One Design Rig?

Hello Everyone

First post here, but I have been following for a little while.

As some people do, I am planning on making a comeback to windsurfing after a 20 year retirement. I started (and stopped when I moved out of home) sailing a 'Bic Funboard' that my dad brought home one day, which I still refer to as one of the best days of my life - I was 14 at the time. I now have three children and have oh so fond memories of being towed through the water by my dad, and would love to teach my kids the joys of windsurfing.

I have boon trawling through EBay, and have almost bought a couple of cheap old things, but for whatever reason have not committed.

Last weekend, a friend of mine told me that she has an old 'One Design' under her house that she used to sail in state titles etc, and that I was welcome to use it. The problem is, there is no sail, so hence lies my questions:

1. Does anyone have/know of any sails that would suit a 'One Design' setup circa '92? I don't have a lot of money to spend, but would love to keep the sail true to the original board. From the research that I have done, the 'Wally' looks like a classic, and will suit my (and my families) needs well.

2. Can I buy any brand sail on EBay and use it successfully with the 'One Design'?

To place this in context, we live in the Blue Mountains, which does not present many sailing opportunities, BUT we do do regular trips to 7 Mile and Kioloa. I cant spend another summer down there without a means of getting on the water!

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Dan

As Doug says, One Design sails are still available from Windgenuity - $475 last time I looked.

The Barracouta kid's rigs (4.5m is the best size) work brilliantly on One Designs. They are extremely light (1.5kg) and powerful - Jess Crisp has been known to beat former Olympians who are using full-size rigs!

I've sailed a One Design on Wentworth Falls lake, just for the hell of it. It wasn't too bad at all - back in the '60s and '70s there was quite a good sailing club there, believe it or not, and in old mags I have pics of regattas with 40+ boats racing.

New sails & parts are available from web@windgenuity.com.au
www.windgenuity.com.au/?option=com_content&view=article&id=220&Itemid=190
Windgenuity might also have some older 'production rejects' that they might sell off at a reasonable price. Alternatively you could place a 'WANTED' advert in Seabreeze's Buy & Sell; include your mast & boom lengths to help ensure a good match.

Dan, I have a 6.5 sail in good shape, old style with tight leach, it fits on any 460 mast, one piece fiberglass or new carbon ones. You can have it for free , just send me a message, I live in Guildford south of Parramatta.
For your other question yes, you can use new style sails with longboards, they are easier to sail in gusty winds, but you will have to buy the correct mast.

I have just used a modern 4m2 sail with a 1 piece mast on my old Wayler (12ft) perfectly fine, was a bit tight to down haul but sailed nicely. Found it easier to tack and gybe with the modern sail on the old Wayler but about the same in a straight line as the old sails. That was on choppy water up to half metre swell.

Hold on tight though as using the modern sails do tend to catch the wind a lot easier. Took a bit to get used to but enjoyed the session more with the modern on.

If you come to Brisbane I would love to catch up for a sail.

hi Dan, i may be stating the obvious here; have you tried rigging the sail on your mast and boom? might be worth giving it a trial run before you drive hours to lake mac.

I was told some advice a few weeks ago to make sure you out-haul before down-haul. I found it did help to set the sail up correctly. Good luck and have fun on the weekend

In the old days, the sayin' went: out-down-out-down.

That is, start with the outhaul, fair but not too tight. This gives a one-piece mast the initial bend.
Then down fairly tight, using a loop for leverage. Then outhaul again - final real hard pull.

Finally, downhaul again, as the last outhaul makes the mast "shorter", which allows for more downhaul.

Have fun anyhow !