chop does not show up well in photos

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Originally posted by Harrow

I keep seeing photos of various places showing people flat water blasting in what looks like reasonably smooth conditions. But when I sail on Botany Bay, whenever there is a decent wind, you also get heaps of chop.

Does the chop just not show up in the photos I see, or is Botany Bay the choppiest place on earth?

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I'm sure its not the choppiest place on earth, but it must be close to it! I think if you go somewhere where it is relatively shallow and also windy you will find Nirvana (no not the band!).

There are places that are windy and don't have much chop. Just not in Botany Bay!

Have a look at some photos on the site:

www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=1255

I think there is no chop in Cocos Island....

jmm8888,

Been to La Perouse to see the 'snake man', but never sailed there before. Grass, kids playground, light winds near the shore. This is what I've been looking for. Might actually get the family to come along at last.

Bit worried about getting back to the beach though in a NE. Is this a problem? Do many people sail there in summer?

Regards,
Harrow.

you'll find that different boards will change the effect of chop, many of the guy's (thats u guys) that use speed boards OR the traditional or other wave boards won't notice chop as much as say a 100 litre freestyle board due to alot of factors which aaarrrreee----> rails, planing area, surface, width, mast track positioning, boom height, however these factors/variables only reduce the effect. but when you sail in a river e.g. blackwood river mouth it is so flat that high speeds is/are quite hard (personally). i grew up on speed sailing equipment and in SAFETY BAY which is very flat (in the Bay) when you go into sound thats when chop is youre friend means theres more air under your board. but not too much air less drag helps speed. but yours knees get really sore. depneds how much you weigh, i used to work at the go windsurfing hire centre (simon Hire centre) we had another guy there who weighed 68kg and i weigh a solid 98kg at that time same height but i could go out on freeride gear while he was out on speed gear and neither of us had a problem but when we switched the freeride gear was bouncing across the waters where as when i was on the speed gear the board was behaving very well. check you setup maybe move your mast forward just a touch and a higher boom should/might eliminate it, well i found that worked what about you guys?