Windsurfing Learning Curve

Started off pretty slow then turned into a great afternoon (despite what the forecast said).

Nice photos Anita.

See you up at the lake.

Mal

Thanks Cameron - might just have to take her out for another go

No windsurfing today guys at Stanthorpe still - so there should be plenty of wind

Have fun

Cheers
Morgan

Thanks Morgan, I have just sailed 3 of my 4 days off! Now back at work to recover....

Wow what a great turn out plenty of windsurfers and some bursts of wind in the afternoonsTuesday was a great pre storm session windsurfingFriday at the Lake – our first daySet up and out for a windsurfRio longtail with 50 BP fin, 6.6m sail – not much planning going on as wind dropped. Did practice gybes with small sail – isn’t that easier using a smaller sail.


Saturday Ben’s wedding – back to Brisbane for my son’s wedding. A lovely day and a beautiful family he has.No Windsurfing though

Sunday Rio longtail with 8.5m sail 50 bp fin nice day on the waterAnita – Naish 180l with her 4.3 gun sail – didn’t even get her hair wet – Nice

Monday Rio longtail 259l and 8.5m Loft Switch blade sail nice little surprize blow in the afternoon clocked 17.4 knots
Jaye – Naish Nitrix and 7.5m sail – clocked 21 knots

Tuesday Rio longtail and 8.5m Loft Switch blade sail very patchy and fluckey wind seemed to go all different directions in places but still fun got a pb in 1 hour and clocked 20 knots

Wednesday Naish Kailua 180l and 8.5m Loft Switch blade sail Nitrix 42fin – this is a milestone the first time I have tamed the beast. Didn’t start well but ended fine. Just couldn’t get on the plane –seemed no matter what I tried. Peter De Laet offered some valuable assistance we adjusted the out haul had another go was a little better but still no planning – THAT SUX…..I had decided to come in and grab the Rio as the wind was doing its thing and I was up for a ride. Peter came to my rescue again – I said I just cant get the thing planning – he said let me take it for a run and see how its set up and see if it plans. He was in the foot straps and planning within seconds – looked really good. Came back in and said yes it plans and is set up well. OK OK I will give it one more go and bingo, up on the plane clocked 20 knots woo hoo – I could get to like this


Thursday Decided to take the Naish out again with old favourite Loft 8.5m and had a blast The video tells the story – was very happy to achieve this and actually get it on camera – Not sure if I will be able to do it again.

Peter De Laet kindly gave Hayden – our daughters partner a lesson and lent him a board to have a sail – he did well



FridayWas a light day – Anita got out on the water and had some fun on the Rio Longtail with her Gun 4.3m sailLooking good there girl –Tried for the harness but didn’t like it, mmm might have to change that attitude dear…..I went out on the Rio Longtail for a light wind sail Jaye didn’t even get in the water. There were lots of others on the water as well - Another fun day on the water

Saturday Anita went out again in the morning in some wind and did well Rio Longtail with 4.3m sail really starting to get the hang of it. Great to see.

Sell it all day for me – made the wrong decision for sail for the afternoon – Whilst the incorrect choice doesn't wreck your sail on the Rio but the Naish well I chose the Naish with Neil Pryde 7.5m sail. Hours on the water getting frustrated – nearly on the plane and off – nearly on the plane then off – planing then off – nearly on the plane then off. Man should have either taken the Rio or increased the sail to the 8.5m. Was a rather gusty easterly or ESE. At one stage I was trying for the back strap and crashed and burned badly – must have put too much weight or caught my heal in the water on the way. Thanks Tammy for stopping and checking I was alright – bit bruised but ok. It all went down hill from there by the end of the afternoon I was ready to give windsurfing away altogether. Stacked more times than I can remember – more bruises than I have ever had, ego and pride absolutely shattered. Peter from Bribie stopped by at this stage and said hi and offered some kindly advice (took the outfit for a spin – said it was fairly well balanced – maybe boom a touch high) So instead of coming in and placing ads on Gumtree I persevered and achieved an 18 knot run. It was only short but a nice run just the same. Thanks Pete looking forward to sailing with you more.

I had a full on melt down – felt I just couldn’t get it together. I was sooooooooooo frustrated just didn’t know what to do. Peter De Laet gave some very encouraging words in the campsite around the fire. Windsurfing really doesn’t know what these guys do for the sport – they give their time and energy to help and encourage people, I watched Peter and he was helping as many people as he could over the week – we all thank you very much.

Sunday Pack up and say good bye day. It is unanimous in our family that this was the best Holiday we have had for a long time. It had everything – all the family together with most windsurfing, calm mornings for a paddle with reasonable wind most afternoons, Anita is coming along really well, I got to the Naish 180 and tamed it to a point but it has taken 2 years to get there (note to self – make sure you pick the right set up, sail for it before you go out). Great combination of windsurfing friends from all levels it is so nice to get together with you all and have a blast. This is what life is all about. I would like to say a special thanks to Jeff for his gear, the use of Jeffrey point and for getting us over to Elanda Point camping. Everyone is most welcome to join us at Elanda so make plans now for next year.

Next time we meet for a fun filled, action packed windsurfing camping adventure at Elanda Point will be at Christmas for 2 weeks – then Easter 16 for a week – September 16 for a week – look forward to seeing more great windsurfing folk there next year.

I am pretty sure that between us we managed to get pictures of most windsurfers at the lake.





















































































Injury last day

This looks like it has captured the essence of a funtastic week at Elanda Point

Cheers
Morgan

I hit up VP at 8.30 this morning. had a nice session. was 4-5 of us out.

You were getting out as I went in Justin. Checked my GPS - max was 8 knot.

Hope you get a bit more wind this arvo Morgan. Would have joined you, but got a bbq to go to later this afternoon.

Mal

Yea that was me. Just getting some time on water on the old longboard. I am on the learning curve and watch Morgan's thread with keen interest. The tips from the co-contributors are very helpful.
See you out there
Cheers.

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MalJ said..
You were getting out as I went in Justin. Checked my GPS - max was 8 knot.

Hope you get a bit more wind this arvo Morgan. Would have joined you, but got a bbq to go to later this afternoon.

Mal

Nothing there this afternoon. Sat at RQ for a while but decided to head home. Here's hoping for tomorrow.

where is it? nice view and got some other boats on the water?

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Dwbh said..
Headed out Sunday for a windsurf – didn’t have time but went anyway – there were some teasing gusts but not much at all. It was a beautiful day with a lot of Yachts and sailboats on the water out on the bay. Had a run out and back and pretty well decided that I haven’t got time in my day to wallowing around in very light wind condition so was heading in. I spotted Mal setting up on the beach – I will stick around and have a sail with Mal – haven’t for a while. Spotted a Dolphin off the harbour must of been getting a feed hung around for a while.

There was some very teasing gusts out there so after an hour I decided that nothing going to happen here I’m going to head in – on the way in ‘what’s this’ bang I am planning and woo hoo it came in. Naturally I took as much advantage of it that I could and had a couple of good runs before it dropped again. I even got to the rear foot straps – now that at the beginning of the season is AWESOME……..:-)

I used the Rio Longtail with 50 BP fin and my Loft 8.5m sail managed to run out a 15.9knots – nice… Just started to remember why I like windsurfing. Took me a little to re orientate myself to almost the level I had achieved in a past life before winter. I got into the intermediate straps fairly quickly and soon found myself looking at the rear front straps and bang --- foot in. Once I was comfortable with that I started to think that I just might be able to have a go at the rear strap (back foot) which eluded me last season. Same same as soon as my foot was in the strap I rounded up but, this time I managed to stay on the plane and straighten it out and had a good run maybe half a k. That, I would say was where I clocked the top speed – not much of that big mother board in the water with me standing down the back lol. I just might be ready to have a crack at the Naish 180 litre – which maybe a bit more of an intermediates board.

I did feel as though I was squeezing to most out of the board/kit in the conditions Sunday. Where as last year, I felt there was always a bit power to be had but couldn't get it. What a great place to start the season

Question to the experienced sailors – will the Naish be quicker than the Rio using the same kit, in the same conditions?
Question 2 – would the RSX be Quicker to the Rio Longtail using the same kit?

No windsurfing this week end :-( at Stanthorpe

Cheers
Morgan







Plenty of Traffic out there today

Mal - Blasting away woo hoo

Starting to look pretty good Morgs!

Thanks for that AntC

Sunday is looking promising

Hi Morgs. Hope to see you down there. Have not been on my board for over 4 months! Hope I can remember what to do. Cheers.

I don't usually analyse sail angles but go by feel- fiddle around and see which angle seems to go best constantly changing slightly to suit the conditions.Are you going upwind or reaching?
One thing I found really helped me to get upwind was when I started using Guy Cribbs techniques and actually kept the rig more upright ( side to side) and the mast more to windward and moved my self so I could open the sail a bit while still pulling.Rather than pulling it in tight and over on myself ( over the top was a bad habit to stop myself being thrown over the front - as I am a lightweight so being overpowered is more of an issue rather than under.)
So I'd experiment with different subtleties to see what seems to work.

sboardcrazy - I was heading a little up wind to maintain the depth of water with a 50 fin at the same time trying to go as fast as I can - still working on technique. Other guys out same day same place at least 10 knots faster. I still have a lot to learn

John340 - Thanks for the tips John - I will give the hips a go and work on that

Looking at heading to RQ about 2 and have a look - tide coming in and according to willy weather it is nearly 15 knots at 4 pm

Hey Kpb - I ended up late there yesterday and looked like I missed out. The kite guys said it was up to 15knots- I didn't get there until 4 and the wind had gone

Try again today around 2 to see what it is like