Thought it is about time i joined up as i have been visiting these forums for a while now reading with interest all of the advise given to new starters.
I also have just started back into the sport after many years away from it. As most of us did in the 80's i started with a group of mates on a borrowed old original Windsurfer. Once I could up haul went and bought a 8'8" McTavish wave board (right price for an apprentice). That didn't last long and gave it away for a few years.Took it up again in my late 20's/early 30's and this time got a Bic Vivace 282 with a 6m V8 Steetracer and a Tyronse 330 with a 5.8m sail for the lighter days. Due to lack of time and to fund other projects sold the Bic and V8 but still have the old Tyronse. I decided to get the old mud wasp breeder out of the shed and rig it up thinking it would be fun to teach the kids and have a play and then soon discovered that all the gear is past its use by date and even the tip would reject it so I rolled it all up and back in the shed to breed more mud wasps.
Meanwhile the teenage daughter is asking for a SUP. So after a bit of research i find that SUP's can be used to sail! (Yes i am a bit slow). I don't paddle, I sail, i keep telling her. So we went for a weekend to the Sunshine Coast just to have a look and instead of getting both a sailboard for me and a SUP for the daughter we got a JP Fusion 10'2" for her with a 6.1 Aqua Glide sail for me and to teach my 17 yo son. I figured this would be best as it is a 2 in one board and great fun in light winds. I have had a sail on it at the Awoonga Dam and had an absolute ball in 5-8 knot winds. Plus i am actually enjoying the SUP and am keen to take it to Agnes Water/1770 for a paddle in some waves and even sail it in the small waves at the mouth of the Boyne and Canoe Point at high tide.
But i do miss the straight line, hook in and hold on, speed. So what next, a 120L Freeride/Slalom for those straight line blasts at the mouth of the Boyne River?
Is there anyone here that sails the Boyne any more?
Enjoy your weekend.
Adrian
hi Adrian,
this is a big guess but did you come down to Windfest and say hello to me? if it's not you then hello!
there was a couple of guys at the event from tannum sands. I'm sure you'll see a few others on the water next time it's windy.
G'day Gestalt,
No it wasn't me, although i wanted to get down there, but was rostered on to work that weekend. One of the blokes you met would have been Mark. I did meet him a while back and we spoke about it. He was the one who planted the seed in my head for me to get some gear and get out there and i haven't caught up with him since. One of the problems with Gladstone is all the construction and shift work it is hard to catch up with people. It would have been great to get down there so i could have a look at the new gear "in the flesh".
Back to work tomorrow so only internet sailboarding for the next 13 days.
Adrian
I know 2 guys who sail Boyne / Tannum, Mark who you have met and Greg who works on Curtis Island and sails on his Sunday day off when it's windy. His Seabreeze name is Fanatic02.
Welcome back to the sport
mark has been a regular at windfest.
there was another guy that took his whole family to burrum for the day and to check things out. he was looking at getting back into windsurfing and wanted to say hi. he didn't windsurf at burrum.
I'm certain he was from tannum sands as well.
I should add.
if it's sups and sups that can be sailed you are seeking info on then check out surf FX. they are regular sup'ers and sensational windsurfers.
Thanks John,
I am also on Curtis Island and do the 13 day fortnight. Hopefully our rosters will be the same and i will run into him one day.
Thanks for the info Gestalt. I have been enjoying sailing the sup to get my hand back in. But i will be looking for a good fast sailboard later this year once i know what i want/need.
