Hello all,
The short version: Are any newbies / returnies / intermediates / anyone at all interested in a casual chat on equipment and rigging techniques at Pelican Point this Wednesday evening?
Have you just bought new or secondhand equipment? Thinking about buying kit? Dusting the cobwebs off the old stuff and could use a few pointers about how it all goes together? Could you use a little help with it?
If so, bring your kit down, look for the pale yellow VW Kombi or the black-and-purple sails and come and say hello. I should be there from 5pm-7pm.
Cheers,
Ian
PS - I could probably use some help with the bigger 6.5+ sails and slalom boards and some of the really old equipment, so if any of the slalom guys are keen to lend a hand please let me know.
Long version:
Over the last month, I've seen loads of people on the water at Pelican Point who are pretty new into the sport.
Some old, some young, some with new kit, some with old.
There seems to be a lot of people either taking up windsurfing or coming back to the sport after a long break which is absolutely brilliant news.
What I'm also seeing is a lot of people on the water with new rigs that could be rigged a lot better, and a lot of very old equipment that's been pulled out of the garage for the first time in ages.
Also seeing loads of posts on Seabreeze about equipment when returning to windsurfing.
I've been talking to loads of newbies / returnies at Peli and helping them rig or offering advice, but I know (from talking to them) that a lot of people are a little wary about approaching more experienced sailors and asking for help, or they feel like people are watching them and critiquing their sailing so they feel intimidated (nothing could be further from the truth).
This isn't about kit snobbery or getting people to buy the latest and greatest - it's just about trying to bring these guys and girls into the fold and help them get out and about a bit more and have more fun and hopefully progress and stay in the sport.
The reason I've chosen Wednesday is I'm hoping to maybe tie it up with a couple of the slalom crew who can offer advice on areas I don't have so much knowledge in (i.e. slalom equipment, tie-on booms, etc).
Cheers!
Ian
PS - I'm not affiliated with any shop or school and I'm not offering lessons (there are some excellent schools in Perth for that, including one based at Peli Point), although I may offer an opinion on technique for something if asked.
PPS - if anyone knows Bryce and his daughter, please let them know about this.
Thumbs Up and Congrats.
Its good to see someone willing to help out newbies. I have not long been in the sport myself, and have had the privileged of helping out a couple of newbies with a vintage BIC Dufour.
I am a bit of a young age vintage sailor who has been trying to set up a place where anyone with little to no experience is welcome to sail. we dont want anything in return, There is now about 6-8 of us new sailors and we just want to help people get on the water and meet like minded people.
Good on ya for giving these people a chance to learn more about their gear and progression into the sport.
Good onya mate.
I know there are a lot of people in the sport that are only too happy to help out if asked, but to start an initiative like this is a ripper.
Nice work Flicky!
I'll be down there doing some slalom racing, and am happy to pass on what ive learnt thus far (Im far from being an expert, but if youre starting out I'll certainly help out with beginner rigging tips, cambered sails and like wise with sailing....) 
I'll be down as long as im not working. I've got cambered sails but find it hard to get them rigged. im looking forward to the help
Awesome! Thanks for the support everyone.
Subsonic - I'll be glad of your help. Thank you mate.
Jas71 - Cambered sails are not my area of expertise, but between Subsonic and I I'm sure we can either help or we'll know someone in the slalom crew who can. Come on down - it'll be great to meet you!
Deejay - goodonya mate. Keep up the good work!
Sometimes the people who need the most help are those at the very fringes of the sport who are not sure if this is going to be good for them / or even if they're good enough to come along.
This is for everyone. If you know someone who is loitering on the fringes of this brilliant sport, please ask / beg / coerce them to come down and say hello. Maybe they're not on seabreeze. Maybe they're not even a windsurfer yet. If you know someone who might be interested, please ask them to come down and say hello.
Cheers!
Ian
The wind forecast is looking like rubbish for wed 
It's easy enough for me to still show up though, as I generally drive past Peli point on my way home (up the road) so if people are still keen, I'll be there sometime around 5pm regardless of the wind speed. I drive a white hyundai iload with a little starboard man on the front
Luke
Pretty average conditions resulted in not a lot of action this evening at Peli, but all was not lost.
A late-90's sail with not enough downhaul and the boom waaaay too low was soon spotted and sorted out, much to the owner's delight - "Maaaaate - that's way better!".
We also got to see a board-fixing masterclass from Adam the Instructor. Great to watch a pro in action performing millimetre perfect open-board surgery with a set of car keys and some solarex 
I'll be back next Wednesday (and probably over the weekend as well). Come and say hello.
Funny you should bring this topic up. I've come back to the sport last season after a 10 year break and talked to a few others in the same boat recently. Peli point might be the common denominator or is it a phase the sport is going through? I've got some old gear and also some new stuff and loving both though must say like the light feel of new sails and RDM/boom. A great atmosphere down on the river and enjoying keeping fit while having fun. Helps having some decent wind this year too. Getting the skill levels up to go back off the coast but the river is good for now and handy (and shark-free!). Unfortunately can't make Wednesday nights.
