2 decades later and finally a surf sailing session again, I've been waiting for this day. 1.5 years back into windsurfing and the brain remembers but the body was struggling to do what the brain was saying! It was good fun none-the-less and I'm hooked again!
Man was I anxious, good NE 15-20knots, messy waves waist high with the rare near head high. 6.4 KA Kult flattened out and a big arse 135L Fanatic Cross. I didn't last long, I've forgotten that there is a different degree of fitness required for the surf compared to flat water. You really don't get too many breaks (excuse the pun), it's go go go in the surf especially in the breaking zone! Once launched from the beach you really need to commit and just go for it, baulk and it's crunch time. I've forgotten that getting air requires little effort, just speed and an oncoming wave, woosh and you're up there, how far, high and with a sail up landing was a different matter. I landed a small one and planed away, that was really nice and then got too ambitious and ate the rest with arse first (mine not board's) landings. I'll sort that out. But what a hoot!
Waterstarts was where the lack of fitness showed, I was burning lots of energy waterstarting, bumpy water made it awkward. Mental note, I must use the NP flotation vest next time, it'll help with popping the mast up for waterstarts and should also assist with me treadwatering and getting the sail and board into position! Just have to get the fitness up and I'll be right.
It may sound like I had an awful time, I didn't, I was dissapointed I didn't last very long (ran out of puff and got really thirsty waterstarting) but I got the monkey off my back and I'm back in the surf and that's what makes me stoked! Next session I'll start concentrating on landing jumps and making succesful gybes and then start working on riding the waves. Long way to go, but who cares I'm in no rush.
Thanks to Adam (AJEaster) for the invite and encouragement to go out and the use of your wave fin, I wouldn't have got out there without you mate. It was great to see 4-5 other windsurfers out there too and one of them, Glen, was an old face from my home break at Long Reef in the late '80s. Small world.
Oh, and I didn't break anything! How cool is that!
Good on you. I used to sail in the surf a bit but never considered myself to be a wave sailor. One of the biggest issues I found was dealing with current which made waterstarting and staying upwind really hard. However catching a wave and riding it down the line was heaps of fun.
Sounds like fun (and hard work) mate! Good on you for taking on the waves again. 
And with good company too by the sounds of it
When I finally ditch the L plates I too hope to hit the waves, but that dream seems a loooooooooong way off just yet...
Good on you Raf - taking that first step was so important to smash the butterflies. The conditions weren't easy at all, there were consistent wave pulses some waist and some head high, and dont forget you also had to dodge through the 6 or 7 kites running in and out as well as 4 other sailors. You did well.
Onwards and upwards!
You did well to get out in waves that high! I went out in c 2' and 10-15kts and that was a buzz..Pity you need to be so much fitter to sail in the surf.
If you can do it it's certainly more interesting than flat water.
Congrats! I bet you'll be buzzing for days.
Great stuff Raf, getting out for the odd wave sesh is a sweet feeling. Must admit I do miss the old days of Longy and the Vacant Lot.
Good on you for having a go & thanks for the well wishes!!
Cheers,
Larko.
Thanks guys, hey Larko those Long Reef days were the best days of my life bar marrying the nicest woman on the planet, in hindsight I shouldn't have let the sport slip away and be forgotten. Geez they were fun days.
The gear I used yeserday was way too big for the conditions, even with the sail flattened out I rocketed off the beach and it was jump city! It was conditions like these that I waited for back in the old days. Some things came back pretty quickly, lots of speed + wave face = height! But this was my first jump in 20 years so I depowered lots but still was getting low flat jumps (controlled fall behind the wave). Pity I forgot how to land! The speed this Cross can get, with the 6.4, off the beach would have been a dream to have back then too, it's so much faster than what I used back then.
It was the first time I switched the rear outboard straps to a single rear on this board, it felt really good and was so natural to find and foot steering so much more responsive. I s'pose sailing for 10+ years with only a single rear strap explains that. I still have trouble finding the outside straps when it's set-up that way! I can't wait for the next session.
Sue, I know this sounds blasè now because I was crapping myself prior to the sail, but don't think about it too much and just do it. You already have the skills to handle it. Just don't pick a big day. I reckon you would have handled yesterday quite easily. Some wave sets were bigger but weren't steep which was my saviour. I screwed up 100% of my gybes which was my problem resulting in becoming tired from waterstarting. You have regained more skills than I have. I also had an advantage that someone was there holding my hand, I didn't head out alone + there were other sailors who I luckily met beforehand. I felt comfortable sailing in numbers, maybe a subconcious thing from the past when Longy always had 20+ sailors on most sailable days and I got used to it. Even the kiters who were out were a good lot, they even cruised past me to see if I was OK on several occasions, which was comforting to know that there were people out there to help if I got into real trouble. Sailing alone in the surf is intimidating, I wouldn't do it unless I was 100% confident in all areas and in my gear. Just do it Sue.
Hey PhilSWR, it took me a season of regular sailing way back then in a lake and then headed into the surf. You have some really good safe water around where you are, you have a mix of lake/bay conditions and surf all in one place! At least in NE'ers you'd get blown back to the beach! Just get your beach and waterstarts working right away. Hopefully catch up with you at SWR sometime soon.
I'm pumped.
Ah... Mr Easter is making a habit of this
I was his October project - subjected to his intensive program of brainwashing, coercion and testicular enhancement (not easy when you have nothing to start with!). I too found myself leaping off little waves on a completely inappropriate 120L freeride board. And it was FREAKIN' AWESOME. Check out my wavesailing injury below. So hard core
I'm now the owner of an rdm mast and thruster and will never be the same again.
Onya Raf for getting back out there and onya Adam for so generously sharing your love of wavesailing and opening up a whole bright and shiny new world for others
Beware flatwater sailors - if you want to stay out of the waves, stay away from AJEaster
Lucky he's too far away from me to be a hassle.. How did you injure yourself? ( I was going to take pics of my bruised leg but didn't get around to it..still on crutches..).
Hehe... best stack of my life. It went something like up up up, dooown, smash, ouch. Went flying off the back of a wave completely out of control. Next thing sucked down forwards hard. Spearing head first vertically straight into the water on top of gear. Shoulder slammed into mast. Innocent bystanders on the beach said it looked like some kind of half assed forward loop. I know nothing about waves, but my wavesailing mentor thought I might have put too much weight forward on the board while in the air causing it to suck down.
But the pain and bruising weren't important. They were a badge of honour. I had a WAVESAILING injury. So tough and hard core
I have to get a new one to be tough again. I'm back to being girly now.
Crutches sounds bad! What happened?
Dear October and January project. I aint finished with either of you yet
October project, consider that lovely rainbow a right of passage 
......and yes, that stack looked like a legit fwd attempt wooo-hoooo 
Till the next NE........
Sounds like a similar injury to mine but I imagine it would be worse as you hit bone..Must be your youth helping you out.. 
but that wore off worse luck & I should have been looking after myself.
......and yes, that stack looked like a legit fwd attempt wooo-hoooo
......and yes, that stack looked like a legit fwd attempt wooo-hoooo
......and yes, that stack looked like a legit fwd attempt wooo-hoooo
. Hope to have a sail with you Needsalt.
"Hey PhilSWR, it took me a season of regular sailing way back then in a lake and then headed into the surf. You have some really good safe water around where you are, you have a mix of lake/bay conditions and surf all in one place! At least in NE'ers you'd get blown back to the beach! Just get your beach and waterstarts working right away. Hopefully catch up with you at SWR sometime soon."
I'm hearing you. It's funny, I've lived here for 20 odd years and never looked at Trail Bay in any other way than a fishing / boating spot. Now, having got myself a sailboard (thanks Needsalt), I now view it as a fun park for wind surfing! It certainly seems designed for them.
Will work on beach and water starts, but I gotta learn to turn without falling off first! Spend 2 hours on the bay this arfternoon, had a ball in the light nor-easter, even planned for the 1st time, but fell off every single turn. Needless to say carving the tops of those lazy swells that break on the point is a long way off yet... But that is the dream!
Let me know if you ever head up, I'll join you for a sail and get some much needed pointers.
Sounds like a similar injury to mine but I imagine it would be worse as you hit bone..Must be your youth helping you out.. but that wore off worse luck & I should have been looking after myself.
Hope to have a sail with you Needsalt.
Needsalt said -
Good luck with your recovery! Some times it's best to wrap your balls in cotton wool for a little while to minimise total time off the water. Short term sacrifice for long term gain
PS
If it wasn't for the risk that I might wipe out the whole season rather than a few weeks I'd be out there now.. Nothing else could motivate me as much as that fear..
