Great Video Jeff - Back foot straps are the go stops catapults. Have you got your straps in intermediate position or advanced? I put a second set of straps on the Rio so I can have a go at both depending on how I feel and progress. Seems to work a treat 
. Jeff and Mal the feeling once fully locked in is awesome. I have been thrown so many times trying to get that back foot in - it's annoying but worth it when it comes together.
The rewards far out weigh the lows. Saturday - I was like that for the first 20mins of the free race, I was either too scared to try or as soon as I tried I was thrown. In fact I nearly pulled out because it seemed too hard - stuck with it and decided I had to get feet in - like you Jeff lighter winds flatter conditions ok for this but when it 25 knots and rough - I just wasn't game to try for a while. But when I did and was successful it was worth it, a great feeling
Guys I feel your pain - Looking forward to catching up at Easter Jeff and see you out there somewhere this weekend Mal
If the wind is strong enough I always flop on my back, jam my feet in the straps, and let the sail pull me out of the water. This seemed to be a safer way to learn on a high wind day than trying to get your feet in the straps once underway. Less chance of having a stack, and more time learning how to ride the board the way it's meant to be ridden. And it makes it easier to get in the straps when underway if you already know how it feels to be in the straps and what position you need to get into.
Great development morning at sandstone
Tide was lowish. Pete called and said get out of bed!!! Or we will miss it!!
Had a couple of hours on water BIC 283 and 7m Ezzy
After many false starts over the last few months I was able to stitch together multiple runs with both feet in the straps Making progress :-)
Wahoo!!
Even managed a few high speed carves - just have to get the gybe happening ;-)
Cheers Jeff
Sailing with you sat was like sailing with mates whom I've sailed with forever, enjoying the conditions and living the dream??
The wind picked up after you left this morning, ( must have been the sail you de rigged) managed to get going on my F2and 7.5 pryde wth Darren and Pat for almost an hour, I won't rub it in, much
Felt sorry for you having to leave so soon after hitting the water.
Gotta get the priority's right. Windsurfing comes first.
Washing the dishes that night - second.
Good day at Bongaree yesterday
5 of us enjoying the cold WSW winds
Didn't get off to a good start. Had the SLW with 8.5 Ezzy lion. Kept not quite getting onto the plane and then a gust would throw me over the front. Came back in disgust - buggered and cold!
Talked to Darren and Pete. I'm back to my old habit of trying too hard and bearing off down wind too much ;-(
Went back out with a much bigger fin plus the wind lifted a little. Wahoo I enjoyed the pleasures of winter sailing - flat water, hanging out driving up towards Bribie bridge
The return run was white knuckle excitement!! Powered up heading back out to the bay. Pounding/flying over the chop - with the mantra (don't mess this up - it'll hurt!!) stay in control running through my head.
Glad I was on the big board as I did a lot more up hauls than I'm use to. I found being cold and tired difficult with setting up the water starts in the chop/waves
The wind settled and I was able to get some great smooth water light wind runs in the shelter of the passage.
Thanks to my Mentors - Darren and Pete for your support
Chears Jeff
Ps time to start wearing the full steamer - I'm soft!!
Great when we can see a chance of some wind in a westerly, and take the chance, and it turn's out to be a good day. Bongaree is our Savior through the winter.
You didn't miss much Darren, as soon as we arrived the wind left!
fickle wind!!!
thurs arvo looks good......
Yes a good afternoon session at Sandtone
Pete was the star - had his Mistral old skool skinny board out to take advantage of the flat water at low tide. Used a short delta fin. We had been playing with the GPS-logIt app, Pete was fired up to get some data
He was able to get on the water nearly an hour ahead of me - I hid in the car to stay out of the wind and rain
Got some very average IPhone footage of Pete
I'm out. Gym with kids and early arvo shift at work 
Planning on another go this afternoon
Cheers Jeff
Was ckecking if anyone was going to be there. Otherwise might head up to Golden beach.
Tide is not helping at Golden Beach today. I will be at sandstone in roughly half hour
@surfinfreak
Tide is very low at sandstone at 12md
Me and Pete are planning around 3pm
Bongeree is probably better option in low tide
Cheers Jeff
Ps just a beginners perspective
Yep. This is what makes it so nice for me as a beginner when the tide comes in. Takes the sting out of the chop and you are able to standup.
Directly across the passage at Bongaree is the low tide launching spot
Cheers Jeff
Thanks Jeff, local knowledge is always good and well received. I went across and sailed from Bongaree.
Had a great sail for a couple of hours after the first run where I was heading for the Sanstone launch spot and hit the bottom right after crossing the channel.
So I pointed up more towards Beachmere and all was good, nice and flat (compared to Redcliffe), it was similar to when I sailed at Lake Cootharaba !!
Keen to get back there soon
@surfinfreak great that you got a sail in and enjoyed the spot- could always do with another Sandstone sailer
Pete and I had a good afternoon session. The wind dropped quickly again!!! (Must be a winter thing). I think Surfinfreak got the best of the wind earlier
Pete ever determined to get me on the water earlier bought along his Fat Board with a big weedy fin. I don't have a Trim Box weedy for the BIC and after loosing 2 fins I'm usually hesitant to explore low tide.
He was out on the Explosion wired for sound with the GPS-LogIt app on his phone (now dead 
).
We both ended up on 8.5 sails. I upped my PB from 18knts to 19.4 (slow progress) however it was in significantly less wind
Cheers Jeff
It was definitely some awesome flat water sailing and when I was there between 11-1 the wind was super consistent. I clocked a pb as well, an 19.8 alpha. Must have been in the groove
I don't think my Kogan android phone will recover from the salt water so it looks like a dick smith special and a hard plastic case with an o-ring seal and waterproof earphones. I found the vocal speed monitor is a big help too
the best speed was 28.02 Thursday but the water started to chop up and I ran out of steam so couldnt improve.
Its the first time I've used the 20 cm delta fin on the mistral explosion XR for speed runs so I think it may have some potential
yesterdays best was only 23, not enough wind.
Jeff is improving each time I sail with him and has advanced heaps in the last eight months or so.
its even kept me sailing thru winter, a first since getting back into it four years ago.
Nice afternoon session with friends.
5 of us sailing. I got there a little late (night duty malaise 
)
Had a few runs on the BIC 283 with Ezzy 8.5. Wind died off pretty quickly towards the end
Had a great first run determined to get into rear strap before board picks up speed. Success
Recorded 20.9knts lifted PB by 1knt!! - still a while to go before I catch Morgan and Tony 
Had a fin spinout pinching up wind - managed to get it all back under control - happy about that
So a short session but worthwhile time on the water.
Cheers Jeff
Very jealous, I was walking around in that wind at work yesterday, cursing softly.
Glad you guys had a good session.
