If you can waterstart you can sail nobbies. Just go there when there is small surf and sail up the northern end where the water is flat. When you sail the lake try locations like Valintine pt in south winds or coal pt in NE wind as there should be other poeple windsurfing.

Hey there,

I have some mates in the southern area of New Castle.

Michael is his name and he is one keen sailor.

(He will not be checking out this website, I know slack bugger he is)

Here is his email, [email protected] give him a mail and try and hook up for a session some time as he is a instructor and all round great guy to know as he would give you the shirt of his back. A great range of kit as well. Plus he lives on the lake.



Hope it all works out down there for you southerners.


Keep sailing.

G'day Troops

Although it probably isn't your thing (just yet!!!) but Marmong POint sailing club race every saturday afternoon about 12.30pm onwards(Formula, and long board)in Lake Macquarie (opposite Warners Bay). If you come around asking for advice there are plenty of guys that may be able to help you (years of experience). although someone is sure to post a reply about racing s@cks and something about armchairs, these guys are very nice and helpful.

Tip for foot straps,
forget the whole downwind thing, you need to identify the core problem

from what i can gather and i may be very wrong (then disregard)
the core problem or main point is keeping the board planing (to do that you need to keep the board flat and balanced)

Now there are a couple of ways to maintain a planing board when going for "the straps"
1 Head downwind
or
2. Lift your back leg, take weight off the tail of the board
or
3. put as much weight or pressure as possible on your front leg


things we don't know about but you need to check
1. balance your harness lines,
and/or
2. Sail balance, downhaul the sail correctly
and/or
3. Mast track position
and/or
4. Boom Height
5. Harness Lines length

Good Luck

Squish

Wow.. good to see a forum that actually works.
Thanks for the response guys.
A few more attempts over the christmas break and the foot straps have got a big closer, but its the winds fault the sail couldn't take my weight ;)

Had an interesting experience down near swansea on the lake. Took my new 7.5m sail out with my boom nearly full extended, and the boom extension snapped right in the middle of the lake. Fortunately a few boats went straight past me and laughed. So I had an enjoyable 1.5 hour swim back with my gear just before it got dark. Anyone know how to sail with half a boom?

Anyway I have made a pact that next time I get the chance I am going to give nobbies a shot and give those foot strap tips a go, unless I need to learn to use them before hand....?
Anyway if anyones out there at nobbies or coal point and see an out of control sailer with a 5.4 on a mistral V120, give us a wave.. and possibly pick me up off the rocks.

Cheers