Franx

That was on the French speed canal wasn't it? Or was it somewhere else?

If you have that RYA video called 'Towards the Limit', there's quite a lot of footage there from the speed & slalom champs a good few years ago in Fuertaventura, & the speed does look pretty ridiculous. They sail the offshore winds, a few metres off the beach in flat water, so when they crash/hit the bottom/catupault, as a lot of them did, it's kinda sore.

I wasn't there, or into windsurfing at the time, but they used to have the speed trials at West Kirby, right along the wall. I've been there on a few good days as well, and you can see how good it is. Completely flat water, just the downside of a wall, and with 30odd knots of wind and a 5.5 race sail, twas pretty bloody amazing. Hopefully I'll be back at that level over the summer again

icantthinkofone

Yeah, that's it.. with a lollypop stick to hold the mast base and his feet appart, and that's it...

Wanna get fast

Franx

You want a needle board

About 10 inches wide, and 50 litres. I know of a shop that has one, but he wouldn't sell it

http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid4337143

A bit of that is required, I think Dunkerbeck, by the way, on a Proof board

dpb

hey hey ........i went out on one o these proof boards (at the dunkenbek centre) and put a hole in it they wont best pleased The man himself turned up the next day apparently - i was else where. NOT MUCH BLADDY WIND IS THERE

Franx

Nice one

Was it any good? Custom built for each individual, I hear?

dpb

HELLO EVERBODY ...Started windsurfin in 98 ....and every year since progressivly less dependable south-westerly airstreams .....other older people have confirmed this .... .......so far this year since march anyway 3? possible opertunities >4 s/w .......summer seems to have arrived before spring again ...Ho well maybe we'll get wind during the summer ...

Franx

That other thread reminded me

Anyone been out recently?
I nearly put off moving from Aberdeen back to Liverpool today, as for the first time ever, it was blowing half a gale Problem was, my gear was spread between Aberdeen, Liverpool and West Kirby, so perhaps not
I'm thinking about doing the windsurfing instructor course as well, just to earn a bit more money.... Anyone done that yet? Experiences?

Flat calm when I get back home on sunday, no doubt

dpb

..... 1/2 way thro summer ....at last gettin some S/W s - was out couple o times last week,would ave been over w/e last but dragged off to race catermaran ,and this w/e- round isle o weight .....presently blowwin gale .dont know about instructors course ,assume you have to know how to do it yerself 1st ... . or wether poss to make any money out of it .

Franx

I know I can make money out of it, as I teach sailing at the moment, and the place I work at need w/s instructors....

I'm off out this afternoon, going by the forecast. I'm seeing around a force 5-9 at west kirby later on... Whether it happens or not, I'd not be too sure, but that's what the thing says.....

dpb

We got good strong 8 ....sw guess you got east unless youre in the middle o it

Franx

We got around an 8 westerly-nw at west kirby, which is still going. Westerly now, I think.
I might just have to go out again First day like that we've had in ages - except last weekend, but I wasn't there

dpb

mind how you go .....my smallest sails 4.5 so mybe too big

Franx

My smallest's 5.5, but I borrowed a 4.5 form the sailing centre, and it was good this afternoon. I was out this morning as well, but quite overpowered, and unable to do much, apart from very high speed straight lines...... I think a 3.8 or maybe a 4m would have been spot on Wind was averaging around 30-35 knots this morning, then around 30 this afternoon.... Two days in a row as well

icantthinkofone

Now here's something wierd... can wally about all day on a 7m and 120ltr board, no probs... out on a 4.5 on weds, fully (over)stacked, and I was tail sinking like mad

I blame it on the fear! Waterstarting's getting better tho

Got pretty trashed on weds, thurs was more 20-25, nice 5.5m, struggled a bit initially, then had a really good sail. First jump(ette), probably about 18 inches, but at least I aimed to take off on a particular wave and did so all round.

Am I the only one who does a 'splash gybe' when it's like this? head up, slow down, drop into water with the rig flying. Twist the gear round, flip rig and waterstart in the opposite direction? Bearing off in all that chop's scary enough, let alone taking the back foot out to try and gybe!

Franx

Could it be that your board's too big for those small sails? I've no idea why that should cause your tail to sink.....but as we know with windsurfing, anything's possible. Coz every board has a limited sail range, they tell us, and you might be below it, so the board's technically underpowered. Or something

Quite right aout 'splash' gybes though. It's just the speed you're going at - don't always think it too sensible to nail it into a gybe, esp when you know you're going to fall off... That said, I improved the carving to no end just these last few days. I didn't do a complete gybe, as I tend to make an @rse of the rig and foot change. Back to the pete hart video methinks.

Good day today, wed and thurs though. At last, I got to use the 5.8 which I've been saving up since last september Around 28-30 knots today, although being southerly, it made the lake very lumpy, which is good for practicing jumps, if not gybes.

Pulled the back footstrap off the board to day though, in the middle of a jump. Wasn't a bad landing, quite surprisingly, but couldn't really do much after that. Borrowed a slalom board off the sailing centre instead, and caned up and down for a while.

Thursday - around a 30-50 knot south westerly - someone came very close to breaking that speed record, I hear. The guy Windy John, from - http://www.dspot.co.uk/catalog/default.php - there - apparently did 42 knots (gps timed) on his speed board - there's a picture of him in 'boards' mag this month in the letters part. Custom built union jack-coloured board etc. I saw it in the shop the other day....very nice

icantthinkofone

Awesome session yesterday, first time I've taken my own kit down to the sea... bumpy, yes, but truly great, and steady wind.

Cracked the tail sinking, it's.... you guessed.... lack of commitment Wasn't bearing off and sheeting in, afraid of the speed when the going was bumpy. Yesterday cured that. Had to come in about 5, fully stacked on my 5.2, but more importantly, couldn't keep 120 ltrs on the ground, getting very unruly when it wasn't. Couldn't stay downwind... you know it's bad when you're jumping the waves on the way *in* Especially as I hadn't left the ground before yesterday....

Still buzzing

dpb

got out 3/4 times back end o last weeks gales left a bit o a sea down here at Saltdean (sussex) but out on the sunday overpowered on a 5.25 at mid afternoon . Mate tried afterwork- at high tide mind couldnt get off the beach . Out couple o times inc yesterday but very up and down 3-5 . How long is the 120 litre ? i think it does take more commitment on a longer board . my wave board works very well in the surf here lots o bouyancy in the middle,short strech to the rear strap, however 5.7 is about the limit and have had to swim for it on several occasions

icantthinkofone

260 long, 66 wide and a 36cm fin - just way too much. Also got bumpier as the tide covered the sandbank to windward of the sailing area, and the wind got up. peeps were sailing 5m's and 75litre boards, breaking chop. Plenty of commitment, but no nose rocker, and too much bouyancy.

Ah well. Time for a smaller board. What's your wave board?

dpb

oh right.. widestlye ....youd ave been okay with smaller skeg id av thought - sounds like my carve 131 .they do start to bounce around too much ,cos o the width. My wave board is drops flyer 85 litre 260 2nd hand for 280ish ..surfladle

icantthinkofone

ish - it's actually a carve 121 - somewhat narrower than the 131, in mid width (66 vs 72), and more so in the tail. But it's still *way* too big for a 5m sail.

Looking for an 85ish secondhand board - was thinking more fast tail - fanatic skate / freestyle wave orientation for a better all-round board, and faster planing than a full on wave board. In all honesty it's going to be more general purpose, though I do want to venture into waves.

Franx

I sailed a Carve 131 the other day briefly, and it was very nice. A lot more space to move about on, than mine has, and the extra width tends to make things easier.
You'll probably find the recommended sail range doesn't quite extend down to a 5m in a board that size - at least, it'd be on the edge. Generally speaking though, it's easier in high winds with a smaller board.

I'd try and get your hands on a freeride/wave board perhaps.... That should fill the gap for higher winds, and be good enough in the waves.

Bought an Ezzy wave 4m this afternoon. There'll be no wind for the next 6 months now

Anyway, I can't use my board, as I nearly knocked the nose off it the other day, so it's drying out, just waiting for the filler. That said, I've still been out. Borrowed a Hifly 265 slalom board from the sailing ctr, and used that It's thinner than mine, and a lot faster, but it's not bad at all.
My carve gybes seem to be coming on better on that, than on my own board...

dpb

Not sure if mines carve 131 or 135 now 2/3 years old now and takes my 8.5 , lighter and faster than mates techno anyways . Yes my drops aint ideal - i think freeride/freesyle/wave ! is way ta go

dpb

....ah well as long as its 5m weather we wont av to shoot yer Ive used that rigo stuff before now seems good - my old fanatic lite bee developed a nasty crack across front ( board made o tissue paper ) filled it and then p/ex it - youd be none the wiser . On the other hand mate i know just sawed the front off and glassed it - some recent boards even designed like this seen him sailing it around to- must be tricky to gybe

dpb

This is gettin beyond a blaady joke ....occasions weve had anything beyond a 3/4 this season 80 % cent o the time its a 7 /8 wtf .....2 days in a row mid summer wit 30 knot winds :confuzzled: .........10 tommmorow

Franx

A 7 or 8's ok, as long as you have the right sail, and a small enough board......although slightly less would perhaps be better As long as it's more than it was today, I don't mind.
Twas a good chance to practice the heli-tacking though. My light-wind duck gybes are coming on a treat as well Just a shame they're completely different to the high wind ones though...

Sailed the biggest board ever today. 215 litres, and the size to match. A Hifly Mambo with a handle on the front Good for freestyle though, as you can walk up and down it, and you don't fall off or sink

As I predicted though, no wind for the next 4 months. Go and buy a 9 metre rig, then the wind'll blow

I'm thinking I'll inject the hole in my AHD with epoxy, paint it, then see what happens. Even if it's complete disaster, it wasn't exactly an expensive board, so it won't be the end of the world. It wil keep the water out though, and I fancy it more than car filler. I forgot to buy the proper stuff when I was out at the shop the other day, and it's miles away, so I'll probably not bother.

dpb

been out few times recently ....up and down ........got out on the carve 135 ..wit 8.5...and this week wit 6.5....thought it was blowin up and took the wave board out ...swim home ...SUMMERS ARRIVED

harrymonk

Were do you guys sail, i used to go to cornwall and round the south coast ?

dpb

Saltdean .....near Brighton ..where kits kept anyways.... cant be bother ta travel to the wind anymore

Franx

West Kirby. On a good day, a lot unlike today incidently, it's spot on. It's where they used to/will soon have sailing speed trials along the straight bit next to the wall.
You still sail?

dpb

OMG ........ Got out today ... evening ,virtually, mind ....and had a force 5 for a solid 2.5 hours ...