been trying to windsurf for nearly 2 years now and i still have trouble in anything over 20knotts and when i do plane i charge off down wind..I can hook in and get front foot in ...slow tacks and gybes are ok i guess...i know its technique but i am wondering if my starboard starts width is making it harder to stay upwind on the plane and making it hard to handle in choppy conditions over 20 knotts
Sounds like you are ready for a new board and some expert tuition! See if you can find some tuition through a shop or school that has some more advanced gear on hand as it sounds like with a little guidance you will be ready for something quicker..
Stick at it you are about to evolve!
A Starboard start in 20 knots probably needs a fair bit of skill. That's a lot of board to be throwing around.
Beg, borrow or steal something a bit smaller and give it a try. Use your normal rig or the whole thing will feel weird at first.
What they said^^^! A mate has a starboard GO and I struggle with it in strong winds.
Get on a smaller board and you'll be frustrated no more!
Select to expand quotegoldcoastmoz said..
Tabou Rocket 69 (or similar) and a good fin will fix the problem!
That's a 125ltre rocket..just sold mine - it would have been good for you to progress with.
^^^^ What these guys said..
Plus...
To fix the heading off downwind issue.
Be sure to be looking where you want to go. A lot of windsurfing (and biking, surfing, etc) is about where you're looking.
If you're looking downwind, you'll go downwind. If you actively try to look at exactly where you want to go you'll find that helps quite a bit as it puts your body in the right position.
It's not going to solve all your problems, but it'll definitely help.
I think I may have seen you down at manly the other week, and yeah your gear was a bit too big for the conditions, what sail did you have up?
I was honking on a 4.7 wavesail and my freestyleboard that day, and you may have been on a 6m+?
Dont be frustrated you are progressing thats all . Now your ready for a short board and 20 knots . The wider the board the harder they are in chop .
In 20knt im on a 4.7 and a freestlywave. I just googled Starboard Start and I think you are doing very well to be able to handle one of those in chop I doubt if i could, I would probably get bounced off .
Have fun shopping .
Select to expand quoteswoosh said...
I think I may have seen you down at manly the other week, and yeah your gear was a bit too big for the conditions, what sail did you have up?
I was honking on a 4.7 wavesail and my freestyleboard that day, and you may have been on a 6m+?
Looks like you need to put a new board on your Christmas list.
Get it early so you can test drive it, then hand it back to the better half on Christmas Eve for her to wrap for Christmas Day.
Those older Starboard Start boards aren't the best boards to progress on IMHO. There are certainly better beginner boards that you can hold onto as you progress. Depending on you weight/skill level something around 75cm/140 litres would be something more suitable, maybe down to 70cm/130 litres
if your lighter or your going to hang onto the start for a while longer.
I have a newer starboard Start which I teach friends on. Fantastic board to learn on, but once you have the basics they are not ideal to learn the techniques of planing sailing. The width really works against them for gybing and upwind tracking.
I agree with the previous comments- a board in the 130 litre range will get you progressing a lot quicker as far as gybing, planing and tracking are concerned.
I have sailed my Start on windy days (20+ knots), open ocean, surf etc and can manage it fairly well. The Start is capable of a lot once you learn all the skills, but they are not ideal platform to learn the skills on. This is a board designed principally for getting people with no experience in to windsurfing and to a basic level quickly.
If you want to learn to carve gybe on this board, forget it.
The stock fins on them are budget quality too. A better fin could well improve performance until you get something smaller/narrower.
Clarence
Come down to vp next southerly and you are welcome to take my 95lt board for a spin. Vp is perfect for progressing to small gear because it is shallow. The other spot is pebble beach.
You'll be beach starting and gybing within the day.
Select to expand quoteGestalt said...
Come down to vp next southerly and you are welcome to take my 95lt board for a spin. Vp is perfect for progressing to small gear because it is shallow. The other spot is pebble beach.
You'll be beach starting and gybing within the day.
that would be great......i do weigh about 100kgs tho so dunno if 95l is too small but im always keen to give it a go
95lt will be fine. I'm over 100kg. it will give you an idea of what a small board feels like. my board turns on a dime but has good width for stability.
the best place to get into short board sailing is in shallow water. you can focus on beach starts, gybes without needing to worry about water starts. if you fall off you just hop back on and go again.
i'll give you a lesson in the process.
Select to expand quoteGestalt said..
95lt will be fine. I'm over 100kg. it will give you an idea of what a small board feels like. my board turns on a dime but has good width for stability.
the best place to get into short board sailing is in shallow water. you can focus on beach starts, gybes without needing to worry about water starts. if you fall off you just hop back on and go again.
i'll give you a lesson in the process.
Over 100kg!!!!!!
You been in a good paddock last cupa years by the sounds of things 
ah, yes simon, thanks for the private message you sent that was meant for kpb, that's embarrassing 
if kpb were looking to buy a board at that volume then I would agree with you. but in this case he has nothing to lose and everything to gain by giving it a go. he's been windsurfing for 2 years on a start and is frustrated so I think it's time to have some fun.
this is exactly how people learn to windsurf. they use big boards for a year or so then jump onto something small in stronger winds and shallow, safe waters and have a blast. that's how I learnt as well. sailed long boards for 2 years then jumped on a small board in shallow water.
jumped on and blasted until I fell off or dropped a gybe then stood up and did it again. couldn't remove my grin.
explain to me what he has to loose from having a go?Select to expand quotebc said..Gestalt said..
95lt will be fine. I'm over 100kg. it will give you an idea of what a small board feels like. my board turns on a dime but has good width for stability.
the best place to get into short board sailing is in shallow water. you can focus on beach starts, gybes without needing to worry about water starts. if you fall off you just hop back on and go again.
i'll give you a lesson in the process.
Mate I don't think a guy who is having problems on a go is going to move forward hoping onto a 95 litre board
Select to expand quotekpb said..
thanx heaps for the advice everyone i really appreciate it
Have sent you pm , I have an older shark 145 you can have , so you can progress further. its a bit rough in the nose but is water tight
Select to expand quotebc said...kpb said..
thanx heaps for the advice everyone i really appreciate it
Have sent you pm , I have an older shark 145 you can have , so you can progress further. its a bit rough in the nose but is water tight
thats awesome Simon i will get in touch with u....
good outcome kpb. that volume will keep you going for a long time to come.
offer still stands for VP. bring any board you would like. 
Select to expand quotekpb said..swoosh said...yeah that was probably me...i rigged a 5.8m and found it tough going
I think I may have seen you down at manly the other week, and yeah your gear was a bit too big for the conditions, what sail did you have up?
I was honking on a 4.7 wavesail and my freestyleboard that day, and you may have been on a 6m+?
All the guys that sail there are happy to stop for a chat, and it can be pretty tricky to figure out whats wrong over the internet, best to have a chat to some of the more experienced sailors you see out on the day.
Simons board offer sounds good. I got a Starboard Go which is similar to your Start, I break it out when I have friends who want to try windsurfing, and that thing can definitely be tricky to steer especially when you are overpowered.
Select to expand quoteGestalt said...
good outcome kpb. that volume will keep you going for a long time to come.
offer still stands for VP. bring any board you would like.
thanx heaps i would like to sail at VP at some stage this summer....
Select to expand quoteGestalt said...
Tomorrow vp is an outside chance if the rain clears
thanx heaps for the offer mate...i have a mates bucks party on tomorrow but I am keen to sail at viccy point
