Hi,
I am trying to get back into windsurfing after a 10+yrs break (time goes quickly). I am searching for an intermediate board that I will probably end up holding onto as my low wind board in the future, I really need a board that will get me up and going and not cause more frustration and losing hope in my abiliities and windsurfing. I currently only sail down at Goolwa SA on the lake, I want to get into sailing at the beach but that will be much further down the road.
My current gear consistes of a BIC astro rock which I only picked up a few weeks back as an upgrade to a tyronsea 295 that I used to use, it was a huge improvement but I struggle to get it to work with my newer sail, which after some research seems to be expected. Sail wise I have a 2008 6m Maui Sails Pursuit and a lot of early 90's gear, probably only worthwhile holding onto the newer one.
I can waterstart and use my harness but just starting to get into using the foot straps. I see there is a BIC Blast66 for sale in the forums, I am a heavier sailor at 95kgs so the 125L volume would be good and around the same as my current board. Would you guys/girls recommend this as a good board to get me back into the sport or should I be saving up some more coin and looking for something newer?
Ohh something else that I noticed whilst I was out the last few times was that everyone was using waist harnesses and really long harness lines, I was the odd one out in my nappy harness and shortlines, is this common with the newer sails and boards?
It seems to me you are buying older second hand boards and not being happy with them and then looking to buy another..the problem with that is you end up spending more money than you should be and have a garage full of old boards that are not worth very much.
The Bic blast is only slightly wider than the Astro rock and what you should be looking for for a light wind board on Goolwa lakes is a board 75cm + wide. The Bic Blast will only be a slight improvement on a Astro rock. A wider board will also make it easier for you to get back into in get back planning and into the straps.
As for the sail I do not think that is the problem more likely how it is rigged if it is rigged wrong it will be crap on any board. Last year I saw a guy blasting on a astro rock with a more modern sail he was able to keep up with the other guys on newer gear.
The type of harness you use is primarily determined by what type of sailing you are doing. If you go to boggy most will be using a seat harness as it is a freeride GPS blasting spot. (I would expect it would be the case at goolwa lakes as well) if you go to semehpore or any of the wave spots around Adelaide most will be using a waist harness. There is a trend towards using longer harness lines but I believe you sail with the size you feel most comfortable with but be willing to experiment to find out if longer or shorter options work best for you.
LB, I probably plan to sail the lakes on the weekend, possibly Hindmarsh, so I might see you there.
I owned a Bic Techno when I was a beginner and hated it. Although anecdotal, the experience was enough to not make me ever want to set foot on a BIC board again. I would look for something newer, but bear in mind, your intermediate phase will be breaking a lot of board noses catapulting. This is an excellent way to turn a brand new $2500+ board, into a $200 board. So, try to get something modern (2006 and onwards), yet, 2nd hand.
The sail you have is a good freeride sail, provided you have a hard top mast to match it. If you use it with a flex top mast (ie: a Neil Pryde mast), the shape of the sail will be wrong, and the sail won't do it's job.
I just checked my mast out it is a srs maui mast 75% carbon with the same imcs as wgat the sail lists.
Should I avoid slalom boards and head towards a free ride board for now? I saw a jp slalom board for sale 121l 76cm wide.
Yes, avoid any type of specialised gear (ie: slalom, speed, wave, freestyle) while you are intermediate. It is only going to frustrate.
