Franx

There was quite a reasonable bit of wind when I was out on that sinker. F4/5 anyway. The problem was, I just couldn't get it going at all.
I really need to perfect (perfect...!!..erm learn) to beachstart water start. That makes things a whole lot easier.

Catapaulting... That reminds me. I did that the other week. It wasn't good. Even worse when you get catapauted and are hit on the head by the boom, end up 6 ft underwater etc...!!

Anyone use a helmet?

Isn't that a bit hard on the arms - not using a harness? Get it back fella. You want to go fast..!

[Edited by Franx - 7/1/2003 4:55:31 PM]

Franx

18 foot skiffs are nice boats . I still haven't had the chance to go on one yet....
That's quite a long board you were on there - you'll find that as you get better, & get onto shortboards, they'll get a bit more stable at high speed.
I'm about to do a part ex for my Bic Veloce - now getting an AHD 267 free. It's nicer than mine, & I wanted something slightly smaller, for bump & jump stuff. My veloce seemed to take off, when going at high speed over chop......mind you, that was the other day in 30 odd knots

Just realised what I put there - it certainly ain't 'free' as such - That's what the board is called...

[Edited by Franx - 9/2/2003 5:52:09 PM]

Franx

Unfortunately not - I don't yet have the means to own such things . I'll wait a bit, then buy an open 60 ...

Or not.

I did just the same when I started - learned how to beast it up and down the lake, before I could tack, gybe, beach start etc etc...Heck...I still can't gybe, but you know what I mean . It's probably coz you're doing the same as me - teaching yourself, so you skip all the boring bits, like how to turn round... That's what learning to sail first does for us . I've been doing mostly big boat stuff over the last few years though, although I don't know anyone who has one just now, so I'm windsurfing.

[Edited by Franx - 9/3/2003 3:23:32 PM]

Franx

No - it was a proper sinker. I couldn't uphaul the rig, as it sank & tipped me off... I was going to try it again yesterday, but I was having a hell of a time on one of those wide double finned boards (owned by the sailing centre I was working at), and seemed to be overtaking all sorts of people, so didn't bother in the end.

Anyone windsurfed at West Kirby? Been down there quite a lot recently - mostly as I get free equipment, & I work there, but it's good if the wind is right. You can stand up in the lake as well.
Try it if you get the chance. The beach outside the marine lake is good - decent waves etc. I've only sailed off it, as I'm not that good on the W/S yet...

Nice board by the way!

[Edited by Franx - 7/4/2003 10:55:41 AM]

weapon69

If there are, does anyone know of any good locations to go windsurfing in the South-East? Only place i can think of is Hove/Brighton which is a bit of a trek for me

Glenn Coombs

I'm thinking about learning to wind surf. The Queen Mary Reservoir is just down the road from where I work and looks plenty big enough to learn on. And it's elevated above the surrounding land so it should get a reasonable amount of wind hopefully...

It's not far from junction 1 of the M3. Put the postcode TW15 1UA into streetmap.co.uk to see a map.
Or click here

weapon69

Cheers
I think the nearest place to me is gonna be Haywards Heath. Anybody go there????
Lakes are pretty boring , not fast enough
Oh well can't be too choosy

Glenn Coombs

They are when you're still a beginner

Besides, last time I checked Haywards Heath was quite a way from the sea...

weapon69

LOL i know that, but i can't trek all the way to the sea all the time, its too far. So i have to settle for a crummy old lake
No beach starts for me then

Glenn Coombs

I can't see any big lakes near Haywoods Heath unless you're talking about Ardingley reservoir. And that doesn't look that big...

weapon69

well i was looking on the RYA website and it came up with Haywards Heath. Im gonna have to have a proper look i think.

Foot_Tapper

If anyone is going along the south coast, try Portland harbour
just outside of weymouth.
Shallow , flat water , and usually a nice lot of wind.

weapon69

Weymouth-bit far for me as i live in Kent!

Glenn Coombs

Did my RYA level 1 course this weekend and loved it. What a great sport. Have to get a bit better before I dare to venture out on to the sea though...

weapon69

Thats brilliant! I remember doing level one when i was 13 and became totally hooked as soon as i can afford my own board, im gonna try level 4/5.
Stick with it, its a really great sport and the people you can meet are cool too

Glenn Coombs

I'm hooked, I've already booked for my level 2 course

weapon69

Thats my incentive, im booking my course now
Hope the bf isn't reading this......
Thats my weekends and evenings gone

Glenn Coombs

Yes, I imagine the level 4/5 courses are a lot more demanding on your time than the level 1/2. Still, it's the right weather for it at the moment. I caught the sun quite a lot on Saturday. Didn't think to put any sun cream on

weapon69

You'll do things like beach starts, more efficient tacking/gybing etc for L2. I'm hoping to try some other watersports when i go on holiday, need to broaden my horizons

BTW- Wind burn is a b!tch

Glenn Coombs

Yes, I quite fancy having a go at kite surfing at some point but will probably wait until I'm more proficient at wind surfing first.

weapon69

Hehehehe

Franx

Is Grantham any good? Reservoir (?) just north of Cambridge, I think.
I know my sister sails there, & she says it's ok, but it might be a bit duff for windsurfing. If you're up in the NW, West Kirby isn't bad if the wind's from the right direction. I'm getting quite reasonable at it now, having taught myself last summer. I work there as a sailing instructor, so I got all the boards, sails free. Tried a sinker the other day, & got about 20 metres before it 'sank', & I couldn't get it back. I suppose it takes a certain technique...

weapon69

Franx-Just read what you wrote in the sailing thread

Yup they sure are! I had to stop using a harness though, it scares me! lol

weapon69

Ohh your sooooo funny

P1Fanatic

Havent done any windsurfing for ages - couldnt afford to keep buying new kit on student money. Its an expensive hobby if you get really into it, especially if like me your into wave sailing.

Did my RYA Level 4 a few years back. Still got my old waveboard - a Bic Alto - 255cm which is pretty damn short and I reckon Id struggle to sail it now as Im about 3 stone heavier. Used to love the real windy condition where you bring the 4.0m wave sails out and get some serious air. When I lived in Cyprus I was at the beach pretty much every day

Simon.

P1Fanatic

Well the idea is you only use them when you have enough wind to plane or your really light. Didnt even have an uphaul on my boom as pointless trying anything other than a beach or water start. As you get better you will find water starting a lot easier and lot less strenuous.

Simon.

P1Fanatic

I remember going out in a inflatable boat at my old club that had a 50hp engine. We were going flat out and this guy with an F2 World Cup Slalom board (the one that Bjorn Dunkerbeck used to use) just blasted past us like a rocket.

Lol getting catapulted is good fun. Its a tad scary though when you stay hooked in after wiping out and find yourself wrapped around the boom and under water

Simon.

Glenn Coombs

Eek ! I guess I've got that to look forward to then