I'm an intermediate sailor, weigh 85Kg and normally sail a 165 lt Super lightwind or a 125Lt Rocket. It was blowing 25kts on the weekend and a "mate" recommeded I try his 95lt wave board.

I then spent 40 minutes getting washed down the river not being able to water start it and then dragging the kit and myself 800 meters back up the river to attempt to get back across. I got, shall we say, a little bit frustrated. This is what happened next.

Severe language warning. No, seriously, turn off sound at 6.20-6.40!


.be

Classic. But I was a bit disappointed. When you flipped the rig I thought you'd sail across again...

I did. It was only slighty less pathetic :(

I did figure out I had to get more into the middle of the board and point it downwind more. But I immediately got a respect boost for all you guys that can sail small boards. It's a whole other level.

Lol - it happens.

Stick with it - you're close . Once you're sailing small boards its a whole new world.

When you're water starting it looks like you've got your feet on the windward rail. With both on there (as you experienced) you'll very regularly just get pushed along sideways down wind - until there's a big enough gust of wind to lift you.

As you identified your back leg needs to get up onto the center line of the board in between the front & back straps, and you need to sheet in and 'step up'. Its only in very strong winds where you can just lie there and get pulled up.

Following are screen shots from Tricktionary - it looks like you're missing these 2 steps.

Do you have another friend that has a board in between 165 and 95

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siny said..
Do you have another friend that has a board in between 165 and 95

I have a 125 lt board. It's just a tad too big when the wind gets up over 25 kts

Looks like a good spot gregob. So often seems to be wind in Coffs and not down here. Will have to head up and check it out sometime. Is that a public access road from the main road to the river?

Don't despair, it is just foot positioning (one foot at a time too as above) and pulling down on boom
Next session you will get it.

Classic. We've all been there. I thought once you got up and going at about 5 minutes you'd crank that sail a few times and get planing. You're really close man. You won't believe the rush when you get that board moving. Can I suggest a 105 instead of a 95, totally different feel. You'll still have a small board under you but so much more controllable, with all the speed and jumpability. The 96 is just a step too far from a 120+ltr board.

Nice work. Had a good laugh though, brought back memories.

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needsalt said..
Looks like a good spot gregob. So often seems to be wind in Coffs and not down here. Will have to head up and check it out sometime. Is that a public access road from the main road to the river?

More like a public access goat track.

Spot works good in a north easter and you can park and rig on grass 20 mts from the water. Pity it's only 250-300 mt run depending on tide and angle.

Its difficult sailing in a river. The tides are very strong and the runs are shot. Its different to sailing in a bay or a lake.

lol....totally been there. haha i can fully understand the frustration, even the fear of never getting back. glad I'm past that.
you will get there.

I see your problem, your boom is upside-down.

At 110kegs I was sailing on a lake with a couple of mates when the wind picked up to around 35kts. I was already on what was my smallest board and sail (109lt - 5.6 sail) when I was smacked down. Another mate was next to me with his 80lt and 3.7m sail trying to hold the sail under water and asked if I wanted a go..."Hell Yeah!"

I waterstarted and was on the plane before I knew it! I sailed across the lake, fluked a gybe and sped back to where he was waiting with my gear. Apart from the low boom, it felt effortless.

I'd love to sail with that size gear every time, and possibly could have the last 2 days.

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gregob said...

needsalt said..
Looks like a good spot gregob. So often seems to be wind in Coffs and not down here. Will have to head up and check it out sometime. Is that a public access road from the main road to the river?

More like a public access goat track.

Spot works good in a north easter and you can park and rig on grass 20 mts from the water. Pity it's only 250-300 mt run depending on tide and angle.

Thanks gregob. Sounds good. Similar short runs in the river here but wind looks much cleaner there. Short runs are good for gybe practice anyway And so often seems like more wind up there. Hope to catch you there sometime

OMG, that was painful to watch. We've all been there, so could feel every ounce of your frustration.

But.......you are almost there! A couple of times I thought you were about to take off on a screaming reach, but didn't quite get it right. You just needed to make a couple of minor adjustments. Keep it up, you'll get it right in a couple of sessions and never look back.