1. I am 72kg and have a Starboard Kode 122l, am feeling that maybe I should have gone for a bigger volume board to progress on. I would also like to consider a board that could be used for "cruising". Say cruise from South Perth to Fremantle and back in any wind. What sort of board could I consider? Should I get one with a daggerboard?

2. I can't tack or gybe. Which should I try to learn first?

3. In rigging, say the Luff is 428, and I'm using a 400 mast, I assume I set the extension to the 30 mark? And similarly for boom length? Is that right?

4. I always thought I have to rinse all the gear and dry them before storing (even if storing for a couple days). But I read (in Ezzy sail's website) that it is not necessary to rinse or dry their sail??

Thanks

Hey Grumpy,

if you want to 'cruise' from south perth to freo, in any breeeze - you're probably after a longboard, ie around the 380cm long with a centreboard. might be difficult to sail in strong breeze, but then your Kode might be more fun. you could get other options but doing treks like that would be tedious and slow on anything else.

the longboard will be pretty easy to learn on as well

if you weren't locked into such big cruises, a bigger slalom style board would be the go like a 140l Go or Carve - but the upwind ability would be limited so you wouldn't be getting up-river too far, and the lower wind limit would be less than the LB.

tacks are often easier to learn as the board comes to a stop which can make it easier to control - but once you get past the beginner stage gybing becomes easier than tacking

you're bang on with the dimensions

washin comes down to how lazy you are or how much time you have - sand and grit is abrasive so over time will help to deteriorate quicker - dont need to do it all the time but once a season, or if you know a sail won't be used for a while, its not a bad idea

the lesson suggestion is a brilliant one - plus it will give you an oppurtunity to ask questions, get feedback and be exposed to some different gear

Would agree with much of the above.

Cruising from South Perth to Fremantle is a pretty unusual form of windsurfing these days - you definitely want something BIG, ideally with a daggerboard for that. Longboard or maybe something wide from Starboard.

Kode 122 - at 72kg, if you get a load of time on the water early on in the season you'll probably be ok. I'm assuming that you can already plane and are trying to beachstart. If not the 122 will be more challenging but still achievable.

>>>>2. I can't tack or gybe. Which should I try to learn first?

Beach start and water start. Then I'd suggest trying both tacking and gybing. Videos, lessons, Trickionary, etc will make the process less frustrating and faster. Time on the water (lots of it - as much as possible) is the key to progression.

>>>>3. In rigging, say the Luff is 428, and I'm using a 400 mast, I assume I set the extension to the 30 mark? And similarly for boom length? Is that right?

Ummm... as a very very general rule, that's probably around right. However.... a couple of cm difference in the downhaul will make a massive difference the the characteristics of the sail.

Rigging purely by numbers will get you into the ballpark, but the difference between a "numbers" rigged sail and a properly rigged sail can be pretty significant. I'd strongly recommend getting someone to show you how to rig it - I'm often at Pelican Point when the seabreeze is in and more than happy to help out (look for the black and purple sails or the 70's kombi van). If I'm not there everyone down there is very friendly. Just rig up and ask someone to take a look over it.

>>>>4. I always thought I have to rinse all the gear and dry them before storing (even if storing for a couple days). But I read (in Ezzy sail's website) that it is not necessary to rinse or dry their sail??

Nope. Try and put everything away as clean as possible (and with no sand on it) and you'll be good.

Hey!

GrumpySmurf said..
I am very curious why don't people "cruise" on their sailboards anymore?! I realise blasting up and down at 30+ knots or hitting the waves is great fun, but why not have a cruise?

No reason at all. It still happens... it's just that most people sail high winds and have equipment to suit. Having another BIG board (and the time to use it) sometimes just isn't compatible. FYI, a lot of SUPs these days can be fitted with a deck plate and sailed around as a cruiser. I've done it a few times on light wind days.

GrumpySmurf said..
When I try to tack, I always find the front of the board sinks too much and I fall off.

Tacking a 122l when breezy is quite different to tacking a big board / long board in light winds.

You're doing it too slowly and going round the front of the mast too slowly. You shouldn't ever really be standing on the nose of the board whilst tacking.

Going really slowly on a bicycle with nothing to support you is really hard. Same on a windsurfer.

Make sure you've got plenty of speed and head up into wind. Before you go through the wind, that's when you jump around to the otherside (not walking around all over the nose).

That means there's still pressure in the sail (from the wrong side - you're backwinded for a moment) and you've got something to lean against.

Here's a decent explanation.

Hope that helps!

Forget about cruising and concentrate on just plain windsurfing in most comfortable place you could find.
If you could find access to shallow water on both sides that is the best.
Cruise then in one direction 200 -500 m, try to gybe or tack on that shallow and go back. If fall into water try beach start or water start every time ( not uphaul !)
That is receipt for fastest progress and fun,
Find a place where you could meet other windsurfers, as sailing alone on long trips alone is danger is receipt for disaster.
Any gear malfunction and you are in big problems. With your existing gear you should do fast progress and don't need to
spend money on any long board - which will be only hassle to transport, carry to the water and storage.

Once you learn windsurfing , you could go back to the idea of long board cruising - but then it will be conscious , informed decision.
Now it could be only waste of time on the road to learn proper windsurfing.

I think you guys have me convinced to wait out the cruising part for now. I had considered buying a Starboard Start for this but will persevere with my Kode 122 for now.

I had an absolute blast this morning at Melville. The winds started around 15-18kn and dropped to 10-15kn. With a 5.2m sail (me being 72kg). First time I was hooked in the harness on just about every run. Had about 20-30 runs and about 8 major catapults - OUCH!

I had changed the large Drake fin to a wave/freestyle 23(?) fin and found that was an improvement I think. The rear of the board did not lift so much and jump around so much.

I do still have problems waterstarting, but improved on beach starts. Also big hassles getting into the footstraps. The one time I managed the foot straps, I found that my back foot could get in first. This is wrong I think it should be front foot first?

Also, I found that coming back to shore (starboard tack), I was heading downwind more than the port tack - what could I be doing wrong here?

Hi Mike, I was in a Blue Pajero - short asian guy doing catapults for the entertainment of those on shore

Shawn

GrumpySmurf said..
Hi Mike, I was in a Blue Pajero - short asian guy doing catapults for the entertainment of those on shore

Shawn

Righto, next time will catch up with you, know who you are now Dont be too hard on yourself, its fun leaning and getting catupulted for the enjoyment of others.
What type of fin box, Tuttle (two bolts) or Powerbox (single bolt) I have some fins you can try if its power box.

Hey Grumpy,

Yup... it can be pretty frustrating sailing the storm-fronts / bad weather. With the rain squalls the wind comes and goes.

That's not to say don't go out - it'll be frustrating but it'll also really help build skills for when you've got a beautiful solid seabreeze day.

FYI - most of the pom windsurfers living in Perth learned in those conditions - myself included - because rain/wind frontal systems are the main windsurfing conditions in the UK. We don't really get seabreezes strong enough.