jjlang was your board second hand?

 

No, brand new! Spent about a grand and a half including a couple of sails, decent mast etc. Need to spend more really, as my mast is too big for the smaller sails

 

brand new....

Can't afford brand new, but theres some good second hand stuff available in the shops.

Do you go on lakes or sea?

 

Thanks for that fellas. That's the kind of thing I was after.

I'll probably go somewhere along the lower volume boards, as although I suppose I'm technically a beginner windsurfer, I'm also a sailing instructor, so it's really just a matter of getting to grips with higher winds, waves & more refined techniques - not so much understanding the wind & so on, as I can do that kind of stuff already. I get a smaller board, & not one that you can walk up and down... Can't learn to sail a short board if you don't have one, eh?!

I shall see. Any recommendations as to a mid/low volume board, to take up to 7.5ish sail?

 

Here's a good site for board info





Edited because I can't spell

[Edited by weapon69 - 18/07/2003 16:58:41]

 

I find the sea better as you generally get much better wind. A smaller board is what you'll want eventually... in high winds the big boards are a bit uncontrollable (in my experience anyway, I'm no expert!)

 

Nice one. Thanks for that!

I've got my eye on the Starboard FreeSex, in quite a nice yellow colour. I'm thinking the 107 litre would be best, as I should be able to uphaul as well. Anyone had the pleasure of trying one? I'll probably give it a test sail when there's some wind. It's classed as a freeride/freestyle board, which should be good.

In fact, it's blowing about 20 knots just now....I'll be off then!

 

Ello ello..

Anyone around this thread any more?
I eventually found a Bic Veloce 278, second hand, and it goes well. Anyone had one of those?
Anyone been out lately?

 

Hello

Just getting transport sorted then im off to do level 3 course (again)

New job means more money for boards

 

I've also got my eye on a Bic Allegro Needle board, which I could probably get for a tenner. It isn't too good condition, but at that price, I should think it'd go fairly fast. They say it's completely useless for anything other than going fast, but that's all I'm good at anyway.... Now got a 'new' 5.5 sail as well, which I bought off a guy at work. Neilpryde VX3 Race sail it is. I'm not really good enough to get the most out of it, but it was a good price. I reckoned it would go well with the Allegro as well. Erm...quite fast, I think!

 

Does anyone go Windsurfing in Winter in the UK? I think I might attempt it this year

 

I'm thinking of it as well. I'll be in Aberdeen over the winter though, which might get a tad chilly....., but it's when you get the good winds. Autumn should be good though. Just think of the gales!

 

Woo hoo.....
30 knots at west kirby today.. Crazy stuff, out on the 5.5.....Overtook a good few people as well..

 

LOL I haven't had the chance to go out ALL summer

Looks like winter surfing for me then

Did you buy a board in the end?

 

Ditch the sails get a real board- I surfed for 12 years winter and summer, re your original thread, never ventured to the south coast, all the most consistant breaks (ex Scotish Isles) are in Cornwall, North Devon & The Gower in Wales. Good Luck with your new hobby, I am too bloody old and tired to drive 200+ miles every other weekend!

 

LOL Rich. Its not a new hobby, been doing it for 10 years on and off now

Just seems to be more expensive when you have to pay for it yourself

 

I got a Bic Veloce 278 in the end, for a reduced £100. Goes quite well, & carves as well as I am able...
101 litres - uphaulable, just, if you don't mind it sinking...
It's getting a bit bashed up, being my first short board, but it's going well...

Grr...smilies don't work..

[Edited by Franx - 8/22/2003 7:11:01 PM]

 

Ditch the sales and get a real board lol. Windsurfing is a lot better than surfing IMHO. Only problem is the cost of kit and needing wind as well as waves to have a good time.

Simon.

 

Ditch the sails eh?....
I can't even balance a skateboard, let alone a surfboard, so I'd have no chance! At least there's something to hang onto with windsurfing, rather than just thin air and a gob full of water..... Mind you, I get the odd one of those when windsurfing as well

 

Just found this thread. I have all the RYA levels plus can teach to level 5

Anyone ever come up to Scotland to sail/race?

AJ

 

I'll be up in Aberdeen from about september onwards. Might even do a spot of windsurfing while I'm there.
Do you know any good spots near there - assuming I'm about level 4 standard? Maybe fairly tame kind of wave sailing or something similar?
Seeya round....

 

Just got into this myself from sailing some very extreme boats. Out for about the 6th time on sat, got planing in the loops & harness for the first time. Suddenly it stops feeling ugly and unbalanced, and all clicks in. Sweet as a nut Never thought I'd be taken in by the dark side!

Problem is whilst I've got the bit in the air taped; it's the bottom bit I'm having problems with. Not used to steering with my feet! Soon as I'm planing it wobbles all over the shop!

Planning to buy the smallest board I can get away with uphauling 'cos I'm hoping to make pretty good progres, besides, I only want to sail when it's WINDY. Was on a F2 Pheonix 3.2M / 180ltr job at the w/e (centreboard up), thought it was going to launch into the sky at top speed. Got to suss this mast-foot presure thing people keep talking about. Any suggestions?!

Only thing I've learnt so far is to keep the arms straight when catapulting. Avoids pain / face boom interface. Mind you, try cartwheeling a 49er/aussie skiff at 20+ knots. That's acceleration. And FEAR!!

Anyways, windsurfing. Very Must try kites soon too...

 

Also to say that there's a school at Datchet Resevoir - M4/M25 Junction. <url>http://www.datchetwatersports.co.uk/</url>

Not a bad place bit more windsurfer oriented than QM I think, they have some quite nice kit. Tell 'em Suicide sent you if you want them to double the price I sail boats at the sailing club there, and occasionally windsurf at the with the watersports mob.

- M.

 

When it comes to catapaulting... just get your **** down really really low, you can normally avoid catapaulting if you get over the fear of leaning back

 

Trust me, Fear doesn't come into it, I'm a nutcase! Haven't really catpulted over the sail, more over the nose of the board 'cos I've been foolish enough not to lock my front leg fully. Learning!

Yeah, very long board. Tried a starboard carve 155 on sun - wider, shorter, lower vol. More stable laterally, but more sensitive in pitch (Duh ) Looking to buy around 120ltrs. Think I ought to be able to *just* uphaul @75kilos.

18's, yup, awesome, do miss it. Try being the guy who's hanging onto the bit of string that's controlling 75 sq metres of spinnaker. No winches, no purchase, just a ratchet block. Trapeze too high and it picks you up! 49er's actually a more exciting boat - the 18's a bit heavy / yot-like. Feels a bit ugly to steer. For a bit of real stupidity, try singlehanding one. Ok, it was about 4-5kts, but I got the kite up (and down) - it's a bag too.. Very scary . When I did capsize, I wasn't fat enough to get it back up

49er's more fun: 1/2 the weight, 75% power, and much more prone to cartwheel

AJ - Very occasionally, I don't do much on the open circuit at the mo. Do you mean sail or windsurf?

- M.

 

Still no windsurfing for me yet.....

A whoooollle summer wasted

 

Hey Sempers - ever been in an ultra 30?

Other thing is - I'm no authority on the matter, but if you're 75kg, the same as me, you'll be able to uphaul on something smaller than 120 litres, I think, with a bit of practice. The veloce I just sold this morning was 101 litres, and I could uphaul anything up to a 7.5 on it (coz that was the biggest I had )
The starboard carve is a nice one as well. I looked at the 99 litre carve, then realised it was about £500 more than I could afford .

I now have an AHD 267, of 91ish litres.....I need some wind

 

Nah, that's one thing I've not done - you offering

Must admit experience on the skiff was that it's starting to push the limits of what feels like a dinghy, and starting to feel more clumsy / yotlike.

Still pretty interesting in bumpy conditions when it's flying/jumping, and will push on much more than the 49er 'cos it keeps the nose in the air once the kite is set, but it's not so 'alive' under you. Would imagine an ultra takes that a step further. Very impressive boats tho, but seem to have died at the moment? I take it you've sailed one then?

As for boards, remember so far I've been out approx 6 times. Turning around is a matter of standing up and wobbling round a tack - in typical style I've worked out how to go flat out before I've worked out the rest of it

 

Oh yeah.. nail on the head. Blagged a board and jumped on - I'm a (good?) sailor - this can't be hard. Sploosh. Hmm.....

Then again, I'm happy with progress - numptie to loops in 6 1hr sessions. Now to work out some control!

 

Loops? Back loops?....you're doing better than me after 6 hours
30+ knots forecast for west kirby tomorrow....the new board might get an outing