Krisiz1 said...

Do some people overcomplicate their sport? For me, I have only 3 sails, the biggest being 5.8, so I use that 90% of the time. I have only 1 board and I can rig up an be on the water in less than 10 mins (a bit longer in winter coz of the wettie)
But I see guys turn up to sail with enough gear to start a windsurfing shop and spend the next half hour choosing and setting up. Assuming they just sail for fun like I do, wouldn't it be benificial to spend the time sailing instead of selecting. I admit there are marginal days when they can pull out a 9.5 and a small pontoon and get planing and I have to go home but I still believe I get more sailing. I am not judging anyone, just curious.

Couldnt agree more

I went through my garage last week and found 6 sails that i dont even use anymore.
1 was only 4 months old.
there all in the shop now for sale

I now rock up to the beach with a 75lt twin fin, a 4.7 and 5.3 and thats its.
I may need to buy 4.4 for the windy days
But since ive cleared out the garage its made loading up so much easier

I think as a wave sailor it is a lot easier to own less gear

My sentiments exactly Krisis.

2 boards and 4 sails will give me anything from 16-45kts (wind range that is, not speed).

But then, those who buy a trailer full of gear every year keep the industry alive, as well as providing some good season old second hand bargains when they upgrade.

A truck load of gear to cover everything the ocean has got to offer would make it more simple for me alas i have a cash flow problem

Krisiz1 said...

...
But I see guys turn up to sail with enough gear to start a windsurfing shop and spend the next half hour choosing and setting up.
...

They obviously don't have enough sails or boards! If they had more then they wouldn't need to think about what to choose and they would have the perfect combo every time.

I think it would be luxury to have only 3 sails and one board and still be able to sail a lot of the time.

Back home in NSW, if you only had 3 sails with you, you are probably limiting the times you can sail. Here in WA for the last 3 weeks I have had sails from 5.5m up to 8.5m and have used 5 out of the 6 sails I have with me. I have also made use of 2 boards and think that I have made the most of the conditions. I have sailed comfortably in everything from 13 knots up to 25 knots and been happy doing it.

You guys in WA are a little bit spoiled when it comes to wind, and I think you need to spend summer in NSW to teach you how good you have it

> doesn't the amount of gear depend upon the variability of conditions?

It's a factor, of course.

Here inland North America, there are way more trailer types than those guys landing at Wanda beach. This is ironic since here it is flaky, boring (flat water) and not that great wind-wise.

In them's parts, the very multiple gear is not there to cater for the range of conditions, it's used to cover rather average skills, and it's a way to sail constantly somewhat underpowered IMO. I'm not criticising, but yes, am laughing at this. Ironic too that the more gear, the more restricted the range they take, since they're too good for sub-20 and actually scorn at others sailing in say 18 knots.

I've seen people de-rig and re-rig all day and never end up sailing. Takes them sooooo much time too, as if the Tupperware thing was the end and not the means.

Anyhow, I'm 2 boards - one long for freestyle, which I stretch to about 15 knots. Then one short for freestyle, with 2 sails on the latter. Usually bring only one to the beach at a time.

complicated? its not much different than trying to play a round of golf with 1 club..

I find we have to much gear, trying to cut it down really. But it's harder (or better, whatever way you see it) because i have to cater for myself and my old man. He sort of leaves me to make all the decisions with gear and for some reason he always like rigging very close to what ever i rig... sometimes even smaller - when his 20-30kg heavier!!! but we get around it, 3 boards (ones for my brother who doesn't sail all that often and i'm trying to get my dad onto it because it's smaller. maybe replace it with something around 120-130L mark and a bit wider like a carve... anyone have a spare lol??? - currently got a 114L Naish supercross.) and a range of sails (5) which i'm trying to cut down to 4 for the both of us. i feel were doing all right. smallest sail a 5.0 and at the moment the largest is a 7.0. All fits in the ute easy obviously.

Bubs

P.S: i live off one board... 93L S-type, but looking for something a bit smaller now. I love windsurfing shopping though ha ha.

I reckon i could pretty easily live on my S-type 93 with the 6.6 koncept. not many troubles, just sometimes be hugely overpowered, but their a very easy sail to control anwyay i found. trust me guys you've won me over, bought two more already (5.0 and 5.8) ha ha. thinking of a 7.5. achieved your goal!!!

Bubs

living in WA I have 2 wave boards (80 and 90l) and 4 sails ranging from 4.0 to 5.7. The 4.0 doesn't come out much except when up north or during the odd winter storm.
On this lot I can sail anything from 15kt upwards

windwarning said...

As a rule i wont sail with anymore than 2 sails and one board. i think with the way the boards and sails are designed now, you should get away with most of the time 2 sails, 1 board. Like my 120 freeride is shorter than most wave boards.

a great simple rig

jp excite 120 or starboard funtura 120

light wind sail no cam 6.5 m. most fit 430 masts now so you only need one mast

wave sail 5.5m for higher wind

430 mast, least over 50% carbon

1 160-200 size boom is all ya need to fit both sails

1 universal

2 fins

1 harness

1 set of harness lines

and i think thats the best rig that will get you on the water 90% of the time without having to try and work out a way to fit all ya gear in ya car.

why pay a 1000 bucks for another 4.0 wavesail so you can sail that one of storm? not me

why pay 1000 bucks for another 9 m sail so you can sail 6 knots?

tell em his dreaming

That is real solid advice IMHO dude, dunno why you got red thumbed for it.

5 Boards (3 Slalom, 2 FS/Wave), 9 sails, 5 masts, 3 booms, many accessories

Boards: Slalom 80L, 90L, 111L, FSW: 78L, 92L
Sails Wave: 4.1, 4.7, 5.2, 5.8 *** Sails Slalom: 5.2, 6.2, 6.7, 7.8, 9m

Forgot the learner gear for the girl: Futura 133, Ezzy WaveSE 3.5m

2 cars, one for NE Wind and one for Southerlies

Life is Simple...I'm usually on the water within 10 mins of arrival unloading.

2 sails, 2 boards, 2 booms, 2 masts......(on big gear most of time, but it's handy to have a small setup for the good days)


Oh, and.....

2 broken masts
3 broken booms
2 ripped sails

Arnold said...

nobody said...

1 board - Kona One
1 sail - 7.5m 2 cam
1 fin - 46cm

Aim for 15-25 knots. Usually gusty as on Sydney Harbour.

Not planning on changing or getting new gear any time soon. I've got other things in life to spend money on.

Man that's good, I want that setup, I am looking to simplify my setup, can you really sail in 25 knots with a 7.5 on a skinny board like the Kona One?

Depends on your weight of course, but yes you can. You just need lots of downhaul and be well and truly past the catapult stage.

I've seen a video of a guy carve gybing a Kona One in a claimed 40 knots (doubt I could find it again though, try the Kona forum http://www.kona-windsurfing.com/forum/default.asp).

Obviously I'm probably over-finned nearing 25 knots, but as long as you keep the mast foot in the middle of the track, it doesn't want to jump off the water and fly away. The board weighs 18Kg which probably has a lot to do with the control, but is also its handicap when it comes to early planing. The length appears to help it handle bigger chop too.

Is 70cm skinny? I would have thought 55cm or less is getting there.

I too believe a Kona could be a one-board quiver for the various formats of flat water sailing. If I can sail an old one-design on a regular basis up to 15-18 knots, I think a Kona could be useful up to 22+ easily.

Unfortunately, Kona is not well represented in North America. The re-rig-de-rig sailors scorns at these boards here.

One of several strategies Universities teach you is the KISS strategy...

Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

HAH!