Apart from the occasional windsurf I have not sailed much since 1998.

This summer I have decided to get back into it. I took stock of my gear. I have a 1996 Bombora 270, a Bic Saxo 256, Sailworks Quadro 6.0 and Revos 5.0 and 4.4, both 1997 models. I had some 95 KA race sails but they were chewed up by rats when stored under my house.

Anyway a few questions. I now live in Sydney in a unit. Not much storage options so no long board but is there any club or place in Sydney where a longboard like a wally can be stored?

If I keep my gear ontop of my car overnight in an unsecured parking space, whats the best way to secure it? I am thinking some sort of bike chain going through something or other. I would have the mast and sail and gear inside the car, a Magna sedan. The board and boom would be on the roof racks.

I have put on about 10kgs since 1998 and weigh about 75kgs. The Bombora is no longer a light wind board for me. I have been out a few times this year and had fun however I am looking at a bigger board. I looked at a Mistral Screamer which is a 120 litre board or something like that. Its an 06 model and the shop wants $1500 for it. I'd prefer to have one board for 90% of my sailing which will be in the afternoon seabreezes and the occasional southerly. Are Mistral still nice boards?

I have bought a 2nd hand Neil Pryde RS 6.7 sail. Not sure of the year, perhaps a 2003 model and matching boom and mast. Would the Screamer be a good combo for this rig? Initially I will just sail on flat enclosed water to build up my skills, confidence and fitness. I was into wavesailing a bit but probably won't be going off beachbreaks anymore.

Anyway this is a great forum for windsurfing in Australia and these wide boards look weird

Hi MobyDisc, I recently got back into windsurfing. I bought a *board ST93 - unbelievably it fits inside my commodore sedan. Most new boards are around 240cm length and can squeeze into a medium/large sedan depending on the board's width. Give it a go and see.

It is risky keeping a board on racks outside overnight anywhere. There are products like DocksLocks that attach to the mast track pin and then use a padlocked cable, as well as other cable devices that appear fairly good, however I wouldn't presume any of them will prevent wire/bolt cutters. Any chance of changing your car for a wagon. Mind you anyone really intent on getting a board would break into the car anyway.

Cheers

I live on a very busy street and the Wally gets left on the roof for weeks on end. Not so much because it's hard to get off (although it's 21kg, it's so simple I find it easier to unpack than slalom gear) but because with slalom boards, waveboards, Raceboards, my race Wally, training Wally, her race and training Wally, the kid's Wallys, we're running out of space.

Sure, maybe some day I'll lose it....it cost a couple of hundreds bucks. Hulls aren't all that hard to find secondhand, it's a decent rig that is the valuable bit (unless you want to buy new) and as the whole rig is just one mast, one sail and one boom it is easy to store.

Dobroyd Aquatic Club has storage, but there is a waiting list and you have to be an active member to get onto it. With up to 30 or more boards racing each week (about half One Designs, half Raceboards, not counting the dozen Juniors), there is high demand.

St George Sailing Club is almost certainly your best bet, if you are down Botany Bay way. They have a large storage area and a small board fleet, are interested in reviving the board fleet, and could probably find a corner.

Thanks for the input.

Yeah a wally is probably a thief repelant like my car. Too heavy for the average druggo to lift off the car. Perhaps I might trade the sedan in for a Magna wagon. They are pretty cheap cars to buy so what I lose in the sale I make in the purchase.

I live in Hornsby so I don't really want to travel through the city to go for a sail. I'll probably go Pittwater initially.

Any input on the Mistral? I am not familiar with Star boards. Are they available in NSW? I find it incredible a board thats 240cms long is an alround board.

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Mobydisc said...

Thanks for the input.

I live in Hornsby so I don't really want to travel through the city to go for a sail. I'll probably go Pittwater initially.

St George is prob a good option as Chris249 says.

Botany is a great place to sail. Good clean open water, good wind etc
You go UNDER the city to get there.
I live at Lindfield & it's only 25 mins to Kyeemagh via tunnel & airport expressway - much quicker & easier than Pittwater.

See ya on the water

Yeah I sailed at Botany Bay earlier this year, probably around March or April. It was a pretty full on southerly. I went out on my Bombora and my 4.4m sail. I was out for about an hour before I had enough. Too many falls in gybes wore me out. The water was pretty choppy and rough. Sad thing was I used to love these conditions and sailed all day around Windang in southerlies.

I have almost decided on what board to buy. A Tabou Rocket 140. I figure this bigger volume board will give me more sailing days this summer and by winter next year I will be prepared to buy a good shorter board.

I bought some gear. A Tabou 140 with at 46cm fin! Also a Neil Pryde rig off eBay. The rig is a RX2 6.6 sail, a 100% carbon 460 mast and a carbon NP boom. All up it cost me $2000.

Took it out on Sunday in Sydney, a fairly light nor easter seabreeze. Quite difficult rigging the sail with the camber inducers. Besides that it was fun. The board is so easy to sail. Naturally its going to be a barge when it gets over 20 knots. However for those lighter days its great. The sail is excellent, plenty of power on a day others were used 7.5s or 8s.

There is a solution to securely storing gear on roofracks, the SPT lockable straps as reviewed here.

http://yakabout.com.au/home/content/view/240/42/

I ordered a set of 4 meter straps.

deep down you know the answer....KITE

Kite?

Yes I used to play with kites when I was a kid but I try to minimise childish activities as I am now an adult.

Screamer... Did someone say screamer.

When I was going from my Go board (160l) to a smaller board, I had some lessons and used a 130l Screamer. Hell it was small and wobbly. The following day I forced myself to go down a size to a 120l. Even wobblier, but good fun.

The following week I brought a 105l Screamer (it would be a 2005 I think). Why not push myself. That was 3-years ago and I still have it. What a great board. Stable, manouverable and great balance. It took no time to feel 'normal' and I soon sold the Go.

I now have an 84l Exercet Cross, but I only use it occasionaly, as I need good consistant wind to have fun on it.

I am 75kg as well.

Price sounds a bit rich though, unless it is 'new'. Your prices are probably a little high over there though.

Yeah Screamers are good boards.

However because of the generally lighter winds in Sydney compared to Perth I feel having a bigger 140L board will always be handy, especially as my weight has gone up and fitness and technique have declined over the last few years.

The Tabou was perfect for the breeze last sunday where it was a bit gusty and not too strong.

As I get back into it more I will replace my Bombora 270 with something like the Screamer, something thats good in choppy water when the Tabou 140 would be too much of a barge.

Hey Moby, I was out there with you on Sunday! It was my first sail this season. I was in your position two years ago. I think you're headed down the right track. You've got your light wind board, and as soon as the NE starts to kick in strong, you'll be looking for a small board. Most guys will agree it is desirable to have 2 boards to sail Sydney. I guess you'd want something about 40 litres smaller than what you've got.

I weigh 65kg, and I got a Tabou 105 Rocket as my light wind board, and a JP 78 FSW as my high wind board. Sails from 4.3m to 7.4m. This set-up is perfect for me on Botany Bay from 12kt NE to 40kt Southerlies.

Regards,
Harrow.