Sandstone delivers :-)
Had to get an early morning fix before afternoon shift. Wind predictions we looking like shortboard weather but as usual sandstone doesn't believe in early morning winds. Packed the longboards.
Had a great morning. Got feet into both footstraps and on my toes. Could have sailed all the way to bribie. Bit marginal on the left to right leg.
F2 comet and 9.5 sail. Living the dream :-)
A perfect prelude to Cootharaba next Thursday onwards for school hols
Cheers Jeff
Manage to get a shift change and make it back to sandstone this morning for another blast before work
Well as all beginners will understand it was a 'learning day' at sandstone!!!
I'm having a lot of trouble comming to terms with shortboards. Initially went out with 7 meter sail but couldn't get the 151 go on the plane:-(.
Rigged up a 9.5 and the wind came up so ended up a little over powered and out of control. Main problem is the nose rising and getting unstably flighty as I sheet when on the plane. I then panic, standup, sheet out and then I'm in a real mess :-(
So have some development work to do :-(.
I have the longboards as a fall back position - at least I can sail them :-)
Met this cool dude 'John' from bribie - he has a jp superlightwind 92. He got away on a 7.5 sail. He has been sailing since 1985!! It looked like everything I dream of in windsurfing :-)
He Filled me in on all the sailing spots at bribie - time to do some exploring.
Elanda point holiday only 2 days away :-)
Cheers Jeff
most likely issue is you are not committing to the harness which leaves your weight sinking the tail of the board.
you need to pull down through your boom driving the force through the mast foot. this will flatten out the board and get you zipping along. next time we sail together I can show you some stuff.
Thanks for the tip. Figured I'm just not getting enough down thru the mast foot.
I have the felling I'm 'pushing on doors marked pull'. There must a secret I'm missing out on
1. bending at the knees will help. and specifically the rear leg. bent rear leg and straight front leg for reaching.
2. pull down on the boom with you arms and pull up with your knees to get planning. like you are trying to do crunches.
3. once planing along in the straps. try opening your hands and pushing against the boom with your palms.
4. boom at chin height
5. point your toes
6. once planning - straight arms......
7. don't over sheet. remember to keep and open stance.
8. try and swing your body forward slightly when hooked in and hiked out.
there are some other more specific things that can improve upwind/downwind speed as well but the points above are the starters.
Another thing to consider is that there is a big difference between 7m and 9.5m sails. If a 7 is not getting you up on plane then maybe you should be rigging 8m with the 151lit
Yes john a big gap - didn't really prepare for the conditions well
I have a favorite 8.5 that I could have used - it was all about a quick blast before work.
Cheers Jeff
my biggest sail is a 6.4m
been thinking about using the 8.5 again but haven't got a board that needs it.
