Hi there, I stopped by just to let you know about my progress I got a great deal on a new board - 2008 Mistral Explosion 140l (didn't want to buy a new board, but this one was good as new and for excellent price so I couldn't resist), and it made everything much easier because it is so much more stable under my feet. I already figured out basics of sailing and can go pretty much where I want to... pretty much. [}:)] I even managed to do upwind jibes with about 90% chance of succes. I feel like I was very close to planing several times already, although I could use a bit more wind to really get there.

On the downside I had only one chance to get into the water during really strong wind (no idea how strong knots-wise and the more experienced ones of you would probably consider it not strong enough, but I felt almost like it was a hurricane at the moment ) and I couldn't get the damn board moving. Instead it always turned me so that the sail was downwind. No matter how I tried to position the sail, it always just turned me with the board so that the sail was downwind and I barely moved forward at all. No idea what I was doing wrong, hope I will figure it out next time. [}:)]

Hullo! First post! Am a newbie having a first-board-size-buying dilemma:

local guy has a Starboard Go with rig and whole bunch of other gear for sale, am pretty tempted but not sure if it'll be too big. Am about 80kg and a few people have said to get the 140L but this guy is selling a 155L... is that 15L going to make much difference?? Have read a bunch of times that getting the right size is important, any suggestions welcome!!!

If it's in your price range and in good condition get the 155. I have the same and love it. Plenty of stability for up hauling, plenty of foot strap positions for learning, and with the right sail combo can get planeing in all sorts off weather conditions. It is a great beginner board. Had mine for nine months and haven't looked to get rid off it.

Thanks so much for the responses!!! Think I'll go for it ... woohooooo!

NewKy said...

Another noob question: I feel like I will soon start learning to use straps, which position is ideal for a noob - the one with three straps or the one with four straps? What is the major difference between those positions? Thanks!

Basically at the most forward and inboard positions just until you get used to getting in and out of them. So the three straps.

After that it depends on your weight, size, width of feet including boots if you wear them, and the type of sailing you will be doing.

With your feet outboard you can get more leverage, so hold more power and drive the board off the fin better with your heels on the side of the board.
Width of stance depends on the length of your legs.
Width of footstrap depends on the width of your foot.
The fore and aft positions depend on your height and weight and maybe a little on the conditions. You are trying to get the board to feel comfortable at the best angle of fore and aft trim. It would be quickest to get a good sailor of about the same height and weight to set them for him and then adjust for the width of your feet.

kpb said...

Someone told me this is the part where us beginners go from sailboarding to windsurfing.

Oh GOD I hate that attitude.....

For one, if you get on a windsurfer then you are windsurfing. It doesn't matter how good you are. Good boat sailers don't go up to learners and say "you are not sailing." Good bike racers don't go up to people on hybrid bikes and say "you are not riding". Good windsurfers should not go up to people on boards with sails and say "you are not windsurfing".

The other thing is that he had it the wrong way around. The Windsurfer (TM) was a trademark name for the original 12' long Windsurfer that was designed for fun in light winds as well as strong. The original guys who coined and applied the name sailed long boards in light winds, not shortboards on the plane.

"Boardsailing" and "sailboarding" were names created later because of trademark restrictions by other builders, and when Hoyle was told that he had to try to protect the trademark by stopping the term "windsurfer" becoming generic - a fight he lost. It has absolutely nothing to do with how good you are or what type of board you sail and in what conditions you sail in. So if there is any split between windsurfing and boardsailing then it's longboards and light winds that deserve to be called windsurfing.

Just have fun whatever you sail!