Knots of wind will be a challenge. (We made this test because many spots like lakes have very gusty stop and go conditions, that's where the board has been tested. If you want to sail the LT in hard core conditions you need to have a very good riding level.) You are you proficient in using a harness?
@@chris.5731 yes, I use the harness. We don’t have as much wind here in Ensenada so I’m back to the bigger sails again. Just picked up another 10.0 from Sailworks.
@@craigleonard9243 Great to hear. Kona Sports build a hollow carbon version of their Kona one wich might fit well into your use case, but I didn't try that one yet. (-> kona-sports.com )
Thanks great clip!
I'm more on Facebook, but cannot concur enough with this - +1 too with the (visibly) annoying water spray around the dagger well, at least with the racing dagger in my experience. There is something with the LT that makes it "stick" to water in heavy chop and not require footstraps. My sailing was mostly in Australia and freestyle, but I've seen Aussies in 25 knots easy on the 1-design rig and no footstraps. Cheers!
Awesome footage!
hey Chris,
I've got a kona 11.5 (exocet 11.5 now its called I guess). How would you rate the lighter wind performance between it and the WS LT..not in light wind waves but in sailing in general.
Thanks!
jd
And a question for Chris T - Did you use the 'stock original LT fin' in this video? Or... have you used other hi-performance fins in the LT, to get better hi-wind fun? Your thoughts? Thank you!
I used the original fin and had no issues. I guess that the biggest amount of drag results from water that enters into the daggerboard compartment. (No complaint from my side, I just think that‘s a limiting factor.)
@@chris.5731 - Thanks! And about the original fin - I've had it 'spin-out' a couple times when using a BIG sail, not a big deal, got it back under control before crashing. But I've also used a Kona One fin (46cm)... and Select carbon race fin (48cm)... and really liked both of them (upwind - downwind - speed - control - no spin out).
@@gregnw44 Hi, I didn't have any spin outs with the original fin. Glad you have found a way to make it work fine for you.
Hi! How big was that sail and is this a freeride or freerace or whatever? I just ordered a new LT and want to fit a bigger and modern sail for lightwind on the lakes here in switzerland. I think for something around good 7sqm. What should I take? What kind of sail will fit well with the LT? I haven‘t been surfing for around 30 years and don‘t know much about the „modern stuff“…. I ordered the 5,7 and the 4,5. So what to take above that sails? Im around 83kg….
That day I used a rather small sail, no camber, freewave. If you say you havent been windsurfing for such a long time I would take it easy and opt for a light, no cam sail. Why not just try it with what you have before upgrading your sail quiver further? In my opinion, the LT works just fine even if you sail underpowered. In light winds, the daggerboard will help creating pressure. If you really want something big, I would opt for a freeride sail, thats easy to handle and fast to rigg. The LT is most fun, when you take it easy. If you sail in Switzerland you might be able to read our german article at www.dailydose.de/story-windsurfer-lt-fahrbericht-20210315.htm
@@chris.5731 Ja, spreche deutsch. Schöner Artikel, der eigentlich aus dem Herzen spricht. Morgen soll mein LT endlich kommen. Werde es erstmal mit dem 5,7 er, welches mir aufgrund der Einfachheit auch sehr sympathisch ist, ausprobieren, oder wenn der Wind, wie so oft hier im Binnenland mangelt, es mal etwas SUP-en…. Bin schon sehr gespannt, auch und gerade weil ich keine Ahnung habe, ob, bzw. was ich überhaupt noch kann. Zig Jahre älter sind ja auch zu bedenken, was Fitness, Kraft und Beweglichkeit angeht. Bin aber auf ein „Desaster“ vorbereitet…. 😉👍🙂
There's a reason the LT has the sail it has - it's because it's such a good match for the board. A "modern" sail is normally much heavier and has a very open leach and flat cut. Size for size, the 5.7 LT sail produces a lot of power and speed, while being very light. Once you get to know how to set it up, it's an ideal rig for the board.
Did you remove center board bottom flap cover?
No, it was still attached. I was going at > 20 knots. That caused the water to leak through the covers.
Like the sail past the non planing board, think he was jealous.
It was very gusty that day. The smaller boards were in a kind of stop and go mode, while the Windsurfer LT just continued going due to it's high volume even though I used a smaller sail than most other guys. Also: The daggerboard allowed the Windsurfer LT to blast upwind in the lulls while the small boards without a daggerboard had to go upwind during the gusts because they were barely moving during the lulls. It was definitely a fun, easy and relaxed session on the Windsurfer LT. In that configuration (modern sail) the Windsurfer LT has the spirit of Balou the bear from the Jungle Book. It's a bit chubby but has loads of fun and just dances along and doesn't care about the conditions.
I’ve windsurfed a Starboard Cruiser in 30 knots plus with a 6.5 at Hood River. My biggest issues was that the front end would be way out of the water and I would be on the rail so much my feet would cause drag😏 how is the Windsurfer LT in higher winds?
It's hard to recognize irony from people you don't know. So I'll answer as if you're serious. To sail a 6.5 in more than 30 knots in a controlled manner you need to have a really good level. The World Cup guys use 6.6 - 7 in those winds. - Not knowing you, the first thing I would suggest is to use a much smaller sail. - The windsurfer LT isn't made for such high winds at a spot like hood River. Even carrying an LT in 30 Knots of wind will be a challenge. (We made this test because many spots like lakes have very gusty stop and go conditions, that's where the board has been tested. If you want to sail the LT in hard core conditions you need to have a very good riding level.)
You are you proficient in using a harness?
@@chris.5731 yes, I use the harness. We don’t have as much wind here in Ensenada so I’m back to the bigger sails again. Just picked up another 10.0 from Sailworks.
@@craigleonard9243 Great to hear. Kona Sports build a hollow carbon version of their Kona one wich might fit well into your use case, but I didn't try that one yet. (-> kona-sports.com )
il rivenditore italiano chi è?