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THE ALL NEW WINDSURFER LT - AN INITIAL REVIEW AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS BY JUST AN AVERAGE WINDSURFER - not a champion, not a novice, just a lover of this sport of windsurfing who is just as happy cruising round in 5 knots as I am at 20 knots as long as I'm getting out there!
Hey Windsurfers,
I picked up my new Windsurfer LT today from Windgenuity along with a new blue sail (my old one design sail is a little crinkly and starting to de laminate - I figured I should show off this terrific new windsurfer in the best possible light!
The guys at Windgenuity we also wrapped about this board and very helpful. Had a quick peek inside the box but decided I had better get it home before unwrapping. Some of their guys have ridden the prototype and seemed as excited as me for the future of the sport. A longboard revolution is what the sport needs and will be what brings more punters back and new starters encouraged by the ability to sail in sub 10 knot breezes, on cheap but reliable equipment where they can enjoy a warm sunny days sailing rather than being sand blasted, cold and miserable after being blown away and needing rescue after their first tentative steps into the sport.
Today was Such a beautiful day so grabbed a quick swim at Collaroy Beach and a chat with the boys at Wind Surf N snow on Anzac Parade. Sam was happy for me and relayed positive comments from prototype testers so more positive reinforcement!
Dave from Lake Mac also picked up a board today so watch out around the Swansea area with two new Windsurfers on the water.
Arrived back at Lake Macquarie to see not a puff of wind. How cruel is that, a new board sail and a dead calm.
Just as well as it took quite a while to unpack it. Very well wrapped in cardboard and bubble wrap then a layer of plastic.
Behold! It is a thing of beauty. I really must get this thing on the water. Better take a few more photos...
Had a good look over the board for blemishes or faults, nothing found! It really looks schmick and better in person. Such a high gloss finish on the deck (for and aft and rails) and a fantastic looking non slip deck which with absorb some of the inevitable punishment my heavyweight feet will dish out.
After getting organised and finding that my board bag from my Superlight fits the new Wally LT - my fears of damaging this beauty have been allayed. I have the new custom bag ordered for a June Delivery.
Reloaded the board on the ute, grabbed my old one design mast (new two piece mast and old Prolimit Assault 160-220 boom etc on order) and gear and off the Swansea Channel. Still no wind and getting late. Decided to set up on Coon Island (nice grassy rigging area), had to let a few friends know about my score. Still no wind!
Decided to rig up the sail anyway to check it out, fading light but news of a southerly coming through was relayed via Johnsy at Windgenuity and Lyndon Bauer from Gosford Windsurfers Club.
As I was about to give up, I felt a few gusts from the South, 20knots at Norah Head! It's after sunset, I'm all rigged up, have taken photos, checked out seabreeze, bragged about having the first production LT (00001) and suffering from a severe lack of sailing over the past week.
Still trying to get over the disappointment of missing out on a ride of a Starboard Gemini Tandem last week - canned at the last minute due to another dead calm.
Ok so here goes, for Christ's sake Al, don't ding this board before you at least get it in the water! Watch those fence posts, couldn't deal with the heartbreak of tearing a virgin sail. I've tensioned up the sail expecting the wind to continue building, currently 5-10 knots with a few stronger gusts.
Tide is running in and in the same direction as wind, it's now dark, a bystander - After casually checking me out works up the courage to warn me of the risks of sailing in the dark, and he utters those ominous words: " I'm not going to read about you tomorrow am I?" Nah, no worries mate all good!
Immediately I took off with confidence, I'd changed my harness lines as last set I had were too short. They were now perfect and happy with my decision as I effortlessly slipped into the harness lines and cruising across the channel.
I decided to go out without booties to get a feel for the non slip. I wasn't disappointed. Great grip and it feels sturdy - I didn't feel a need for foot straps whilst sailing.
With the centreboard down most of the time, no issues with stubbing my toes on the centreboard, the fabric cover is only over the rear half of centreboard slot and perhaps I'd prefer to see it cover more but no issues with it and it works well for pushing down the centreboard.
The board and rig seem well matched and balanced, I was thinking maybe a little underpowered but my fault as I had tensioned up the down haul and outhaul pretty well expecting some 20knot gusts to kick in.
I thought I'd beat my way against the tide up towards the bridge to get a good feel.
As I neared the other side (near Little Pelican) I decided to see how it gybed- stepped back, leaned sail, foot on outside rail and around she went very quickly! Fantastic! This board is responsive and it didn't loose too much speed in the process.
I weigh close to 107kg and had the mast set in centre of track. No sign of the front end submarining when beating up wind (or on any point of sailing for that matter) however, I made a mental note to try it a little further back next time in lighter winds.
I did feel a little board flex transmission from front end flex when going against the tide and into small wind waves but nothing like the old original Wally.
In fact I have only ridden a one design (old Wally actually) a few times over the past few years as I've been sailing an old Mistral Superlight Competition which has a lot more volume than the Wally and easier for me. This new LT handles itself a lot like the Superlight but with a wider body and the twin conclaves up front vs the Superlight rounded bow it is easier to ride and still seems to get along quite well.
Tacking was a cinch with plenty of volume around the mast and very forgiving.
As the wind started filling in to a fairly constant 15 knots or so, the board started to really pick up and plane on all points! Planing whilst beating up wind, across the wind, broad reaching and even straight down wind. Fantastic! I haven't ridden a board so well composed when pointed straight down wind, the width definitely helps here. I found myself standing a little further back as it accelerated and that helped even more once planing.
I did some experimenting with the centreboard and it was quite happy with the board right down on all points and no worries with losing stability when going down wind or any point of sailing. I can envisage this board and rig will be at ease with the wind up around 20 - 25 knots.
Back to shore After reluctantly deciding an hour and a half is enough for the day (well night actually).
Unclipped the sail and gingerly carry to the grassy area, back for the board, so easy to carry at reported 15kg. I haven't weighed it yet but it seems about right and well balanced when carrying either by holding the centreboard knob or at front of centreboard well.
The centreboard is a very simple setup with just one pivot point fixed guide. Easy to put in and pull out, when sailing, pushing the centreboard down using the fabric cover made it easy to start the process with a light to medium lift using toe at the knob to continue the process.
I did notice that the centreboard retracted back just a little a few times when sailing (from the fully down position) and that this may have occurred when gybing or tacking- will pay a little closer attention when Day time sailing. It does kinda just fall in when installing it on dry land but seems fairly firm in retracted position to 3/4 down - no doubt due to the rubber lips below deck in well.
Anyway, hope this gives you an idea about how good this board is. A step in the right direction certainly and in my opinion a vast improvement to the one design and maybe even a distinct improvement to the Superlight!
A step in the right direction is a bit of an understatement in hindsight. The Cobra Website has a press release indicating that the board was designed by Bruce Whylie, a former Lake Macquarie World Champion Windsurfer, Mistral sailor, Sailworks co owner and current Production Manager at Cobra - manufacturer of probably 90% of all Sailboard and SUP brands INTERNATIONALLY. With the additional expertise, input and contributions from many skilled sailors and industry legends and feedback from prototype testing, I'm sure these guys have produced a good allrounder Windsurfer useful in a very wide range of conditions. The fact that this board also carries some Cobra branding shows they are proud of this product and one can assume they have incorporated the best possible balance between durability and weight minimization.
I think they have accomplished something special here!
Need more time on water and do a few swaps between other boards (Original Wally and Superlight using the same rig) for comparison.
My recommendation is however, do yourself a favor and order one this week!
Cheers, Al Haynes. Current rides: WINDSURFER LT - 229L Original Windsurfer - 200L -good for freestyle moves now perhaps? Mistral Competition Club -258L Mistral Competition Superlight x 2 - 258L (1 has to go!) F2 Lightning - 250L Starboard GO 170 - 170L BIC TECHNO 283 - 152L
Former Windsurfing Instructor early 80's Former shortboard 100L backyard manufacturer and surf sailer early 80's Former Wally surf sailer and wave jumper back in the day when there wasn't anything else!
Old and the new! The new Superlight!
Great to see that logo on a new board again!
About to go sailing after sunset
New sail to match. Stoked!
Out of the box - fantastic finish.
Can't wipe that smile off my face, and that's BEFORE I took it out for a sail! GRINNING FROM EAR TO EAR NOW!!!
The daggerboard - simple but very functional
Power box fin
12' tall!
Well wrapped
No. 1. Proudly made by Cobra
Good review Al. Glad someone scored that southerly last night. If you bring it over to Marmong on Saturday youre welcome to see how it goes on a race course.
Great review, I'm seriously considering ordering one too. Does the board have a vent screw?
What other boards come from Cobra with that foaming epoxy contruction?
I ask because it might be a guide as to how durable it will be. 
That's a good point. Would be good to know that.
Not too worried about a vent screw, used to it with other boards - would be nice not to have to think about it when the suns beating down but with a reflective board cover and some common sense shouldn't be an issue.
my guess is that it will be just as durable as the majority of SUPS and a good deal of windsurfers out there which a lot more delicate than a Wally but not like your walking on eggshells.
im thinking the blue deck will save the deck from impact damage to a certain degree. I'm certainly taking care with it.
better hang onto the old Wally's for freestyle and mucking round
I have ordered one today. The screw is a minor inconvenience, however I think it would be a major selling point if a gortex plus is used. It would make it more attractive for old wally users.
I'm looking forward to the new board being less tippy and more buoyant.
Yeah it was one of those "kick your own arse if ya could" moment's.
It's just because I was in Wally mode. I wounder if some others will be in the same frame of mind.
Wally Sailor - I'm a bit worried about those plug's. There's some concerning talk about them on another thread.
Anyway just the once should be enough to teach me a lesson, and I don't think that core is supposed to soak up water.
Yeah! Alright D1ck**ad,
I'd probably buy one of those shirt's, I'll give you that much.
Come and race on same gear. 
Actually, organise me one of those shirts, and I'll race you while I wear the shirt (on same One Design's).
You pick which One Design. Oldest original, current, or New LT. We have everything to organise it.
Akim, you really are being extremely childish about this. I'm ashamed that I once thought you were a decent person. The Techno class is probably embarrassed by you.
By the way, if you think all Wally sailors are "tightarses" you should see what some of us spend on our sailing. It's also ridiculous to promote Technos for being cheap and then insult those who sail other cheap boards.
Give it over and stop being negative.
So, apart from the two LT's on Lake Macquarie and the two at Caloundra, where is the other one of the first five? Did it go to WA? I'm sure there are plenty who would love to hear some more feedback...
i sailed last Saturday and Sunday in strong winds and had a ball on the new board. Never felt out of control even with a constant 25 knots. By the end of the Sunday session the wind had dropped and I found myself just goofing around with a few freestyle moves and can report that it's stability is a big plus here.
Yeah, I was wondering that too.
Hey Alby, I'm a bit peeved that you got #001
Lucky bugger!
Hi Dag, I'm just as surprised as you! Just lucky, 'twas the board the pulled out for me, first in line. Anyway we are all lucky to get in so early.
How was all of the R&D missed by everyone? No mention what so ever that I recall.
Not even a hint from the developers.
tighter ship than Ricci going to Ferrari.
I wonder if they will make the same board without the centreboard. Could be a good muck around light wind freestyle board.
