Today we had great DW conditions but I had no one to play with so I did something I've been wanting to do for ages.. Windsurfing a SUP board.. I often get asked about just how well these SUP boards work with a sail and I've only sailed them in very light non-planing conditions.

I'd been told may times that they don't really plane.. I though how frustrating would that be in a good wind.. The 12' Glide sure looks like it should go well.. I haven't windsurfed for ages and was a bit worried about how I'd go and it just came back to me.. Just like riding a bicycle.. .. I guess you never forget.

I dusted off my old gear and I was pretty shaky at first.. The main problem was getting used to no foot-straps but it soon started to feel ok.. I never slipped once and I didn't want to fall into that cold water even with a wettie on.

Here's my vid from yesterday.. Crank up the sound..

DJ

DJ heres some pics/vid from Robe easter comp' on my SB 12'6" was surprised at how well it went. Light wind and waves Heaps of fun

Woooh! I had the volume up when your music started. Scared the bejeebeez out of me. Looked like fun anyway.

Sorry about the drop in - in picture 5 Spotty - I truely didn't see you!!!

Was a great weekend!

nice vid,

although i haven't done it very often, one of the things i really enjoyed about sailing sups in small surf is not having footstraps. being able to walk around to get the board carving and the freedom that produces was a real bonus.

I have sailed a SUP SB 12'6" - a monster board - lent to me.
It's got a retractable centreboard and 2 fixed positions for the mast.

Sails surprisingly well, gybes great - actually gybes just about by itself. However pointing upwind is difficult and tacking is slow. I have found the dagger position doesn't change that. Sure as hell I wouldn't use on an off-shore.

Given fair wind, it planes well no problemo.
Finally, it even railrides quite OK.

It would have to be about 14 times more stable than an old Windsurfer, I'd use for teaching on an on-shore, or farting around in lesser winds.

OK board.

Tried both, don't make no diff. Think about it: they're inches apart and the board is 12'6".
I found the dagger makes little diff either. Sinking the rail neither, it's too roundish anyways.

I'm not complaining - great board for light wind fun, and apparently waves (plenty of the former, none of the latter here). Still usable in stronger winds too.

Hey DavidJohn,

Looks like it got up to speed and also gybed very well. Would love to have a go with the set up in small rolling waves, bet it would be a hoot.

I have been contemplating offloading my 116L flatwater board and bigger sails to just have a sailable SUP and my regular wave board set up. Definitely think I would get more sailing, especially in late summer when the NEs have lost the puff, but they are still there enough to mess up the surf for regular surfing.

Last time I was up at Yamba the fella in the surf shop was pushing me to give one a demo, however the wind was so good for my regular waveboard I didnt worry.......after seeing plenty of youtube vids of guys in small wind/small surf I think I have to give this a go.

For anyone who sails an SUP, what is the biggest sail you use. I have a 6.5m ezzy wave that I use in the surf on my bigger board, would that be too big considering the floatation of the SUP? Most vids i see of of guys using sails of 5-5.5m in bugger all wind. Spotty i cant quite read the sail size on the foot of yours, it looks like 6 something. Looks like you were having a ball mate!

Thanks for sharing!....Adam

I've used 7 meters on a lent 12'6" monster board - sails fine. I'm sure it could take 8++ meters easily, mind you this is not the gear of choice in stronger winds - my smaller gear is. But if stuck or in sub-20 knots, it sails and planes quite well.

Here's a different angle from that board (flat water usage). Hard to rail...

Interesting you couldn't get it to plane - I thought since old Windsurfers can plane, anything could.

Yep the biggest of them all SUP 12' (also borrowed) does plane. Just a lot of work to hold the sail until it does, that's all.

That particular SUP won't point up as the rail has no bite whasoever: it's curved way upward at the front, and the rail is a huge round thing at the back.
Not complaining, just observing...

one of the things i found on the sup is sailed was the acceleration i got when i picked up a wave/swell. it took me a while to get used to it as i kept getting left behind.

It is a different sensation in the following way: it takes so much wind for it to plane that by then, I'm not using one because by then I'm on my sub-100L boards.

Seriously, the SUP ain't mine - I would never buy coz I don't sail these things. I think it's OK for a beginner's fun all-around board, that's all. Also makes for pretty railride pictures with the blue top deck.

Once in a while I borrow one when the wind is strong, for the fun of it. That's how I have 'planed' this huuuuge plank.