Windsurfing Learning Curve

Glynn, you are right I need to find the spot where I get comfy - up until recently I just couldn't get comfy at all. I was kind of holding the sail up and pushing it and getting all crossed up and extremely uncomfortable - nearly to the point I started thinking no point and sell it all. Cammd said the exact same thing as you that I should feel comfortable and with that I make an effort to find that comfort zone in varying winds now. Makes the whole experience much more enjoyable after all I am in it for the fun. When I watch you guys you all look relatively relaxed

John340, 'When you are planning, only the rear third of the board is in the water, this effectively moves the centre of lateral resistance of the board from the centre of the board towards the rear third of the board. This allows you to move your feet toward the rear of the board (where the footstraps are located) without upsetting the directional balance of the board.' This makes a lot of sense

NotWal, I just have to get the experience to make that call that is another point where I am having a problem is keeping the sail powered up - might be a combination of all of it.

jh2703 - I think you have hit the nail on the head with the all of what you have said and makes so much sense. I know I am missing something small and with what you are saying about my back foot could just be it. I have been trying to figure out what I am doing with my back foot and not taking a lot of notice of where it is or I am trying for the back strap which puts my foot on the windward side and as you say - putting the balance of the weight all to one side and as a fat bast*%d I can tell you I have plenty of weight to put to that one side lol

Togalog 'I took my rear straps off for a couple of weeks and got the hang of balance and position. It made it more enjoyable as I just enjoyed the ride and didnt overthink too much too soon. Then when I replaced them it seemed to come easy. Only miffed it twice.you do need to be planning and. the less bumpy the better at first. Don't forget your in it for fun and enjoy the ride mate' Absolutely correct Togalog I really like the idea of practicing with holding front foot off the board to get the balance right with my back foot and keep control of the direction of the board.

I felt that I was progressing really well but came to some sort of fork in the road and selected the wrong road and started going backward. That sucked... up until two things, one - I decided to stick with the large board and learn to windsurf and secondly the advice from Cammd about feeling comfortable - which got me back on track. I really appreciate your advice thanks guys and cant wait to get in the water and try this stuff out. It is such a difficult sport to learn - it was coming down to Wello and watching you guys blasting away that got me into the sport. It is a credit to all, I know that everyone of you must have gone through varying degrees of what I am to get to a proficient level. I can assure you that myself and a few other learners out there appreciate your advice and love watching you on the water.

One more thing just for the record - giving up is not an option and I will be out there racing you all before too long lol.

See you out there

Cheers
Morgan

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Glynn Merrit said...
Morgan your doing well just have patients its a learning curve iv seen lots of people give it a go & find out its too hard & I never see them again the sport is something that takes dedication you need to get hooked on like you have the best time of my windsurfing life was learning I was just so keen now days I still enjoy it & still learning. The sport is best taken up when your young I didn't take it up until I was 30 so your doing well I look at young blokes who where learning when I was but they were just kids there skills are way better than mine. Vando, Leo Sharp, Dave Mac, Sean O Brien & more so just keep it up & have fun.

Thanks for the encouraging words Glynn - I can certainly see how people would give up - it gets tough. I am very keen and not about to give up (that was a couple of weeks ago lol) I just watch you guys and that tends to get me motivated again. Cheers

G'day Morgan, As a 46yr old newbie to the sport I feel your pain. A lot of pain at a times.
If I can pass on one tip it is to "attack the learning curve". And best way I have found is to take out your smallest or most aggressive board whenever the conditions allow you to. You might think you have had crap sail for that day or days trying to get that horrible thing under your feet moving. But when you step back onto old faithful you will be amazed how much you have learnt and how comfy old faithful is.
And don't forget also that the edge of your limits will always be changing. So always look to push that line but do it safely and all will end well.
Old faithful board won't let you know if you if you need a bigger sail to get going but a smaller board will real quick. And if the wind picks up you have to learn how to deal with it real quick. That is one way of moving the edge of your limits that I have found useful.

Cheers PK

21 year anniversary today with my beautiful wife. I think on this special occasion I will take her windsurfing off RQ beach manly (her choice today :-))

I do really feel the luckiest man alive today to have had the pleasure of spending so many fantastic years with this beautiful person. Anita is my best buddy and learning to windsurf together really typifies the life we have had - got to be in it to win it, together we stand etc. etc. Lets get this done.

Windsurfing can be compared to marriage - you have a lot of very frustrating moments, times where you consider giving it all up,,, just too hard, times to reflect but above all truly great fun wonderful memorable times together which makes it all worth while and making you wanting to go back for more lol.

Man, it has come to this, making comparisons of Marriage to windsurfing mmm. Whats going on.......

Have fun on the water today guys and girls
Cheers
Morgan

Well how good was today - We had a look at Wellington Point around 11am and looked liked we should have taken our paddles - photo on Kirra Saturday thread.

Headed over to RQ Beach and it looked the same then to Manly for a look over the other side of the marina - sat there for a while and the breeze seemed as though it was building. Seeing as though it was our anniversary Anita had packed us a picnic lunch. Niiice.. So went to RQ Beach aka kite beach to enjoy a nice peaceful picnic lunch. Was very pleasant except the breeze was turning into a mild wind. At this point had just about decided to head and MalJ turned up ready for a ride - so with that I decided to set up the RSX with the 7.5m Neil pride sail.

Anita - too cold for me says the boss so sat this one out.

Wind got up and what a fantastic run both Mal and I had for a couple of hours. Mal was SMASHING IT and getting some serious pace up on his Shark 151L and 5.5 m severne sail. He made getting into the harness look easy onya Mal

I got the big beast up and planning on a number of occasions, at two points during the course of my adventures this afternoon I got to look at the front strap in front of me not behind WHAT'S IT DOING THERE!!! - must have been doing something right - this was just after a reasonably ok gybe I hung down the rear of the board for some time until I hooked in then rounded up :-(. Oh well didn't matter cause I was having so much fun this afternoon.

Practised one handed sailing hooked in to the harness and lifting weight off my front foot woooo - pretty cool. I would like to ad here that it was only in one direction, but major progress just the same happy with that.

Man can't wait to get to Wello tomorrow with Jeff, Mal, Cammd, Tony, Anita and Jaye (yes, even Jaye says he is up for it tomoz)

I am a real coldy frog normally and not sure what this magic is with windsurfing but didn't feel slightest bit cold or even cool today. BONUS.........

See you on the water
Cheers
Morgan

Hi Morgan

Good to here you can get in balance standing at the footstrap position. When both your feet are in the straps, you will have control.

Here's a picture of Lara sailing the RS:X demonstrating getting the rig over on top of herself. This counteracts the tendency of the board to round up into the wind, as you rake the rig back and move back into the footstraps.










Cheers


Pat

Looking at the forecast for the weekend - not too promising on Saturday - might have to take the boss to town for some retail therapy - brownie points here I come lol but Sunday on the other hand may turn out ok. Will head to Wellington Point with a south westerly and see what happens.

Have a nice day
Morgan

Yeah we are a hardy bunch here in Qld with freezing 20 degree water temps!
Ok for you guys with your built in insulation - what about us skinny buggers!!!!
Hope the southerners with their iceberg waters don't see this post LOL .....

Back to the original subject - Good luck on Sat guys - Morgan you have it all sussed out with your brownie points, wise thinking!!

Like your thinking Jeff.

Cheers Mal

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jirvin4505 said...
Retail therapy......
Another board? A new sail? Harness lines???

It's the sort of therapy I understand

Cheers Jeff

If only my bloke thought like that! Instead of having to hide any new gear..pity boards are so big if they were easier to hide I'd have another slalom or speed board..

Happy girl Means happy windsurfing tomorrow lol. HAPPY DAYS


A lovely free Ferry ride to North Quay was very nice - we did the whole circuit of the city flyer was quite peaceful of the (Serious brownie points here). Have a photo on the Ferry but keeps showing up sideways.

Tomoz Wellington point will take the RSX and Naish 180L, Neil Pride 7.5m and Ezzy 6.3 for me and Anita will take her junior rig 4.3m. Will consider taking the Shark if it is blowing a bit in the morning.

Get to try my new Harness lines out.

See you on the water
Morgan

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iCarbon said...
Hi Morgan

Good to here you can get in balance standing at the footstrap position. When both your feet are in the straps, you will have control.

Here's a picture of Lara sailing the RS:X demonstrating getting the rig over on top of herself. This counteracts the tendency of the board to round up into the wind, as you rake the rig back and move back into the footstraps.










Cheers


Pat

Being a small sailor ( female- 5'6" - 63kgs ) I do that a lot but thought I was doing things wrong as all the guys have their rigs upright.I pull the rig down over me when overpowered or on the big heavy kit ( 7.5m) especially going upwind.I suppose I got into the habit to avoid being catapulted - I rarely do get thrown.

Wellington Point on Sunday was good about 9knots enough to get the RSX up and planing a couple of times - no footstraps still can't get there. Everytime I tried I got thrown. I was standing on the straps most of the time I was planing though,,,,,, I will get there, still had a blast. It was really rough which made the 100 uphauls I did, tough lol.

Heading down to the Gun and Avanti sail demo day Glynn has organised, at Wellington Point on Saturday at 10 am to have a look and a try maybe.

I wont be taking the RSX - looks like the repair on the nose has cracked open on my last big stack so off to the doctors for surgery I think. Will be old favourite the Mistal Pacifico this weekend.

Cheers
Morgan

Ben

I'm much like you & at a similar stage. I'm based in Brisbane & see Morgan pretty regularly. You're right, Morgan's page is good to keep track of. See you when you visit Brisbane.

Mal

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said..
Hi Morgan

I am from Sydney, I started windsurfing at January, 8 weeks later than you. I am so glad that you share every little thing here. At least I know whether my progress right for a learner. I got lots to read from page 1 of this topic..

There are not many beginners I met so far, so reading your post makes me feel "less lonely". I only windsurf on weekends, and your posts have set a "benchmark" or "checkpoint" for myself. Many of my problems I encountered happen to be the same as you.

I am learning planing and using foot straps recently, and learning how to balance with the harness lines, so many good tips in this topic.

Keep posting your stuff, I like reading your stuff very much

Thanks
Ben

Hi Benyip

Very nice to receive your message - nice feedback, thank you. Like you have mentioned in your message there are some very nice people in the sport for sure.

It is certainly a very hard sport to learn and sooooo many things to get right before we are going to blasting along with the others but the important thing is be patient and to keep moving forward.

I figured there would be a few beginners out there struggling like I am and my wife Anita so my story is to show everyone out there that it can be done with patience and perseverance.

Thanks for the tip on sail size - I have been looking at getting a bigger rig but unfortunately $$$$ gets in the way - but am saving my pennies atm. I really do have to have a look at the sails I have and maybe trade a new one I bought in January for a slightly better sail for high winds. I guess that make a very important part of the windsurfing learning curve sail and rig choice for weight and wind. It sure is fun trying lol

I am really pleased you are getting a lot out my thread - I will be keeping up posting my stuff for sure - you can count on it. I am really enjoying my time on the water - I always say it is good for the mind, body and soul .

Keep up the learning and I would like to hear how you are progressing too. Mal is smashing it out there these days and doing really well - great to see

Cheers
Morgan