G'day guys,my first post in sup forum,however have enjoyed reading it alot over the last year .Would love some advice on what size board and or make to get for downwinding.I am 6' and 90kg, wrong side of 50,surfed all my life, and have been supping in the surf for about a year on a trigger bros 'ecolite' 10'x31".Just ordered a JP pro surf 9'6" for surfing ,but would like to get into downwinding as well. Will need to be 2nd hand as theres not much left in the wallet after the JP. Intend to try downwinding bottom end of Port Phillip.

At your height and weight a 14 footer with a bit of rocker is the go for downwinding in PPB. DJ will tell you 14' Naish Glide and he'd be right, 14 x 27.5" Fanatic Falcon would suit, 27" Starbie Ace but they can be a bit technical and not to everyone's taste. Another awesome board for bay DW is the 14x 29 " Walk on Water GSR.

Thanks for the reply Human , I see DJ likes the 12' 6" but from what your saying I presume the 14" is more stable for a beginner

The 12'6 obviously works, but I think a 14 is better for the bay & DWing in general. You should also consider a Coreban Dart. Very stable in all conditions.

thanks PaulVee

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sudsy said..

Thanks for the reply Human , I see DJ likes the 12' 6" but from what your saying I presume the 14" is more stable for a beginner

Nah, Not to speak for the man but DJ would always steer you towards a 14 with a bit of rocker for DW on Port Phillip (unless you were really small, which you're not) . 14s fit just about right in the pitchy, short-period swell typical of the bay and generally offer better glide than a 12'6. Also, with a couple of exceptions bigger boards like 17s don't work too well on PPB, they tend to be too long to sit nicely between peaks.

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HumanCartoon said..

sudsy said..

Thanks for the reply Human , I see DJ likes the 12' 6" but from what your saying I presume the 14" is more stable for a beginner

Nah, Not to speak for the man but DJ would always steer you towards a 14 with a bit of rocker for DW on Port Phillip (unless you were really small, which you're not) . 14s fit just about right in the pitchy, short-period swell typical of the bay and generally offer better glide than a 12'6. Also, with a couple of exceptions bigger boards like 17s don't work too well on PPB, they tend to be too long to sit nicely between peaks.

I did my first down wind on a 14 glide ( the one with the prone nose) and as Human Cartoon said i felt good in short swell period like on the lake next my home where a strong winds blew that afternoon . I succeed gliding on really small bumps . For my first go, can be 14' the good choice. I'm 75kg and 1,76m; Looking like lake's yeti

Up wind is a real fight against chop wind

Definatly a 14'er.. Glide.. Allstar.. Falcon.. NSP/DC.. Dart.. JP.. and Walk on Water all are good DW boards.

Lots to choose from these days.. I think the Glide is the cheapest.. and probably the best..

You should join us on some DW'ers and demo some boards..

Thanks for the replies everyone, reckon I might take you up on that offer DJ . Do you know of any good runs down on the peninsula ?

Oh and thanks for videos .It was your vids DJ that got me interested in downwinding

Sudsy,
As a contrast (or confirmation of) HC & DJ's responses, I am 5'4" & 73kg's. I downwind my 12 6 x 28 Naish Javelin. I find it fine for my size, but I could see a 12 6 being wrong for your size.
The logistics of a 12' 6" board compared to a 14' board when it's blowing the bags and you're my size is a consideration too.
The Jav steers by the chines a bit, but at my size I enjoy the liveliness of a 12 6 board.
I downwinded a new Naish 14 recently, and whilst it holds the runners longer and was an easier ride, I was surprised by how much "heavier" it was for me to paddle between runners.
Again this is probably a "what size fits" issue, and perhaps it was a bit wide for me.

Like you I was captivated by DJ's vids, so I join in whenever I can (skive off work).
One thing I will say, that you will appreciate, and I'll say it for the benefit of any newbies considering downwinders, is that after spending a lifetime on the bay sailing, I realised very quickly on my first downwinder how close to trouble you are.
Drop your paddle on a spill and you can quickly be up the proverbial creek without one, or get blown off course with only a tiny 7" paddle to get you back into shore against 30+ knots, you're still up the same creek.
So I'd advise doing a couple of short, close to shore d/w's to get the feel for it. Then when you've got a feel for it, keep en eye out for a northerly & a famous DJ d/w.

Thanks for your input Helmy, reckon I'll go with 14' .am also a long time sailor so I appreciate your points re Saftey ect for downwinders , do people use leashes for thieir paddles . Also want to get a handle on some decent runs for lower peninsula or Westernport am thinking of things like Flinders to Shoreham on a SW or Sorrento to Rosebud on a Westerly .reckon the best start would be to go with DJ and crew to get an idea of it all

Sudsy,
Funny you ask that about paddle leashes...the first proper d/w I did was with DJ's group and it was blowing 35+knots.
The first thing I thought after we'd rounded St.Kila breakwater was "F***, I'd better hold onto this paddle...!!!" It was being blown right out of my hand.
The sudden realisation of no sails and just a pissy 7" blade quickly hit home.
On my second fall I did actually let go of the paddle - the board had flipped so first sailing reaction was to right the board. Forgot about the paddle...

So you end up with your eyes at water level looking for a black paddle in the dark water...hopefully with your contact lenses still intact...
I've wondered about a 2nd leash running between your legs onto the paddle, but I could see a tangle happening when you fall off, and then snapping the shaft anyway...Murphy's Law, you know...
I've since put a couple of bands of fluro yellow stickyback around the top and bottom of my paddle (about 4" long of each) in some vague attempt to be able to see my paddle if I drop it.
Hasn't been a problem since, but then again you don't get problems when the water's warm and the sun's out...!
Ask me in winter after DJ taunts me into a winter d/w!

I'm sure there would be some good runs on westernport, but tide could be an issue. Not sure if an out-going tide in a s/w could be a problem once you get a bit offshore (remember - no sails, just a 7" blade...)
Pt Leo to Merricks could be a better bet for a couple of training runs (or vice versa in a northerly).
Start with easy ones, and don't underestimate how vulnerable you're going to feel out there with only a tiny blade as your engine.

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sudsy said..

Thanks for your input Helmy, reckon I'll go with 14' .am also a long time sailor so I appreciate your points re Saftey ect for downwinders , do people use leashes for thieir paddles . Also want to get a handle on some decent runs for lower peninsula or Westernport am thinking of things like Flinders to Shoreham on a SW or Sorrento to Rosebud on a Westerly .reckon the best start would be to go with DJ and crew to get an idea of it all

No one uses a paddle leash unless you're sup'ing fast flowing water like in white water rapids in rivers..

If you do fall and let go of your paddle.. Forget the paddle and get back on your board asap.. Then kneel paddle your board to your paddle.

I always try and hang on to mine.. see the end of this vid..

Sorry for hijack but Helmy are you still sailing that Musto in your pic? how are they?

Hey Chuck.
No I sold the Musto after about 4 years of sailing it- I was too small, too old, and neither of those shortcomings was ever going to change unfortunately.
Great boat to sail, but bloody hard to race. You've got main, wire, racks and kite to contend with.
Especially hard if you're competition is 20 years younger and 20" taller.
After sailing skiff Moths and 14's for the previous 25 years it was the hardest boat I have sailed.
At 50+ I sometimes wondered whether I should be out there at all - the heart rate used to get pretty alarming!
In terms of "product", it's a great product. Nothing breaks, there's only a few fittings, the kites are small so they don't wear out too quick, and they're cheap.
Used to leave it rigged at the YC without any appreciable deterioration.
In fact the whole package has been extremely well thought out & executed.
In terms of pace they're faster than a Sharpie, B14, 29er.
Awesome rides downhill - until you have to gybe it or get the kite down...

Sorry all for getting a bit frothy about skiff sailing...

Thanks for further input DJ and Helmy , Dont worry Im not planning any solo hellman stuff yet , dont even own a downwinder yet , although i wonder how my 10footer would go ,you would imagine just about anything would go downhill if you could stay on it . I reckon Westernport with sw and incoming tide and a bit of swell would be interesting ,has anyone out there tried it ?

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sudsy said...
Thanks for further input DJ and Helmy , Dont worry Im not planning any solo hellman stuff yet , dont even own a downwinder yet , although i wonder how my 10footer would go ,you would imagine just about anything would go downhill if you could stay on it . I reckon Westernport with sw and incoming tide and a bit of swell would be interesting ,has anyone out there tried it ?

Re a 10'er on a downwinder..

That would be like asking some serious mountain bikers if your folding scooter would be ok to use on a serious mountain bike ride.. Don't mean to be rude but don't even think about it..

Westernport can be great.. Don't worry about the tides or the swell.. You just need the wind.. and a board that's at least 12'6" or preferably 14'..

No worries I've stopped thinking about it

This is going back.. Way back.. and one of my first vids.

It's one of our first Flinders to Point Leo DW runs.

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Helmy said..

Hey Chuck.
No I sold the Musto after about 4 years of sailing it- I was too small, too old, and neither of those shortcomings was ever going to change unfortunately.
Great boat to sail, but bloody hard to race. You've got main, wire, racks and kite to contend with.
Especially hard if you're competition is 20 years younger and 20" taller.
After sailing skiff Moths and 14's for the previous 25 years it was the hardest boat I have sailed.
At 50+ I sometimes wondered whether I should be out there at all - the heart rate used to get pretty alarming!
In terms of "product", it's a great product. Nothing breaks, there's only a few fittings, the kites are small so they don't wear out too quick, and they're cheap.
Used to leave it rigged at the YC without any appreciable deterioration.
In fact the whole package has been extremely well thought out & executed.
In terms of pace they're faster than a Sharpie, B14, 29er.
Awesome rides downhill - until you have to gybe it or get the kite down...

Sorry all for getting a bit frothy about skiff sailing...

I've been looking at one for a while... but if i keep collecting all these other toys (just started sup now looking into a downwind myself) then i think its out...

Thanks for the vid DJ , living on the peninsula , I think sth westers are going to suit me just fine .