Hi All,
I've been SUP'ing for ~6 months now (first time I do any "water sports") and I love it.
I have a Fanatic FLY 11'0" SUP and I'm very comfortable with it.
I've recently purchased a used rig + a used Starboard START board for a bargain price.

My question is:
I can use the Fanatic+Rig (see e.g. attached mast), or the Starboard Windsurf board+Rig, to try and learn windsurfing.

The Starboard START is pretty heavy/cumbersome to "schlep around", and I doubt I'll use it much after initial training. But it does seem to have all the features like daggerboard, etc.

Will it make sense to start learning by trying the Fly SUP, or is this ridiculous - I should train/learn on the START, then move with experience to the WindSUp setup?
thanks!

Hi,

is the SUP in your first picture, the white board? If so learn to windsurf on the Starboard Start. Once you have mastered skills such as sailing out and back to your starting location and sailing in stronger winds, you can start to sail your SUP.

I agree with moby,

The sup would be ok to learn on but the start is better. You have got it so you may as well use it.

Look forward to getting the sup and sail in the waves. It loads of fun!

^^+1, the start will be easier because it is wider and also has a retractable centreboard which you can drop down, this will enable you to get upwind much easier and therefore get back to where you started from, most learners struggle to get back where they started from on a sup the first few times

Definitely the Start! They are a great board to learn windsurfing on and although the Fly 'can' be used with a rig, it's not a purpose-designed windsurf board like the Start is.

Leave the straps where they are for a while (so you don't trip over them), and once you start to get the hang of it - move them outwards and begin to put your feet in them - using a harness.

Thanks guys for all the tips, I will start with the Start ha ha.

One question - anyone know of a video/set of pics explaining really well (for the slow amongst us..) how to properly tighten the sail on the mast? I mean the 3 groove pulley thing at the bottom, and then the side of the sail to the boom thing. The guy who sold me the kit did it rather quickly, I get the general hang of it but I want to be able to practice and get it perfect.
thanks

How to thread ?Streamline? Pulley

Start with thread down => for my old ?homegrown? extension this means pulley on the right

Thread up to sail pulley closest to mast ? up the bottom and out the top
Obviously thread up on that pulley
Thread down middle extension pulley ? at the mast side - from inside out
Thread up outside that extension pulley ? obviously
Thread to outside sail pulley @ the top side - top down
From top of sail pulley to outside of bottom extension pulley. - outside in
Now up to middle sail pulley from bottom up
And lastly up through the cleat .
Ideally there is NO crossover of lines...
There may be some slight crossover on this extension since the start of the cord should actually be up higher?.



If your mast base has the "wheels" in the other orientation, it is a simple back n forth - with NO crossover of lines...

Thanks Joe!
I'll try it and share a photo in the coming days.

Select to expand quote

joe windsurf said...
How to thread ?Streamline? Pulley

Start with thread down => for my old ?homegrown? extension this means pulley on the right

Thread up to sail pulley closest to mast ? up the bottom and out the top
Obviously thread up on that pulley
Thread down middle extension pulley ? at the mast side - from inside out
Thread up outside that extension pulley ? obviously
Thread to outside sail pulley @ the top side - top down
From top of sail pulley to outside of bottom extension pulley. - outside in
Now up to middle sail pulley from bottom up
And lastly up through the cleat .
Ideally there is NO crossover of lines...
There may be some slight crossover on this extension since the start of the cord should actually be up higher?.



If your mast base has the "wheels" in the other orientation, it is a simple back n forth - with NO crossover of lines...

...that had me in stitches.

You'll appreciate the centreboard of the Start when you're learning. Fewer "walks of shame" from getting dragged downwind.

If you have access to it: SB makes (from Severne) a SUP- and beginner-oriented rig called the Superlight.
Comes in 2 sizes. Made of light Dacron, amazing lightness.
In fact, the bag that contains it is heavier than the sail itself, with battens.
I've used it for teaching, makes a HUGE diff so that it's light.
Also sailable for the fun of it up to about 15-16 knots.
It's difficult to waterstart, but of course if you're there, then you need a more advanced rig anyways.
Mast is 430 with a long extension.

'luck.
(no, I'm not on the payroll, just a user of said product.)