Division 2 board

wondering if you've sailed a D2 before? if so ignore everything I'm about to write.

the D2 is not what I'd call a do anything user friendly piece of kit. if you like the longboard thing and want to turbo charge things maybe keep an eye out for a phantom.

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Gestalt said..
wondering if you've sailed a D2 before? if so ignore everything I'm about to write.

the D2 is not what I'd call a do anything user friendly piece of kit. if you like the longboard thing and want to turbo charge things maybe keep an eye out for a phantom.

Thanks Gestalt, Your comments are valuable. I have sailed a D2 before although it was a long time ago. Strangely 'turbo charging' things is kind of the opposite of what I'm looking for. At least in my version of what I mean by that phrase.

I've done an awful lot of boat sailing at less than 6 knots that has thrilled me no end, I've also spent (literally) days offshore not dipping below 15knots hour after hour, going to sleep and waking up still clipping along. The speed I'm doing in knots matters to me not at all, If I'm passing others or being passed I don't care. I'm excited and drawn in by a sense and a feeling that I like that is hard to describe. Something like balanced efficiency.
I stopped windsurfing previously because it was nothing unless you were planing and it was fun but ultimately it became a bit the same all the time. I got bored. It seems the sport has gone further and further down that road in my absence.
Although raceboards are far better in this regard than slalom or formula, to a certain extent there is still a fundamental shift at the threshold of planing. A plateau to be leapt up onto.

I'm interested in smoothing out that transition. It may be that it is a path that I begin and then step off, I'm ok with that. It might be challenging, I hope so.

I sent those pics to your email.

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saltyheaven said..

azymuth said..

If you ever get around to cold-molding a DIV 2, I'd been keen to get/buy an offset table (lines plan) from you to build one in strip plank.

Cheers JJ

Sure, I'll keep that in mind. It will probably mean measuring a few up and drafting a set of lines. Do you have access to any well regarded boards by any chance?

Sadly no, I haven't even seen a Div 2 since the last time I sailed a Crit about 35 years ago

is division 2 boards the one with the round hull if so i think i have one some where it was loaned out a few years back

Ahhhh, D2s. Fantastic creations.

Gestalt, the D2 has an amazing feel and performance in light winds. Where the beloved Wally rattles and bounces, the D2 has a bewitching combination of slicing and gliding upwind. It's also damn quick and will whop a Raceboard in the light stuff (although RBs are a lot harder to beat under big modern rigs). All are great, but in different ways.

The feeling of railing upwind on a Division 2 board is out of this world. Sure, they are slow on a planing reach and very hard to handle, but that's fun because it means that there's a boardhandling challenge even in moderate winds. It's hard to describe the feel of a D2 or to find an analogy for them. Maybe the closest I can come to is a track (velodrome) racing bike or an International Star or Int Canoe, but those comparisons don't mean much to many people!

Salty, I have a Lechner A390 in the rack if you want to measure it, but I'm in Canberra these days so it would be a while until it may be in Sydney.

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Chris 249 said..


Salty, I have a Lechner A390 in the rack if you want to measure it, but I'm in Canberra these days so it would be a while until it may be in Sydney.

Chris I would love to take some accurate lines off your Lechner, thankyou. I know I'm coming to Canberra next Easter, if you happen to be bringing the board up this way before then please do let me know. saltyheaven7@gmail.com

Cheers! Mikey

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Gestalt said..


if what you are seeking is a do anything go anywhere indestructible and cheap setup that has no line dictating the threshold of planning then for me it is the windsurfer one design.

Great wisdom there I think.

I spent the last few hours today switching boards back and forth between the Equipe and an 80's Mistral Competition, the breeze was a solid 5 knots in the gusts. Forecast tomorrow arvo is 15-20, I'm going to do the same board switch game. ...

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I've done an awful lot of boat sailing at less than 6 knots that has thrilled me no end, I've also spent (literally) days offshore not dipping below 15knots hour after hour, going to sleep and waking up still clipping along. The speed I'm doing in knots matters to me not at all, If I'm passing others or being passed I don't care. I'm excited and drawn in by a sense and a feeling that I like that is hard to describe. Something like balanced efficiency.
I stopped windsurfing previously because it was nothing unless you were planing and it was fun but ultimately it became a bit the same all the time. I got bored. It seems the sport has gone further and further down that road in my absence.
Although raceboards are far better in this regard than slalom or formula, to a certain extent there is still a fundamental shift at the threshold of planing. A plateau to be leapt up onto.

I'm interested in smoothing out that transition. It may be that it is a path that I begin and then step off, I'm ok with that. It might be challenging, I hope so.

I could not agree with you more. What you describe about light wind sailing is what originally got me into windsurfing. I like my planing sessions as well as the next guy, but when the wind is marginal, an old longboard is much more fun that just getting planing on big gear, even if it's a few knots slower. I just wrote a rather lengthy blog post about the "plateau to be leapt up onto" a few weeks ago (boardsurfr.blogspot.com/2015/08/maximum-speed.html).

I'd love to have a D2 board, too. I remember sailing round bottom boards 35 years ago - both how challenging they were, and how much fun they were when the wind was really light. D2 boards are almost impossible to find here in the US; hopefully, you'll have more luck.

A LITTLE more info ...

pavdivision2.blogspot.com/p/tout-sur-les-championnats-open-depuis.html

still looking i found my old tyronsea falcon still trying to recall who i lent it to i will let you know

Maybe you can do something with this

www.facebook.com/groups/OpenDiv2/642835189067328/

Download the file and freeware and off you go .


I have a Lechner copy made years ago in Holland by one of the best (schaped in foam) and glassed with 0 rocker) super fast in 4 to 10kN , it will not rail as good as the Original and big fun in lightair .

Yes , the scoop/rocker is near to flat from mastrail to tail .

You must have a new FreeShip then the "free" one a got isn't working ...

And as you are a Luthier making one will not be a problem

Pieces all falling into place. (Well preliminary pieces anyhow...)


Steve (Tinlyds) has taken on the '91 Equipe, sounds like he's landed some nice sails too so look out racers!

Thanks to a heads up from fjdoug I've just picked up this D2 pictured. It's in need of some work to be sure. There's a hole in the deck, the mast track is seized solid, the centreboard provided is clearly not intended for this board, it's splitting at the join a bit at the bow. Other than that the weight feels good and the price was certainly right! - Ex Olympic sailor seller says it's a 'Doberman' D2 from France.

I also picked up an older but good condition IMCO 7.4 while I was there and reckon these two should make a decent pairing for the time being.

Thanks again Mikey you're a champion, I'm glad you found a board and really appreciate what you did by selling me the Equipe. Just goes to show there are still good guys out there.