Here is an example of what colours I normally use. Orange and Red are good colours to use at sea. The Yellow that Downwinder is using in that last pic is also a good colour. White and Black are the worst choices.
The hull of my board actually has a big black "V" on the orange background, which doubles up as a V sheet if things really get bad.
I am operating the rudder system with my left foot in this pic. This board has a custom designed piercing nose which loves being buried in the back of a trough. My nose buries but does not pearl which is the style of downwinding I like doing most. With this board I like to stay on the rudder system as much as I can and very rarely have to move back. There are not a lot of people that go for this approach anymore but it's what I like doing most. If I find any decent footage of it I will post it.
If you want to know what safety gear is in the backpack then there is a separate post running on that.
Just did the funnest downwinder I have ever done so far!
Went from Kawana to Maroochydore in 15-20 knot SE wind with a SE swell.
It really makes a positive difference having the wind and swell going the same direction.
The hardest part was getting around Point Cartright paddling across the wind and swell. Both kept pushing the nose of the board toward the headland. I had to actually stop and turn the board toward the east and start paddling again a few times, because despite only paddling on the left side the board was still gradually turning right. I guess this is where steering would be a real help?
I took as much of the advice as I could remember from this thread and applied it, and actually caught quite a few runners. Even 4 or 5 immediately after one another at one time.
The biggest problem I had was the fact that when I shift weight onto a rail, the board turns the opposite direction. I instinctively do this to turn the same direction as the rail I weight, like when surfing. However the biggest problem is when I overbalance to one side and as a result weight the rail the board turns the opposite way making it even harder to regain my balance and alot of times makes me lose all momentum, or fall off. The faster I'm going the worse it is. Sometimes when this happens it may be only minor at first and I think I can maintain control but then a swell comes up behind and pushes which increases the speed as well as lifts the tail which in turn bogs the nose. So I end up with the nose in the back of a wave on its rail trying to turn 45 degrees off course while the tail is trying overtake. It is hard to keep it under control sometimes. I think it comes down alot to the design of the board.
I really felt that a bigger board like a SIC Bullet 17 or an F16 would have been an advantage out there today, and would be keen to try one some day.
But having said that overall I had fun and was encouraged by the improvement. Thanks to all the contributors to this thread.
Cheers,
Ken.
Hey RainWaves, I reckon a rudder might help steering around the odd killer whale, swimming polar bear and icebergs.
And the banana-benders (Queenslanders) think it's cold down in Victoria!
Didn't see anyone mention this, but I think it's critical to catching tricky swells--Reach waaay out when you plant your paddle, give a very short pull, get it back out well before your feet and do it again. Best to feather the blade as you pull it and push upwards with your lower hand. You get about 70 percent of the power in the first ten inches of stroke. So if you go tap-tap-tap instead of one long stroke it's 70-70-70 (=210) instead of 100.
Sounds weird, feels weird when you do it, but it's the biggest trick for getting into bumps. If you are applying power to the paddle when it's past your feet you'll never catch a swell. Not only are you actually braking the board, but you're lifting water and sinking the inside rail and tail. Watch Jeremy's stroke--way out in front, and very short. Same for Kalama. If you can find some video of Randy Royce you'll see an extreme version of the stroke, and Randy gets every swell he goes for.
Rudders are great for extending your ride--finding the low spot to slip over the bump in front of you, and carving along the face of bigger swells. There's more power down low in a swell, if you can drive the board to the bottom and run along the trough you get some nice acceleration and a longer ride. Speed is almost always your friend in downwinding, and rudders get you into the fast stuff. Of course when you drop into the bottom of something big and nasty at Maliko and your 17.5 Bullet is going so fast it's humming, you might wish for some brakes as well as a rudder. You could ask JC about that. I think he's been there, done that, and got the T-shirt.
Kenny - great job being so open and all the contributors for their generous advice. This thread has made a huge difference to my downwinding so thanks to everyone for the improvements I have been able to make over the last few weeks