After a few busy days at work over the weekend, i was awaiting my day off today and hoping for some wind.
well waited all morning for the wind to pick up watching the leaves in the trees every 10 min, until finally in came the sea breeze to give the otherwise glassy water a few ripples and then finally a bit more wind to get out on the water again on a classic (ok not so classic) Tasmanian evening, with the sun shining i climbed over the oysters (as low tide always seems to be during the day at the moment).

so with no centerboard for the first time, i uphauled and initially got blown sideways, so sheeted in, concentrated on getting those hips forward, lent back and tried to find the rail on my 300kg board and started going forwards, finally after a few runs i found that sweet spot, where nothing feels to hard, only needing small adjustments to cope with the occasional wind gust, tacking and gybing is becoming quicker and quicker and im now only falling in a couple of times a session.

back out on the water again tomorrow to work on the beach starts, :) , sucks i didnt discover this sport when i was a teenager..........

iantas said...

>>>>> , sucks i didnt discover this sport when i was a teenager..........

I agree, I didn't start until I was 40, but there again the sport didn't exist when I was a teenager

decrepit said...

iantas said...

>>>>> , sucks i didnt discover this sport when i was a teenager..........

I agree, I didn't start until I was 40, but there again the sport didn't exist when I was a teenager

I had the opportunity...worked for a builder who was mad on it, I thought he was crazy going out in crappy conditions...trying to get a sail before work in the morn...kept going on, and on, and on about attempting forwards! I was happy to be running around on a footy oval getting physically hammered instead (in the same crappy conditions, mind-you). Now, about 3 yrs into it and in mid-thirties, I think I still have a few years of enjoyment left!

Good onya iantas...it keeps getting better!

Greenroom said...

>>>>
Yikes! Now thats something to brag about! Back in 1920 hey Decrepit?
>>>>

No not quite that early, but I remember the days at Lancelin when we used our towels to sail over to Edward Island in the easterly (sitting on our mals of course), surfing the righthander. Then sailing back when the breeze came in.
In the late 60s before boards started to shrink, and I was bored stiff working in Dalwalinu I had the idea of improving on this, so I bought an ancient small boat rig, joined two mals together with some ally tube, and had a go at making a cat. Unfortunately I had no clues about sailing, could only drift downwind on one of the Dalwalinu lakes.
Before I improved the design, I left job in Dalwalinu and joined one of my mates making surfboards.

iantas said...
(as low tide always seems to be during the day at the moment).

Just wait a week.


Hello, my name's Michael. I'm an addict too.

Hi Iantas

Where abouts in tas do u sail?

time for a harness i think! my arms a killing me after the wind picked up yesterday afternoon....

easty said...

Howden - is that NorthWest Bay? What are the winds like there?

um not brilliant i must say, but ok in a southerly i guess. the best part for me is the access to the kayaks or car to come rescue me if i get into trouble or something breaks on the rig that is pushing 25 years old. And can store the board down at the waters edge so easy access to sailing.