Waitaras (not sure of the spelling either) rocked. They were so light and high tech compared to everything else in the mid eighties. They went really fast too.

My Freestyle Fun was traded in on a Ten Cate Fun Fan which was a pretty nice board too. Sort of like a little TC Runner.

Windrush clubman

then a bombora trifin

then a bombora antartica

then ten or more years off and onto a JP 93 FSW, wow what a revelation

We had a Dufor Wing, actually its still hanging up under the house. Learning to sail this at Scotts Point ie Redcliffe, then at the Gold Coast. Although I think we used to just paddle the board at Redcliffe as I don't think I could reach the boom at that stage.

Next was a Wind Action Super Slalom which was so far beyond my skill level it wasn't funny but it looked sweet and went well in a straight line - haven't practised enough to gybe, then a Tiga 270, Bic Vivace 275 and Bic Techno 283, now um let me go check

Current Boards are Fanatic Triple X (255cm, 109L) and a F2 Axxis (261cm, 85L)

Windsurfer One Design then Bombora Trifin. All from Tradewinds which 6 years later I owned, weird!!!

Oh and Moby, it was called a Waitata. Waitara is a suburb near you

Cant remember exactly but it was a Tiga 254 or 245 VR plastic thing. Hardie might be able to remember? Later Hardie let me borrow his F2 Sputnik which he witnessed me do my very first carving gybe on about 4 or 5 months after I started windsurfing. It was on the estuary. He left me there to practice while he buggered off to get some waves. I remember sailing way past dark and rocked up at his house about 9pm with a smile from ear to ear
Hardie was my mentour. I looked up to him. If it wasnt for him I wouldnt be where I am today with my windsurfing

1st year Dufour wing..2nd ..Mistral Maui..then Tyronsea 295 slalom( I think..?) then windaction 9' fibreglass slalom that I use to use in the surf..fancy jagged diagonal half red half yellow paint scheme used to jump great! then an old sucked in caveman waveboard ( pretty floaty & forgiving ) ..It was pretty sick I can't remember if I sold it or what but I wouldnt have got much for it as it was delaminating..Thats why I got it it was cheap & crappy so ideal for my 1st real waveboard. Then a wizz bang epoxy ex sponsored wavesailors waveboard..I only used it a few times..much more maneouverable than my 1st caveman but not as forgiving to gybe.
I moved upcountry, got sick & didnt sail much for c 15years..bit of a shock getting back into it with the caveman..cripes I thought I remembered doing planing carve gybes..???sploosh![}:)]
Upgraded to a 125 Tabou Rocket + 95 Tabou rocket & still got the Caveman..I'ts for sale but I'm not sure maybe I should hang onto it for those big wind days as its slower than the rockets & c 86ltres so would be less of a handful in 30 kts..

Bombora X-It. Riding it was similar to sitting on the back seat of an articulated bus. The board sort of deformed it's way across any swell.

For those of you who know about surfing, my first sailboard was a Bennett, one of the first surfboard manufacturers in Brookvale, Sydney (circa 1956) who are still operating today in the same location.

The board was a custom fibreglass floater, losts of volume, but not too long, with a football fin and was purchased around 1985.

I believe that they made a handfull of boards, probably due to the interest in the sport then by one of their surfboard shapers, as well as Midget Farrelly, and Tommy Petersen (brother of famous Australian surfer, Michael Petersen).

Used it in the surf just south of North Narrabeen, and kept it for quite a few years.

Great memories!

hey you deleted the space between glass P.O.S and Mambo
The Mambo was a ripper

BIC 283 Freeride Slalom.... still got it and about to sell it

Tiga Aloha....




170 liters I don't know what year - mine had a pink fin and turquoise foot straps (now replaced).

It was left on the side of a windsurf shop and then donated to me. I still have it.

It's a rocket in 7-16 mph of wind, but sux otherwise.
I love her.

-Windshark

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www.windsurfquest.net
Where to Windsurf and Who is There

after the one design when i was a teen, I started riding a Bombora Exit, for my first 'short-board'. i kitted out with a 6.5m v8 and a reasonable slalom fin which actually made that board sing if it wasn't too choppy. i could take this combo out into heavier wind, and the board's weight would slow me down enough to control it all. unfortunately, i picked up some bad habits on the bommy which took years to overcome.

still got the one design and bommy lying around if i ever get misty enough...

Bic 340 with a fenced plastic fin that hummed. Powerhead sail and an F2 chest harness. Wetsuit was a longjohn and bolero in those days. Early 1980's.

Scope said...

Windsurfer Regatta One Design with teak boom!!

Nice pic.

Wow, I've never seen such a well-rigged wooden-boom windsurfer. Job well done, I coulda asked you for advice 25+ years ago... Sail looked brand new then, not baggy one bit...

Yeah just like the one I had, same sail and boom. Yes the hull is the same as the Windsurfer hull but the fittings are different. I should have kept it but got conned into getting another board by the local shop.