Speaking to an old yacht skipper the other day, he said he had no interest in windsurfing because he likes to travel places, not go backwards and forwards all day. Personally I don't mind just windsurfing for the joy of it, but kind of agree with him to some extent.

How far have people travelled? Imagine blasting 100 km down the coast on a downwind day, or some out-and-return island hopping. Obviously you want rock solid equipment and skills. With 2 or 3 people, some water and food in a camelbak, a bouyancy vest and maybe a satellite beacon in case things go really bad, wouldn't it be an awesome way to spend a day?

Anyone have experience with this sort of thing? Would it be possible to rig a small container on the deck in front of the mast for sleeping bag, food, etc.

(I'm just learning so won't be personally going XC anytime soon)

i remember reading years ago laird and a few other guys sailed to one of the outlying hawaian islands. (before portable gps) It blew me away because it was 90 nautical miles and they did it in a bit over 3 hours. said they averaged 30 knots. reckoned they used the angle of the wind and clouds to navigate, then the place was quite high so it held clouds and they could eventually see the mountain.

Guy Cribb did 500 km downwinders with his guests in Brazil. Look up his Facebook page.

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CotsZPqI said..
Speaking to an old yacht skipper the other day, he said he had no interest in windsurfing because he likes to travel places, not go backwards and forwards all day. Personally I don't mind just windsurfing for the joy of it, but kind of agree with him to some extent.

How far have people travelled? Imagine blasting 100 km down the coast on a downwind day, or some out-and-return island hopping. Obviously you want rock solid equipment and skills. With 2 or 3 people, some water and food in a camelbak, a bouyancy vest and maybe a satellite beacon in case things go really bad, wouldn't it be an awesome way to spend a day?

Anyone have experience with this sort of thing? Would it be possible to rig a small container on the deck in front of the mast for sleeping bag, food, etc.

(I'm just learning so won't be personally going XC anytime soon)

lots of years ago a guy attempted to sail from townsville to cairns,never got there and never seen his board or him again.you would only do it with a support crew .

Ian Young did 1300-ish km from Perth to Exmouth with his kite. Some other guys did a trip north dragging a sled behind them with gear.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/kitesurfing-from-Perth-to-the-North-West-Cape?page=1

I think kites might be more suited to adventures due to larger wind range, better downwind and upwind ability. Although probably prefer to be on a large volume windsurfer if the wind dies than a kite drifting around in the water.

Arnaud DeRosnay sailed the Bering Strait in '72.
135km from Alaska to Siberia.
Rotto to Fremantle is sailed on occasions too

If you're inclined to do some travelling, get a bigger board (JP Explorer etc..)
I found on Kayaking or Canoe trips using the 20L screw top drums and lined with bags keeps your gear dry.
Should be able to rig up or install screw inserts and tie down points forward of the nose.
Personally i would try this out on an inlet or river system before doing ocean exploring.
Otherwise organise a ground crew to drive the distances between each stop and setup and carry the bulky equipment.

Nothing wrong with filling up the camel backs, chucking on a pfd, gps locator and flares and heading for a daytrip on the small blasting gear. Just tell someone where you're going first!

www.anacondastores.com/camping-hiking/hydration/water-purification-storage

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Jono77 said..
Ian Young did 1300-ish km from Perth to Exmouth with his kite. ..
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/kitesurfing-from-Perth-to-the-North-West-Cape?page=1

Holy **** that was an awesome read, what a legend!

Had mention years ago on Seabreeze the HIHO windsurfing adventure they have in the BVI or Caribbean.

Would cost a bit but a lot of cross island sailing over 9 days.

Read about a guy that sailed around England/Scotland some time ago. On a much smaller scale a guy at the local windsurfing club sailed around the island of Mors (Danish island in the fiord Limfjorden - 367 square kilometers). Quite a distance on a 90l slalom board/6,4 race sail combo on a day where winds where gusting to over 30 knots. We have a club outing that attempt to do this each year (single day) - however he is the first to have made it. Myself have only completed 1/3 - but still logged about 120 km's on the GPS (upwind sailing mostly).

Never knew Ian young did that. Thats quiet a distance even to drive. Well done!.biggest l have done is pinno to ocean reef .was going to tack back but gave up.

There was a thread a couple of years ago two blokes I think from Canberra made special cruising boards that could store gear in them &they did a island run sailing island to island from one place to another i think greek islands but i could be wrong .
I thought it was awesome

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actiomax said..
There was a thread a couple of years ago two blokes I think from Canberra made special cruising boards that could store gear in ....

The trip was done in fiji, it's a pity that the post was cut short and we don't know how it ended...

And Guy Cribb also did it by himself in Brazil, 500 kms in 1 day !

Back in the late 80s a group of three windsurfed around Tasmania.
They had a support crew and zip down sails !!.
A video was produced , the story was re run on abc a few years ago.

There was a race across the North Atlantic Ocean years ago. Not quite dodging icebergs but a lot colder than anywhere in Australia

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/178606.stm

I read of an Australian girl who attempted to sail across Bass Strait. Did not get there, so it shows that cold water and ocean has its limits. I have also read about a guy who sailed from Gilbraltar to North Africa and back. Others may be able to fill in the details of these two adventures.

Jono Dunnett is travelling around Europe solo and has travelled around England. I think it was in 2015, the book about it is called "A Long Standing Ambition" and I can only recommend it as it is not only a comprehensive report about the journey, but also offers advice for anyone interested in such a feat. Plus, it's well written by someone who is wacko enough to try something of the kind and organised enough to pull it off.
I think he's still navigating the crisscross of Norwegian islands and inlets on his way south.
If you want to follow him on his journey around Europe: windsurfroundeurope.eu

The back and forth can become monotonous but is still a challenge when GPS sailing goals become the target/challenge.
Getting a raceboard is also a good thing as ou can go all points of the compass to explore and wind range s returning good. Then joining a club to give purpose on the water where rounding a bouy can be the challenge sometimes with other boards or boats.
Id like to do a Guy Cribb down winder too.
The Lancelin Ocean Classic (LOC), is another one on the WA calender each year.

The pilot of the Concorde that crashed in France in 2000 was an accomplished sportsman and one of the first people ever to windsurf across the Atlantic.
Christian Marty, 54, was among the most experienced of Air France's pilots.
Mr Marty took 37 days to windsurf across the Atlantic in February 1982, becoming the first Frenchman, and among the first few from any nation, to complete the journey unaided. Earlier he had been the first person to reach Corsica from mainland France by windsurfer. He was also a rally driver, cross-country cyclist, skier and hang-glider.

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MarkSSC said..
I read of an Australian girl who attempted to sail across Bass Strait. Did not get there, so it shows that cold water and ocean has its limits. I have also read about a guy who sailed from Gilbraltar to North Africa and back. Others may be able to fill in the details of these two adventures.

I can't imagine how you'd do distance without cramps? You'd have to tack regularly which I suppose could work but would depend on the wind direction..

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MarkSSC said..
I read of an Australian girl who attempted to sail across Bass Strait. Did not get there, so it shows that cold water and ocean ......

That was Allison Shreeve, she was Australia formula champion some time ago. I decided to learn to windsurf the day I read she was attempting that crossing, so even if she could not complete, it was a good outcome for me
I know a couple of kite surfers achieved the crossing some time after

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Te Hau said..
The pilot of the Concorde that crashed in France in 2000 was an accomplished sportsman and one of the first people ever to windsurf across the Atlantic.
Christian Marty, 54, was among the most experienced of Air France's pilots.
Mr Marty took 37 days to windsurf across the Atlantic in February 1982, becoming the first Frenchman, and among the first few from any nation, to complete the journey unaided. Earlier he had been the first person to reach Corsica from mainland France by windsurfer. He was also a rally driver, cross-country cyclist, skier and hang-glider.

www.americanwindsurfer.com/articles/a-tribute-to-christian-marty/

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powersloshin said..

MarkSSC said..
I read of an Australian girl who attempted to sail across Bass Strait. Did not get there, so it shows that cold water and ocean ......

That was Allison Shreeve, she was Australia formula champion some time ago. I decided to learn to windsurf the day I read she was attempting that crossing, so even if she could not complete, it was a good outcome for me
I know a couple of kite surfers achieved the crossing some time after

I was watching her crossing attempt live that day, her Spot tracker (or similar postitioning transmitter) showing her progress. I could see it watching Allison- she was taking more and more frequent stops, drifting downwind at each stop. You could tell she was getting hammered and her progress was getting too slow to make landfall. Easy to see from the comfort of one's desk. Despite her extraordinary skill and fitness, she was on huge gear which was suitable at some point, but there's only so much depowering you can do. Courageous effort though.

I think one of the biggest issues with long distance treks is the variability of conditions, and the limited ability to change up or down to suit. Maybe those zip-off sails were the best way to effectively put a reef in your sail.

Pittwater to Sydney harbour and Pittwater to terrigal and back to Pittwater
Nords wharf to Belmont and back to Nords wharf.

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powersloshin said..

actiomax said..
There was a thread a couple of years ago two blokes I think from Canberra made special cruising boards that could store gear in ....

The trip was done in fiji, it's a pity that the post was cut short and we don't know how it ended...

And Guy Cribb also did it by himself in Brazil, 500 kms in 1 day !

The movie about that trip in Fiji is called "Blown Away" and the board resides with its new owner in western port bay

There is a guy sailing around Europe on a windsurfer at the moment.

Starting up North in Russia and ending up in Russia via the Mediterranean.

windsurfroundeurope.eu

Nick Poll and Rob Welborn were two awesome Windsurfers in WA in the 1980s and just young students. Rob Welborn is the older brother of Wallaby Rugby player John Welborn.

In the late 1980s, Nick and Rob sailed Perth to Geraldton on Mistral Malibus (smaller version of the Mistral Equipe Race [1986-1988]), stopped at night, had Nick's Dad as support crew on land..Pretty awesome effort back in late eighties, really stretched themselves on the last day getting into Geraldton on sunset...Not sure how long it took, only 2-3 days from memory. Somewhere there was newspaper and other media coverage. Nick and Rob were tops back then in windsurfing and this cross country effort should be recognised for what it is even today probably much more than 200 nautical miles of sailing say over 350 km.

Nick Poll was WA's equivalent of Robby Naish. He was and probably still is a top sailor, used to beat everyone including Scott McKercher, Ash Nicol and others and I think placed in the top 5 possibly better in the Windsurfer Worlds in the 1984 worlds held in Perth at Nedlands Yacht Club. In his own words he was by his own admission a "...scrawny, insecure 14-year-old when I came across a photograph of a windsurfer and decided I wanted to be that guy. A few years later, I found myself being ranked in the world's top 5 windsurfers." source: www.nickpoll.com/

Also I recall Nick was an outstanding wave sailor and was sponsored on the Highwinds team along with Gil Stubbs and Andre Axelrod etc.At one point he may have been on the Bombora or Gaastra team. I understand he still sails and has waveboards. Next time you see someone ripping at Dutch Inn chances are it could be Nick.

I might be wrong but Rob according to legend did the first 360 degree loop or similar amazing thing in the waves in WA. That is a legend but I believe Ash Nicol and others may have further and better details on this. I think Rob lives in Sydney.