Sunday the 2 May 5 m swell ,SE 0 to 14 knots seabreeze. OES 105 Quad and 5.5m Ezzy sail Sailed a super late SE seabreeze with building swell at Walkers Rocks
Awesome Pete! I'm glad I'm not the only one chasing the non-planing wind end. Sailed Goolwa Sunday, high tide, 10 - 15 knot NW'lies, solid clean 2-3 footers, with nice exit lines (not the usual close-outs!). Only one out, except for a massive dolphin. Best sail of my life!
See the Boards article on French photog Gilles Calvert, he pretty much summed it up: "I don't have a favourite place, but I have a favourite setup, which is sun, cross off wind, consistent but pretty light wind (12-16 knots), perfect barrelling waves.....
After spending so much time on Maui over the last 3 years watching sailors and sailing in super light winds (Maui is not always windy over the winter months) shows that you don't need to be planing to ride waves. Most of the photo's and video's coming out of Maui shows Hoopkia and Kaua with big super clean wave faces, cast your eyes out the back, as it show very light winds with very little white caps . 95 to 105 L board with a Quad or twin set up, to help these wider tails board to turn and hold on the wave face and a 5.5m to 5.8m sail is all that is needed to glug and ride these wave. There is no need for a SUP/windsurfer as they are too big and dangerous in these bigger swells. Both these and the photo's of Maris at easter sailing in 12 to 16 knot on his 90L twin and 5.6m with fast Fredo water shots shows how clean the wave faces are and what can be done in so little wind. This new light wind wave gear will increase anybodys time on the water wave riding over the season here in SA, you just need to get your head around '' not needing enought wind to plan''!!
and it helps if your under 70 kgs! i fully agree. i think people totally under estimate how much fun light wind wave sailing is. i sailed day st yester day on me 93 wave which i can up haul! it was like 3-4 foot bombs out the back. was only about 12 knots and had three sick clean waves. the only hard thing is trying to get out the back! took me about 10 trys just for three waves! i think more of a point break for lighter winds is easier.
I don't mind light wind sailing in waves but you still need enough wave face wind - glassy no wind waves faces you lack any power or ability to get too many decent moves in and get past sections - like the photos here - had many fun sessions on a 112 skate and a 6.4 but at 10-12 knts you might as well be on your normal surf craft if its that light!!
pictures and some nice waves as well
