After the session I had last week, I was feeling a little disheartened. I had been trying to use a smaller board and didnt have a great deal of success.
So this week I decided to get back to basics and no matter what the wind, I was going to get out and just have fun.
Both yesterday and today the wind barely reached 15 knots, although this afternoon was a lot more consistent.... and to be honest I had a blast!
Yesterday I sailed Lake Connewarre practicing tacks and gybes and this afternoon I spent nearly 3 hours cruising up and down Pt Henry.
Today I didnt get any faster than about 18 knots but it made me realise just why I started windsurfing. It's a s**t load of fun!!

mmmmmm..... 15 knots .... bliss
I didn't even get wet this w/e and I'll go out in 5 to 8.
I'm trying to look on the bright side but I must have my welding goggles on cos I cant see it.

OceanBlue64 said...

After the session I had last week, I was feeling a little disheartened. I had been trying to use a smaller board and didnt have a great deal of success.
So this week I decided to get back to basics and no matter what the wind, I was going to get out and just have fun.
Both yesterday and today the wind barely reached 15 knots, although this afternoon was a lot more consistent.... and to be honest I had a blast!
Yesterday I sailed Lake Connewarre practicing tacks and gybes and this afternoon I spent nearly 3 hours cruising up and down Pt Henry.
Today I didnt get any faster than about 18 knots but it made me realise just why I started windsurfing. It's a s**t load of fun!!

What do you call a smaller board? One thing to remember dont sail the smaller board until the one u are sailing is to big for example if you are overpowerd or have trouble keeping the board on the water then go for the smaller board rather than change sail size. If the wind is gusty maybe stick with the big board. The smaller the board the more powered up u need to be to make it point especially if it has a wave style fin. Yesterday at mount martha was a typical day when I had 2 boards to choose from when the fronts came through I took out the wave board when it droped back went for the freeride board using the same sail.

Your lucky ob64...
Bugger all wind all day at the northern end of the bay (williamstown), it just kept dropping all morning until the evening. I was wondering if there would be wind out your way, I should of made the drive

Did anyone go to Sandy point over the weekend? Just wondering what the conditions were like down there... I was planning on going but the fuel price is freaking me out this far from pay day.

I too had the family thing this weekend and had arranged with the wife for a lunchtime return today.. everything was ok until my little man got cranky and the plans got delayed. Got to the lake at 2.30pm and the wind was 5-10 should have driven to the point but thought I'd go home and help my wife with the sick boy and win some brownie points after all tomorrow looks good too and I've got the day off!!

Old Salty - send me or OB64 a pm next time your down this way would love to catch up..

latedropeddy said...
Bugger all wind all day at the northern end of the bay... Did anyone go to Sandy point over the weekend? ...

Saturday was the shizzel - see the team-challenge results.

goodbrewster said...

pierrec45 said...

Good on you mate!

I find freestyling in lighter winds, or just practicing tacks on a short board, all that makes me a better sailor for when the wind picks up.

At the end of last year I bought an '06 9.6. I didn't need a new mast or boom to fit it. This year I've had a lot more sessions when I could plane in the straps. Sailing flat water when the conditions are non-planing, I have been able to sail dry for hours on a high vol board. With this getting boring, I tried Duck Gybes. Then I went to a beach where there is fair sized swell when there's no wind. You can always find a challenge in this sport.

I tried duck Jibes last year also, but when I squeezed the little beggars they poo'd all over me.

I've also found that I've been sanding my fin to much

OceanBlue64 said...

Jman said...
What do you call a smaller board? One thing to remember dont sail the smaller board until the one u are sailing is to big for example if you are overpowerd or have trouble keeping the board on the water then go for the smaller board rather than change sail size. If the wind is gusty maybe stick with the big board. The smaller the board the more powered up u need to be to make it point especially if it has a wave style fin. Yesterday at mount martha was a typical day when I had 2 boards to choose from when the fronts came through I took out the wave board when it droped back went for the freeride board using the same sail.

I was going from a 155 GO down to a 95 Sonic and to be honest the conditions were a little marginal for the smaller board. I just wanted to use the new board and perhaps my enthusiasm was a little greater than my ability

Hey OB I don't no your sailing background but that would seem like a big drop in size going from 155 to 95 if u are still coming to terms with a short board.
I have never sailed a Sonic but I believe they may not be to forgiving and very fast. Something around the 125 size in a freeride style may make your transition from the go to short board a little easier, just my thoughts anyway, Happy sailing

OceanBlue64 said...

Jman said...
Hey OB I don't no your sailing background but that would seem like a big drop in size going from 155 to 95 if u are still coming to terms with a short board.
I have never sailed a Sonic but I believe they may not be to forgiving and very fast. Something around the 125 size in a freeride style may make your transition from the go to short board a little easier, just my thoughts anyway, Happy sailing

I have only been sailing since xmas time and know I am pushing it a little but I tend to dive into things head first. Its either 110% or nothing lol.

dive into things head first .. bloody hell the man will be looping by next summer!! he's like a terrier.. he doesn't stop although occassional he tries to hump our legs ..