At what level of flat water sailing do i need to be at before i start to get into the surf ?
Ive been flat water for a few years now can water start pretty good even in light winds .
I can gybe but hardly ever pull off a full carving gybe i usually come off the plane for a bit.
But I'm wondering should i be at a freestyle level or something before i try ?
Ive got board & sails for waves now but for me its a long drive just to go & break some gear & come home because I'm not at a good enough level so I've been a bit hesitant .
So i thought i might just pop up this question & see what the experts think .
Also any advice about getting into the surf for the first time would be greatly appreciated .
Cheers
From my experience going from lake to surf - a few random thoughts
Find somewhere with Cross shore or cross on to start with (easier to get washed in)
Start out in small soft waves on a long beach without risk of washing up on reefs or rocks around 17-20 knts for a starter - floaty board smallish sail
Be persistent
Just remember everything is magnified in the ocean with waves - chop, current, getting washed around in the white water.
When your getting smacked - Relax and go with it - fighting it wastes energy -
hang on to your gear on the breaking wave side not the beach side
Smile & enjoy the experience even when its flogging you and your wanting to Swear and curse
Ask questions of the wave crew and watch the way they go about their business - some simple tips can make a huge difference
Initially a 1 hour sail in waves takes the same amount of of you as an afternoon of burn and turn sailing
Think about a floatation surf style vest
It does get easier and Just when you think you've got it wired it will give you a smacking and bring you back down to size
In summary
Just do it - Once you get the taste you'll never be able to satisfy the need for more waves
Choose the right spot and you should be ok.
Don't go somewhere with a shorebreak (waves dumping on the beach) this is the thing most likely to cause you to break gear early on.
If you have access to somewhere with a gently shelving, sandy beach with a small swell you will be fine.
Wherever you sail make sure you ask the locals for advice on safety. Rocks, currents etc.
You certainly don't need to be freestyling.
schoolofsurf.com.au/tips-tricks/intermediate/small-waves
This site has some good info although you don't need to be able to tack but it is a huge help if you can.
Also have a look at the wavesailing articles here http://boards.mpora.com/technique#Kd4eYUccx0LkuSpe.97
As above, Just go and do it and you won't look back. Just pick your days. If you have your water start that makes life easier in the waves, You just need to get faster with them. I do more tacks then gybes as I wish to keep my upwind position and I find I can change direction quicker with my tack then my gybe. X to X-off conditions are the easiest to learn in as you need less wind and the angle you sail down the line keeps the rig in an easy to manage position. Your close enough to Gerroa to drive down for the day or a weekend, It's the easiest place you'll find to learn wavesailing. Good people to sail with and no nasty surprises under the surface, You'll be riding waves before you know it.
Have fun, Keep us updated. 
And get an RDM mast - very important when getting into waves! SDM will break quite easily. not RDM.
Good luck! And yes, Gerroa definitely the good place to start. Cronulla doesn t have proper banks this year alas..
First priority is get your mast pointing out to sea when fall off in the waves otherwise you wont have one for very long.
Select to expand quoteP.C_simpson said..
First priority is get your mast pointing out to sea when fall off in the waves otherwise you wont have one for very long.
Sorry but I disagree.
The worst direction is pointing towards the beach, the second worst position is pointing out to sea. Either way, the force of the lip of the wave can be concentrated on one spot of the mast, breaking it. I lost a mast that way with it pointing out to sea, the lip came down snapping my mast like a twig.
By far the best way is to have the mast parallel (sideways) to the wave, spreading the force of the wave along the length of the mast. And if the wave picks up the gear, it will just roll with the wave (sideways) w/o any threat of poll vaulting, which is the other threat of have a mast pointing towards the beach, hence the worst direction.
I'd say one of the most important things is to never turn your back towards the waves while standing in the surf holding your stuff, gotta keep your eye on what's coming. And always point your board towards the waves before getting on it, you'll be able to control it much easier that way while waiting for the right time go.
Select to expand quoteMastbender said..P.C_simpson said..
First priority is get your mast pointing out to sea when fall off in the waves otherwise you wont have one for very long.
Sorry but I disagree.
The worst direction is pointing towards the beach, the second worst position is pointing out to sea. Either way, the force of the lip of the wave can be concentrated on one spot of the mast, breaking it. I lost a mast that way with it pointing out to sea, the lip came down snapping my mast like a twig.
By far the best way is to have the mast parallel (sideways) to the wave, spreading the force of the wave along the length of the mast. And if the wave picks up the gear, it will just roll with the wave (sideways) w/o any threat of poll vaulting, which is the other threat of have a mast pointing towards the beach, hence the worst direction.
I'd say one of the most important things is to never turn your back towards the waves while standing in the surf holding your stuff, gotta keep your eye on what's coming. And always point your board towards the waves before getting on it, you'll be able to control it much easier that way while waiting for the right time go.
Across the wave might be 'better' for the mast but it's absolute death for a sail, if it's in the wrong spot the wave will just shred it. If the surf is big the absolute safest thing you can do is point the mast straight out to sea and sink the tip, IE stand on it. It totally diminishes any chance even huge waves have to break your sail or mast.
Everything RE starting out people have said above is on point. The only thing I would add is that if you are not a confident swimmer I'd reconsider it unless you are somewhere like Gerroa in small waves. Often in waves, particularly when you are starting out, you may get separated from your gear and you need to be able to recover yourself to your gear asap. As said above sailing in waves is a lot more physically taxing that flat B/J water sailing
Maybe in your neck of the woods, but nowhere around mine, we all try to go sideways with our rigs, from ankle snappers to 2x mast high.
The most common way to rip a sail, that's still in newish condition, is to break the mast, or stick your knee (or any body part) thru it.
Old sails can rip if you look at them cross-eyed.
Having just taken the step that you are looking at doing.
- Find some sailors to go the beach with.
- Ask questions
- Listen to any advice. If they say its not a good day for a learner. Ask why and don't go out. Sit and watch you will still learn about what is going on.
- Play safe. You don't have to catch a heap of waves to have fun.
- Go hard. Better off being payed out for getting nailed by the lip than straightening out.
- Make sure you gear is in tip-top condition. I have manage to break some good quality gear of late in fairly tame conditions so its just a matter of how it lands.
Have fun
