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okay, just wanted to see if anyone has some tips about learning and getting it all happening....
I used to surf up Brisneyland, well GC and SC.... so my balance is pretty good, and I sail a Heron dinghy... so understand winds reasonably okay..... and want to get into Windsurfing.....
thoughts on boards, sails for Melbourne etc? want to have a crack at wave and surf windsurfing as well.....
Always great to see more people interested in the sport, so a big welcome.
First I recommend doing a forum search for this same topic as it is a common question, so there are a ton of good answers out there.
As for gear, you will need a beginner set to learn the basics, so I suggest heading into SHQ or RPS and having a good chat with them. I personally think your dinghy experience will help you more than surfing, as you balance is more against the wind in the sails than free standing. Find a friend who may teach you or book at least one lesson. This will at least give you a feel for the sport and see if you're still interested before folking out your cash for some gear. If you start with a light rig and large board you'll learn the basics on your own eventually but a lesson will excelerate your learning curve.
It will be unlikely you'll be getting out into the waves this summer as you need to master some core skills and have the appropriate gear (which is not ideal for learning on). However much of the fun is in the progress, the first time you get planning on flat water you'll be on cloud 9.
I'll leave the rest for the more experienced sailors to pass on their wisdom. Good luck.
I'd try to avoid buying beginner gear, as you'll only use it for 2-3 months. See if you can find any lesson/rental centres around Melbourne. Renting is much easier, and as you progress you'll be able to downsize your board and upsize your sail much more easily when you are renting. When I was starting, my local school allowed me to hire a 150L board and a 6m sail for $200 dollars for the entire winter, which was very helpful to my progression.
Then once you've started playing around with footstraps and harnesses, you can buy something like a 130L-ish freeride board with a 6-7m sail, which will be a good starting point to improve your skills and eventually act as your lighter wind kit.
Then you can buy a smaller sail and a smaller board in any order, which will let you sail in stronger wind and in the surf.
Hi, K Dog,
My tips are:
- begin your learning when the forecast is for no more than 15 knots of wind. Ideally 5 to 10 knots is enough, to prevent being overpowered as you present the sail to the wind.
- no bigger than a 5.0m sail
- don't learn in offshore winds
- stay away from breaking waves (even the small ones breaking on a sandbank) which can upset your balance.
- Sandringham harbour is great, if it is close to you. Mostly, it's shallow, so you can generally walk back to shore if needed.
- If others are near you, don't be afraid to ask for help if there is something that you don't understand.
- a decent "learning" DVD can be beneficial.
Hope this helps.
Also if you can afford it and have a place to store it; don't be afraid of buying a bigger board to learn on. Firstly it can become your light wind board later on. Secondly its good to have a beginner friendly board handy to help others to learn how to windsurf.
Nothing much worse than well meaning friends teaching windsurfing on their 100 liter slalom board.
Try getting something like a Starboard Go around 150L, don't get an old Bombora, could ruin your windsurfing career!! See if your local Windsurfing dealer can sell you a copy of the 'Tricktionary' book. Great learning resource for the whole progression through Windsurfing. Is also a 3 piece DVD. Can get it online too.
^ This. I so wish I'd coughed up for something like a Go around the 140l mark in my first year.
Also: Check which direction the tide is running. We learn the hard way sometimes.
Also Also: Ask a fellow windsurfer to check you gear is rigged and trimmed properly. I spent the first year with a mast + extension about 7cm short. Just having the harness lines in the correct position makes such a difference. It's all +/-1cm.
Also Also Also: You're gonna love this sport. Don't go getting a 24/7 job or anything like that.
Thanks heaps lads - appreciated. Will get myself a DVD! I have seen people practicing kayak tumble turns in Sandringham harbour, so will take that on advice as a learning venue - looks ideal. I could imagine offshore winds and tides would be tricky....
Planning on joining the Hampton SC in the new year, I think they have a windsurfing group and sail Herons as well - and moving to Elwood... so it suits nicely and a mate also wants to learn, so planning on a few lessons with a shop rep. to get a feel on the basics.
Looking forward to afternoons after work, getting a board and sail out, and having some fun!
Seriously excited - need to get that DVD soon I think!
Thanks again!
Don't be afraid of buying a Starboard Go for $1000 plus second-hand. They hold their value well - you might use it for a month and then decide to get something smaller, but if its in good nick you shouldn;t have any issue selling it. Don't skimp on your beginner gear if you can avoid it - good, recent gear makes learning a thousand times easier.
Definitely agree with the point that you should have someone experienced check your gear is rigged correctly. It's very easy to rig wrong when starting out (esp with a mismash of parts second-hand), and a badly rigged sail will slow your learning down dramatically.
Get involved! Another good spot for you that is reasonably sheltered is at St. Kilda... when it's windy it can get lumpy, but for some light wind learning the kite beach is nicely shallow and protected, and in a SW breeze you wind up on shore.
If you're down there and want some advice keep an eye out for me - pale yellow VW kombi panel van. Always happy to help.
PS - Steve Flack is a windsurf instructor who is on his way back from Greece at the moment. He's very good, has learnt from the best instructors on the planet at Club Vass and he's very enthusiastic, and I think will be working back at SHQ from December. I recommend that you ask for him specifically, having sailed with him and seen him teach. Good lad.
I went with a Starboard Carve 145 as my first board with a 5.8m sail. That was all the gear I had for the first season and it offered a great all round combination for Port Phillip.
I have got a couple of smaller things now (Carve 99 and S-type 72) so the old girl looks a bit like an aircraft carrier when I get on it. However, I am not going to be getting rid of it as 3 or 4 seasons now into windsurfing I still use it on light days with big sails and the footstraps right on the outboard settings.
It has slightly more performance than the Go, but I don't think slowed my learning down.
Just like to add my 2 cents worth. I spent probably 12 months wasting my time on a totally inappropriate board to learn on that I bought because it was cheap. Don't do it. All it does is slow down the already challanging learning process. A large board and a small sail just to get the basics right is the right way to go. You can always use the large board as your light wind board and trust me, when youi are desperate for a surf and it is only blowing about 10 knots, it will satisfy the cravings until the fun stuff comes along.
Thanks Flicky Spinny, Whitehorne and Iceman, for your comments. I am going to have a chat with the RPS dudes and do some lessons before kicking it off proper... can't wait, it looks like such an awesome sport, I am shaffing at the bit!!! Once I'm all hooked up will be in touch with who ever is going for a bash down St Kilda / Sandringham area!
hmm... hope my QLDer 3mm steamer is up to the task.... :P
