Here is an example of what colours I normally use. Orange and Red are good colours to use at sea. The Yellow that Downwinder is using in that last pic is also a good colour. White and Black are the worst choices.

The hull of my board actually has a big black "V" on the orange background, which doubles up as a V sheet if things really get bad.

I am operating the rudder system with my left foot in this pic. This board has a custom designed piercing nose which loves being buried in the back of a trough. My nose buries but does not pearl which is the style of downwinding I like doing most. With this board I like to stay on the rudder system as much as I can and very rarely have to move back. There are not a lot of people that go for this approach anymore but it's what I like doing most. If I find any decent footage of it I will post it.

If you want to know what safety gear is in the backpack then there is a separate post running on that.

Just did the funnest downwinder I have ever done so far!
Went from Kawana to Maroochydore in 15-20 knot SE wind with a SE swell.
It really makes a positive difference having the wind and swell going the same direction.

The hardest part was getting around Point Cartright paddling across the wind and swell. Both kept pushing the nose of the board toward the headland. I had to actually stop and turn the board toward the east and start paddling again a few times, because despite only paddling on the left side the board was still gradually turning right. I guess this is where steering would be a real help?

I took as much of the advice as I could remember from this thread and applied it, and actually caught quite a few runners. Even 4 or 5 immediately after one another at one time.

The biggest problem I had was the fact that when I shift weight onto a rail, the board turns the opposite direction. I instinctively do this to turn the same direction as the rail I weight, like when surfing. However the biggest problem is when I overbalance to one side and as a result weight the rail the board turns the opposite way making it even harder to regain my balance and alot of times makes me lose all momentum, or fall off. The faster I'm going the worse it is. Sometimes when this happens it may be only minor at first and I think I can maintain control but then a swell comes up behind and pushes which increases the speed as well as lifts the tail which in turn bogs the nose. So I end up with the nose in the back of a wave on its rail trying to turn 45 degrees off course while the tail is trying overtake. It is hard to keep it under control sometimes. I think it comes down alot to the design of the board.

I really felt that a bigger board like a SIC Bullet 17 or an F16 would have been an advantage out there today, and would be keen to try one some day.

But having said that overall I had fun and was encouraged by the improvement. Thanks to all the contributors to this thread.

Cheers,
Ken.

Hey RainWaves, I reckon a rudder might help steering around the odd killer whale, swimming polar bear and icebergs.
And the banana-benders (Queenslanders) think it's cold down in Victoria!

KennyK said..

Just did the funnest downwinder I have ever done so far!
Went from Kawana to Maroochydore in 15-20 knot SE wind with a SE swell.
It really makes a positive difference having the wind and swell going the same direction.

The hardest part was getting around Point Cartright paddling across the wind and swell. Both kept pushing the nose of the board toward the headland. I had to actually stop and turn the board toward the east and start paddling again a few times, because despite only paddling on the left side the board was still gradually turning right. I guess this is where steering would be a real help?

I took as much of the advice as I could remember from this thread and applied it, and actually caught quite a few runners. Even 4 or 5 immediately after one another at one time.

The biggest problem I had was the fact that when I shift weight onto a rail, the board turns the opposite direction. I instinctively do this to turn the same direction as the rail I weight, like when surfing. However the biggest problem is when I overbalance to one side and as a result weight the rail the board turns the opposite way making it even harder to regain my balance and alot of times makes me lose all momentum, or fall off. The faster I'm going the worse it is. Sometimes when this happens it may be only minor at first and I think I can maintain control but then a swell comes up behind and pushes which increases the speed as well as lifts the tail which in turn bogs the nose. So I end up with the nose in the back of a wave on its rail trying to turn 45 degrees off course while the tail is trying overtake. It is hard to keep it under control sometimes. I think it comes down alot to the design of the board.

I really felt that a bigger board like a SIC Bullet 17 or an F16 would have been an advantage out there today, and would be keen to try one some day.

But having said that overall I had fun and was encouraged by the improvement. Thanks to all the contributors to this thread.

Cheers,
Ken.

opposite turn is just something you'll have to get used too. when your on the tail it's back to normal.

you will work out how to deal with the lift and speed.try holding the board back a bit sometimes- if you know a bump is going to take you.

a fair amount of what you mentioned comes down to movement back and forth-trim.

mind you that board doesn't help,however you don't 'need' to get a big bullet or f16 for our conditions- yes i know phil will disagree. just something that's dw's properly . stay away from a full on displacement nose

cheers

laceys lane said..
But having however you don't 'need' to get a big bullet or f16 for our conditions- yes i know phil will disagree. just something that's dw's properly . stay away from a full on displacement nose

G’day Lacey it’s what ever make you happy if you love 14fter or 12'6'' i'm stoked for you. I’ve never paddled a 14ft SUP and am not likely too either. I learn’t on the Unlimited boards both Prone and SUP, I just love the length. One thing I wouldn’t do is paddle a 12’6’‘ Downwind you’re just punishing yourself (I did that once in Fiji just to support Namotu Island and the World StandUp Series, never again 12’6’’ SUP’s are punishing) it be like lining up for the Tour De France on a BMX bike WTF leave 12’6’‘ for the BOP and make shore you’re young and under 80kg to be competitive on those boards.

To answer your displacement nose question. The f18 has a displacement nose displacement type boards create less drag e.g. (related to water line) equals higher the hull speed you get a lot less tired when paddling thats why f18‘s love winds 15 knots or less. The glide is longer so when there is tinny bumps the f18 has advantage.

Yep you only need the Bullet or f16 if the winds are nuking 25+ knots in Australia thats when those boards come into there own both the Bullet and f16 are s##t boards that go very slow in the flat or winds under 20 knots.

laceys lane said..
stay away from a full on displacement nose

Why? I absolutely love the displacement nose on my custom DC14 (with rudder). This board works with anything from 5-10kts up to as strong as it gets on the East Coast. I have just had 3 days in a row in variable conditions and had a ball. Yesterday the wind was as low as 10kts SE with SE-E swell and did a Snapper to Burleigh run. Most people would not even bother to go out in something like that.

Have a good look at that video on page 2 where Mark Raaphorst gives an excellent run down on dispacement and planer hull designs.

KennyK said..

Downwinder said..

laceys lane said..
But having however you don't 'need' to get a big bullet or f16 for our conditions- yes i know phil will disagree. just something that's dw's properly . stay away from a full on displacement nose

G???day Lacey it???s what ever make you happy if you love 14fter or 12'6'' i'm stoked for you. I???ve never paddled a 14ft SUP and am not likely too either. I learn???t on the Unlimited boards both Prone and SUP, I just love the length. One thing I wouldn???t do is paddle a 12???6?????? Downwind you???re just punishing yourself (I did that once in Fiji just to support Namotu Island and the World StandUp Series, never again 12???6?????? SUP???s are punishing) it be like lining up for the Tour De France on a BMX bike WTF leave 12???6?????? for the BOP and make shore you???re young and under 80kg to be competitive on those boards.

To answer your displacement nose question. The f18 has a displacement nose displacement type boards create less drag e.g. (related to water line) equals higher the hull speed you get a lot less tired when paddling thats why f18???s love winds 15 knots or less. The glide is longer so when there is tinny bumps the f18 has advantage.

Yep you only need the Bullet or f16 if the winds are nuking 25+ knots in Australia thats when those boards come into there own both the Bullet and f16 are s##t boards that go very slow in the flat or winds under 20 knots.

G'day again DW,
You said, "I just love the length". Risky, bold statement. Don't be surprised if you attract a few interesting comments. LOL.

You also said," Yep you only need the Bullet or f16 if the winds are nuking 25+ knots in Australia thats when those boards come into there own both the Bullet and f16 are s##t boards that go very slow in the flat or winds under 20 knots".
I expect most of my DW'ing to be in 15 to 25 knots, I also want to catch runners in the river mouth when the surf is too small, catching them well before they start to break, but continuing to surf them when breaking. Plus a little flat water paddling for fitness and leisure. I prefer one board to do all the above. Having said that I'm guessing you would not recommend an F16 or Bullet 17, and because of the surfing and flat water probably not the F18? What do you think?
Cheers,
Ken.

Sounds like you want a 14. Seen Steve Walker going really fast on the new Fanatic 14 downwind and the old Naish 14's were really good DW but had too much rocker to be much fun in flat water, not sure how the new ones are. That Gerry Lopez 14 that you said you had a go on could be the answer. I had a quick go on Lacey's and it was real stable downwind and picked up bumps easy and seemed to run nicely. It was heavy (comparatively) but that can be good in a DW board.
I've had a SIC Bullet for nearly 2 years now and I love it but it is hard work until the wind gets up to about 18 knots then it's amazing. It's pretty hopeless in flat water though it's fun to draft behind other paddlers and you can use the rudder to stay right on them!

DanOinkey said..

Kenny - great job being so open and all the contributors for their generous advice. This thread has made a huge difference to my downwinding so thanks to everyone for the improvements I have been able to make over the last few weeks

Yeah, it's been a real help to me too! I have just done my forth DW'er this arvo, and the improvement is very noticeable.
Just need to get me a good board now and I think I can improve out of sight.