Gooday Daz,
What Paddles said, if you're not in the footstraps and harness and not water starting then the easier the better. A starboard go 150 - 180 litres with the soft deck to save your knees and shins and good solid construction will be the best bet. They're around, just have to be on the lookout and fairly cheap.
Try before you buy, locals will let you have a go on something they're selling or you can have a try on boards of other sailors like Pat's 145 nitrix. I have mates that own starboard go and I'm sure they would let you try one. It's hard to know, what age are you? Have you done sailing in the past? How often can you get out to sail? They're are easy to sell once you have acquired the skills too. I'm happy to give you some tips and we usually rig up at the other end of Thompson park. Sat high tide looks ok.
Thanks heaps Paddles, Pat and Pete! Great advice. I think I'll look for something a bit bigger. I'm 38, started this year, can water start when enough wind and water is not over head, planing, in the harness, slow tacking, and get on the water about once a week. I will be at Thompsons Saturday high tide, so catch up then, and might give the Naish 145 a go (thanks again Pat)!
Yep, don't fall into the trap of getting something too small, too soon, Dazza. We've seen people's sailing go backwards from this. Find Pete (so you will always have someone to sail with and ask questions) then sail heaps.
Daz, I ride an AHD Zen 170ltr, soft top progression board. I'll be at vicci point tomorrow if you want to see what it, or a similar board, would be like.
Starboard start package at loftus nsw is ok and the cheaper go is good too, you can get them sent via e-go transport depot to depot
Waiting, waiting, waiting ... no wind.
The desperadoes among us went on long boards in the 0 -7 knots conditions. One came in & packed up. The sacrifice had been made. Then after 3 hours it started to build. Rig up quick & on the water. Before long there were about 10 - 12 boards on the water and wind that steadily built all afternoon until the water run out. Ended up being a good afternoon. More to come tomorrow.![]()
The shadow minister for recreation asked why I was gone for 6hrs? They just don't understand that the clock only starts when the wind is good to go. Thank you Graham for packing up early to provide the inevitable!
Playing with the kids in the back yard... until the breeze started to ruffle the leaves with some decent force... Sorry kids got to go ![]()
. Thanks so much to Pat and Jake for letting me try out some new gear (gutted about the sail, sorry Pat). Definitely put everything in perspective. I won't be getting anything smaller than 160L, and will probably need a bigger sail. Thanks for the tip on the Starboard Pete.
Great to see the new guys out there, Steve and Daz.
Spent the afternoon with foam and silicon fixing roof leaks on the carport with one eye on WillyWeather.
Around 2:30 it started to pick up so put down the silicon and headed for Thompsons.
Rigged 7.3 koncept on the sp naish and had a good hour before the dirty brown water got shallow.
great to see Jack from SA whom we met at Windfest checking out Vicci Point. Welcome to Steve, having a go at sailing on the SUP - retirement is meant for sailing!!
See you tomorrow !!
Playing with the kids in the back yard... until the breeze started to ruffle the leaves with some decent force... Sorry kids got to go ![]()
. Thanks so much to Pat and Jake for letting me try out some new gear (gutted about the sail, sorry Pat). Definitely put everything in perspective. I won't be getting anything smaller than 160L, and will probably need a bigger sail. Thanks for the tip on the Starboard Pete.
Glad to help Dale. The patch that let go was one of four on the sail and was always dodgy as the original tear went to the edge.
It was always going to let go. No stress here.
Cheers
Pat O
Good Morning all. What's the go with sailing the point today in a southerly? The boat ramp? Have never sailed at Victoria Point but my parents live there so thought I should give it a crack. Anyone sailing today?
Sorry this is a bit late Cap'n but go to Thompsons Beach. Swing a right at the roundabout before the shops on vicci pt road. Go to the Southern end of the park and you'll see the crew out there. Launch off the beach.
Great afternoon at Thompsons and wind picked up as the afternoon wore on.
About a dozen sailors out and outnumbered kites for a change.
Water still dirty brown, will rinse with chivas.
Back tomorrow for more ![]()
![]()
![]()
Great afternoon at Thompsons and wind picked up as the afternoon wore on.
About a dozen sailors out and outnumbered kites for a change.
Water still dirty brown, will rinse with chivas.
Back tomorrow for more ![]()
![]()
![]()
Before you post today Pete, just remember that nobody is interested in how good it was during business hours![]()
Does anyone have any experience sailing Elliot Heads, Bundaberg? Seen plenty of kites out but no windsurfers
Better or worse than Sunday is the gauge I am after.
Cheers
Pat O
Water quality is abysmal, dirty brown with a large percentage of "fresh" and dead fish washed up on the beach. Maybe a hep b shot would be a good idea. About the same as Sunday with a little less debris.
Sorry Jake, no sympathy, I've done my share of looking out the office window at the trees bending in the wind. MY turn now![]()
Did I tell how wild it got when the squall came thru? 30+ knots,? I did a big bail out when I got picked up and had absolutely no control about two meters above the water.
Ill have another go today.
Another good day at Thomsons with a late tide and steady breeze (till Jake turned up and ruined it for us)
Picked the right sail size 7.3, for a change and buggerised around changing fins and getting it wrong most of the time![]()
A good crowd of locals however water quality yuk and debris in the water still being found.
At this rate, I'm going buy a jet ski, just don't know how to fit it in old sail bags
.
See you in a few weeks gents, I'm off to Cairns for Easter.
Sunday afternoon I was well out of my comfort zone! I got catapulted too many times (my first real experience of getting thrown while in the harness... Ouch!). I think having no foot straps does not help?
Sunday afternoon I was well out of my comfort zone! I got catapulted too many times (my first real experience of getting thrown while in the harness... Ouch!). I think having no foot straps does not help?
Too true. See you after Easter Jake, travel safe
Where was everyone? Great morning sail at VP. 5 boards and few kites. Steady wind all morning until the water disappeared. ![]()
Sorry to annoy with beginner gear questions, but a Bic Techo 148 has come up for sale, and wondering if anyone has any thoughts? I'm 83kg, beginner, using harness, planing, slow tacks, getting on the water once a week.
What year is the techno and how much?
they've been around fo a long time now.
As for performance they are a good all round board of their type- robust, handling is good in most conditions and fairly light.
Earlier ones 10 + years old can be had for a $100-200 with a trim box fins that are prone to break when hit and the latest ones are around $1200 new with power box fins, much better.
If you can, try before you buy.