Hi. I'm thinking about taking up windsurfing, as living in brisbane I am finding that trying to go surfing becomes frustrating as half the time the surf is mediocre due to being blown out, so why not use that wind effectively rather than driving an hour for small, mushy waves? Anyway, I have done a bit of looking around at boards. Does any one know if the bic techno 283 is good for learning on? (same goes for the newer bic technos 148/160/133). Any other recommendations? Is it possible to get a useful secondhand setup for under $1000?

I wish I'd got myself something like this when I first started last year, my first board was way too skinny and nearly put me off the sport altogether some days.
seabreeze.com.au/Members/Classifieds/Gear/2002-Starboard-GO-276-cm-170-litres.aspx?id=0043&search=EjQ0DoWvNYjtdwsOwWvBpw%3d%3d

I was looking at getting that particular board myself for a light wind board, but someone is talking me into formula.

Get a sail around the 5.5m size. You can use it to begin in light-moderate winds, and then keep if for higher winds when you get better.

Learn somewhere about waist-chest deep, avoid tidal channels with lots of cruiser boat traffic (I learnt the hard way).

Hey good question. They are certainly wide enough, anyone know if a formula board is easy to learn on?

evlPanda said...

Hey good question. They are certainly wide enough, anyone know if a formula board is easy to learn on?

Formula boards aren't built to take the beating that a beginner will give them. You could learn on one, but it'd cost plenty in repairs, and would be pretty stuffed by the time you'd got reasonably good.

The Techno 283 sounds like a pretty good match depending on the wind strength.. If someone is offering a good price, it's certainly not a bad place to start.

I weigh 78kg, and found that mine started to get uncomfortable in over 20-25 knots depending on the chop. However, in 14-20 knots it was really easy and well behaved. 6.5 was about as small a sail as it was happy with.

I have a Fanatic E-Ray now (120 litres) and it's quite a different shape and bottom design, but still very freeride oriented. I prefer to ride the E-Ray as it feels more loose and responsive, and less like a yacht to ride. Still has the tough plastic skin, but without the pointy nose that gets smashed in catapults.

There are devices around to help the nose out though - 'Jez's Nob', or the 'Deviator' are two examples. They are a pain in the neck when you're trying to water start(later), but great when you're going through that painful catapulting stage!

bubs said...

Be warned, i bought a deviator for my old man to try stop him cracking the nose of the board. Took it out first run and the only thing it did was deflect the mast into the edge of the board and create another crack. Waste of time i reckon. Much better off just putting as much padding as possible on boom and mast at the front of the sail.

Bubs

That's where Jez's nob is an improvement - it's a rubber 'nob' thing that bends when the mast hits it. The deviator rolls the mast off either side (and does a perfect job of protecting the nose by the way...). Jez's nob absorbs a fair bit of the force, and redirects the mast.

If your old man managed to crack the rail, imagine what would've happened to the nose!!

Fortunately, it's only a phase of learning, and you do figure out how to avoid it eventually!

So, I assume that sailboard are generally constructed the same as a surfboard-polystyrene foam with fibreglass on thre outside, but using epoxy resin, and just a lot tougher than a surfboard? Why do they look/feel so much more plasticky than a surfboard, if the constructiln is similar?

thanks for that link, yes they are rather more complicated. But can some dings still be fixed with epoxy resin,q cell and fibreglass?

... as 555 says, the plastic skin over the epoxy outer makes for a tougher, more durable board ... ideal for beginners/intermediate sailors (and the weight is still pretty good)
The great thing about the process is that the boards do come out at the lower end of the price range. They are extremely popular with people who have gone through our beginners course & are looking for something that they can use then, and also progress on.
Second hand ones are hens teeth, as people seem to want to keep hold of them, but we are selling complete Bic board - Tushingham Storm packages, all new, from $1990 ..... pretty good price, and not that bad looking 555!! (Only nine available though)

Happy Christmas to all.
Jez
www.2ndwind.com.au

ChrisPer said...


It was NOT a good board for light winds. I highly recommend a centreboard type if you are learning in light wind. I just couldn't get it back upwind without a big sail and some speed. Teaching even less experienced people, I would generally spend 4x their sailing time getting back to the start location, often needing powered assistance.

Learning to get a shortboard back up-wind is one of the most fundamental skills you need to learn. It is a crucial skill to have if you're thinking of graduating to a wave board, freestyle board, or pretty much any kind of board (yes, even Formula..) if there's any chance at all that the wind might drop below planing speed!

It is definitely an acquired skill, but I have no problems getting my Go 155 upwind, even in 7 knots with a 4.2m wave sail on it (i.e. beginner weather). Certainly, it goes much better planing with a big sail, but I think recommending a centreboard is a step in the wrong direction as you miss out on those early and fundamental stance lessons.

Chris, sounds like you've discovered the joys of planing, and made the corresponding decision that sub 12 knot days are natures way of ensuring that Mr. windsurfer stays in the good books with Mrs. non-windsurfer by encouraging him to stay home, and mow the lawn etc.

Light wind sailing can be lots of fun with the right gear.

I'd rather get Mrs Windsurfing into the sport than have her sitting at home, and many women seem to quite like light winds if they have the right gear (like many men who have the right gear do).