So I signed up for windsurfing lessons this morning! <img src="<>/laugh.gif" alt="laugh" title="laugh" height="15" width="15" />
It looks like my search for crew has failed (or is failing) and I can't be spending any more time on the beach. So, if there's too much wind for me to sail uni, I'll break out the board and harass Terry!
How do boards compare to F16s in the 15-20 range?
Like sailing, it all depends on what you want to spend. If you want to drop some serious coin on a formula board, big carbon fin, 12mtr sail, carbon mast and boom, you'll probably be able to hang with the F16's (oh, and serious step up your fitness). If you go a cheaper route and buy some recreational gear, you'll get smoked.
Seriously, thinking about a board to take me out onto the course and watch the cats play, once the wind comes up.
More time sitting and watching than sailing.
Enjoy, and hope you are ready for the next fitness level. Do learn how to waterstart <img src="<>/smile.gif" alt="smile" title="smile" height="15" width="15" />
More time sitting and watching than sailing.
There are 2 problems with a wind surfer:
1. There is nowhere for me to sit.
2. There is nowhere to sit my beer.
Wind surfing got old real quick.
Well, I'm all outta beer so that's no problem.
From a physical perpective it is much easier to pick up kitesurfing.
Windsurfing is much harder to master once you get beyond the basics as well.
Both are good fun though <img src="<>/smile.gif" alt="smile" title="smile" height="15" width="15" />
I'm sure there's a board/sail combination that will let me cruise around the bay without pulling a hernia. I've no intention of mastering anything, just goin' for a sail...
As soon as Karl mentioned money, I quickly revised my plan!
More time sitting and watching than sailing.
If the winds up join the committee boat or chase boats.
Pass. I've been thinking about this for awhile...
As soon as Karl mentioned money, I quickly revised my plan!
Back when windsurfing was exploding, I got hooked.
Thought this is great, I can do it myself, minimal set-up yata yata. BUT, If the wind is too much for your sail, it is beyond physical, or too little for your sail and you end up having to hold the mast up yourself. To fix this you end up with a full quiver of sails to suit any condition, masts and boom to match and quickly following a variety of boards to go with it. Soon the price of the cat was not so bad.
The whole holding the mast up to go is the real killer. Standing rigging is not to be given up lightly.
Also until you learn to water start and successfully use a harness, the physical demands from windsurfing way outdo the physical demands of your F16 even in a blow.
Thought about one of Hobie's sailing Kayak's?
Yes, for about a minute. It isn't for me.
Okay, the first lesson (an hour and a half) went about like you'd expect! I had minimal success but there was a little and I like it! The board could have been my twin, short and fat. The big plus is it was 1-1/2 hours at the beach, not the gym, and a pretty good workout.
Pete stick with it...there is a learning curve like anything else...there is more to life than a modern upwind/down wind race course...on a board you will rediscover reaching...and the only time a f16 or any other beach cat will match the speed of a high wind short board on a broad reach is when it's towed behind a car...forget 20 mph...think more along the lines of 40 after you get a few years of experience under your belt if you want to go that far with it. Just be forewarned that it is very addicting.
Well, being a rank novice it did take me about 10 minutes to rig down but I'm pretty sure I can cut that in half.
Fwiw, the Blade remains my number #1 ride. I just need something simpler at times.
That's why I have a jet ski.
Go Pete, do admire you though learning to windsurf as I had a lot of fun learning, never got beyond beach starting and failed at the water start learning bit.
Highlights were speed and more speed and yet more speed, quick to set up, grin factor, and the adrenaline buzz afterwards.
Downside was the physical until you can get a harness working well, the real defined stages where you have to put hours and hours in to suddenly move to the next stage, the scrapped shins when you end up getting dragged up the board by your harness and the walk of shame back along the beach towing your board and sail. <img src="<>/blush.gif" alt="blush" title="blush" height="15" width="15" />
jet ski
. Thank God Florida has all but outlawed them!
Highlights were speed and more speed and yet more speed, quick to set up, grin factor, and the adrenaline buzz afterwards.
Downside was the physical until you can get a harness working well, the real defined stages where you have to put hours and hours in to suddenly move to the next stage, the scrapped shins when you end up getting dragged up the board by your harness and the walk of shame back along the beach towing your board and sail. <img src="<>/blush.gif" alt="blush" title="blush" height="15" width="15" />
<img src="<>/laugh.gif" alt="laugh" title="laugh" height="15" width="15" /> I have no shame! If I did I'd have quit sailing long ago.
I'm looking at a JP Australia long board and 7.5m Ezzy sail, carbon mast and boom. I'm told longer is easier. 11' long but only 30 lbs. I'm not quite ready to buy yet so I still have time to mull it over.
Most learning boards are not long but relatively short and very wide ( stable ), the more experianced you get the narrower the board but still in comparison to even a few years ago, short.
7.5m sail is too big, not so much as powerful but more to learn the handling of the sail, once you can tack, gybe and generally get about with a harness, then the bigger sails come into play.
Go onto some of the windsurfing forums and ask there as I'm sure they will be able to give you more informed and better advice. Good learning. <img src="<>/smile.gif" alt="smile" title="smile" height="15" width="15" />
Pete - For beginning and fun boards, it's tough to go wrong here:
http:/
I'll give it a look but I don't want to get into trading equipment every few months.
Second lesson tomorrow, weather permitting. There are bound to be improvements because I can't do any worse! <img src="<>/laugh.gif" alt="laugh" title="laugh" height="15" width="15" />
Second lesson tomorrow, weather permitting. There are bound to be improvements because I can't do any worse! <img src="<>/laugh.gif" alt="laugh" title="laugh" height="15" width="15" />
Pete,
If you get into this, you had better not start your
search for experience from behind a keyboard
bit with the windsurfing group. Cat sailors have nothing on the windsurfing guys when it comes to varied opinions and
suggestions
on what you have to have/buy in order to make the things work. Sails, masts, boom, boards, foils ALL different - but all you really nead is a bazzillion hours water time and you might be pulling off a planning jibe.
Have fun man.
Actually, I already did. Maybe I just got lucky but it was civil and well reasoned. The general opinion is that longer is easier and more stable, can be fast, but is not as maneuverable. As I have no illusions about doing flips in the surf, that's not a problem.
Seems these long board are a throw back to the past and a way to combine SUP (stand up paddling- something I never intend to do) and beginner/intermediate skill levels.
Good for you Pete. When I want to go out in a blow, I'll keep taking out a Hobie Wave.
better bring your wallet then..$$ <img src="<>/grin.gif" alt="grin" title="grin" height="15" width="15" />
What do you weight in KG?
Board sizes are always measured in volume of liters, basic rules is that a board needs to be equal to your weight in order to float when not planing.
Length is not that relevant, actually short and wide boards are a bit more stable.
You would probably need a board of around 150 liters, that will be big enough to stand on and lift the sail out of the water (test some to see what you like).
For a first sail I would get a 5.5m sail, anything bigger will be hard to sail without a trapeze.
Rule for sail sizes is that your next sail must be around 20% bigger (5.5-6.6-8 for example) thats why there are so many different sail sizes.
Someone posted the Starboard website earlier, their Carve line of boards are perfect for beginner and intermediate windsurfers.
What would you say Tony about windsurfers vs kitesailing for beginners in strongish winds?
I've sailed the Wave a couple of times. I like it on the water but what a pita to move around the beach! That long straight
keel?
is something I'm not gonna put up with! Besides, the whole point is to have something that stows away and rigs quickly, but takes up very little room. A Wave is a boat; I have two I don't need a third.
Rolf- no worries I wouldn't get near a kite!
It depends on a few things, for both gusty conditions are difficult for beginners (maybe a it harder for windsurfing).
Water depth is another, water-starting is easier with a kite.
There are lots of places where they give kitesurf lessons in very strong winds (30kts), you just use a smaller kite.
Before going out on the water students get to learn with a small trainer kite to get a feel of how to steer, and the first time out on the water is without a board anyway.
Pete: You really should take a kitesurf lesson as well, just for comparison. <img src="<>/smile.gif" alt="smile" title="smile" height="15" width="15" />