Definitely was a great arvo. Thanks again for the board and sail loan Lyndon.
Really good to meet new people out there, and that wind was crazy! I definitely learnt a lot. I could barely move the next day my muscles were so sore.. I had my family watching and laughing at me getting catapulted from the comfort of the sailing club :P

Here's a couple of the boards there, I'm sure someone else has a better photo..

Hi all, I've been slow to post though being busy and just a little tired, Ha. Stole a few extra photos from face book (hope thats ok ).
Thanks Alan for drawing us all together with your new No 1 serial one design. Thanks also for giving us all a demo, despite the extreme conditions. You are either very generous, trusting, or simply very confident that the new board is robust. All the guys are weighing up whether to buy or not. It may well be approaching that critical mass that will drive it forward. I was struggling to get around the course on the old gear but the new one was very managable, and fast. Certainly friendly to 110kg+.
Big Hello to Paul D and Don C who also would have sailed if the conditions were sensible. Congrats to Adrian C returning to windsurfing after many years away despite the crazy conditions. You did amazingly well!
What is it about "Windsurfer One Design"? Week after week we have been sailing MIXED sailboard (race board, foil, D2, windsurfer etc) and always with spare boards on offer, but when its "Windsurfer" the interest is amazing, including people we didnt even know about. And this was organised over about 6 days, just by direct contact, no advertising. Its not just the affordable price ... Im certain.
I suspect the high tech looking mono sails and racing style boards exude a feeling of Grrrrrr.... competition, likely to blast a regular person off the water. Too involved or threatening to invite a regular person to participate.
Well it may look that way, but at Gosford our events are very friendly and social with a place or a handicap for everyone on any gear to participate. We genuinely have loan boards and sails available that are competitive. Its great to know you are going to have fun windsurfing on a saturday no matter what the wind strenght. And that Time On Water will improve your sailing no matter what you preferred context is.
If you are interested post here, or seabreeze email me (heavy1) or john (AUS817)

AUS817 said..
Glad you enjoyed it Guy, you're doing great for someone new to the sport. The fact that you managed to get around that course on Saturday (more than once) is quite an achievement - it doesn't get much tougher conditions than that!

Here's a couple more pics.




The New Windsurfer LT

The New Windsurfer LT

Hello Guy,
yes I was also amazed at your level of competence after just one summer of windsurfing! You have obviously put in some time on water and no doubt being around this group of experienced sailors has helped. You handled things very well in such gusty conditions. I think quite a few of us catapulted uncharactistically that day such was the challenging wind. All part of the fun!

Anyone out out there thinking of taking up the sport should contact their local club. The support You will get by way of loaned gear, tips and encouragement etc will help you develop much more quickly than struggling on your own.

All windsurfers love to get new people into the sport and these guys at Gosford are no different. Everyone is willing to share knowledge and gear and have some fun. Staggered starts in the racing and other handicapping methods used here encourage everyone to do their best but not be concerned about their level of skill. A casual and relaxed group where the social aspects of sailing together helps everyone improve.

Hi, I have found a mistral equipe 2 and the slot flusher is like peanut brittle. Any ideas where to get a replacement?

AUS817 said..

windsurftom said..
Hi, I have found a mistral equipe 2 and the slot flusher is like peanut brittle. Any ideas where to get a replacement?

Hi Tom,

I'm not sure what you mean by a "slot flusher"? Any chance of a pic?

New spares will be hard to come by, I'd suggest contacting some windsurfing stores like Windsurfnsnow or Sunshine Coast Sailboards. Alternatively I think in the buy and sell section on Seabreeze you can advertise for what you're looking for - someone may have one laying around in their garage.

Hi Tom, after some Google searches I believe by slot flusher you mean what is more commonly known in Australia as Centreboard Gaskets.

Are you close to Gosford? If so drop into see us on the southern side of Gosford sailing club one Saturday. One of the regular guys has an Equipe and I'll try to see how the gaskets fit. Finding new ones is unlikely. You could purchase some mylar film from a sailmaker and glue it on. I know a number of people that have used this option on other boards successfully.

Good morning all,

I'm headed to Balmoral tomorrow to train with the Bic Techno & RSX team, so I won't be at Gosford tomorrow. Not sure if anyone else is Sailing from Gosford tomorrow yet, if I hear anything I'll make another post.

AUS 814 said..
Google Binks Marine in Adelaide, they have 50mm and 75mm wide Mylar covered in sailcloth, sold per metre, specific for dinghies and sailboard slot flushers

Whats it under on their site?

Why are we at Balmoral?
A. It's "back to the future" & it's the 1988 Olympic Windsurfing trials but we're sailing RS-Xs rather than Lechners
B. Working on RS-X resume to be appointed Australian Windsurfing coach (pro-bono)
C. Sick of going fast on the raceboard & even faster foiling and want something harder & more difficult to sail
D. RS-X training day organised by Melanie Webb

AUS817 said..

regal1 said..




Why are we at Balmoral?
A. It's "back to the future" & it's the 1988 Olympic Windsurfing trials but we're sailing RS-Xs rather than Lechners
B. Working on RS-X resume to be appointed Australian Windsurfing coach (pro-bono)
C. Sick of going fast on the raceboard & even faster foiling and want something harder & more difficult to sail
D. RS-X training day organised by Melanie Webb

A. Definitely back to the future. Ironically the 1988 Olympic trials on the Lechner at Balmoral was in 20+ knots (quite a handful), would have been much easier on an RS:X and yesterdays sub planing conditions would have been much better on a Lechner.

B: I don't think I have much chance of being the next RS:X coach, although it'd be a cool gig to score!

C: Never get sick of going fast on a Raceboard, in my opinion still the most versatile Sailboard in the market.

D: Thanks to Melanie Webb for organizing the sailing at Balmoral with regular Saturday racing with a variety of boards sailing. Also great to See Balmoral Sailboard School getting involved with some more advanced Coaching.

Apologies, I need to make a correction to Point A above. It was not in fact the 1988 Olympic Trials, but instead I believe the Metro D2 Championship at Balmoral in August (6th & 7th). The 7th was noted as 20 - 40 knots (the last D2 event in Australia before the 1988 Olympics). Thanks to Rob H for refreshing my memory. For the record the 1988 Olympic Trials were held of Terrigal in April 1988 which resulted in a Central Coast local "Chris Lawrence" being selected to represent Australia in Seoul.

Jethrow said..
I had thought they were up Gosford way. I remember doing a D2 event out of Gosford Sailing Club around 87/88. I thought it was the Trials but maybe it was just the warmup. Also a nationals out of the Belmont 16's as well, ahh, fun times...

Rob H also advised me "Prior to the Terrigal trials in April 88 there were two D2 events, one the States in March at Gosford, the other the Nationals at Balmoral (sorry no date)."

This will explain the D2 event you mention at Gosford :-


On a separate note at you coming to the Peter Loft Marathon this Sunday at BYRA? It's a fantastic event.

Slight change of plans this weekend, I'm now sailing at Gosford today, should be at the club 12:30pm-1pm.

Tomorrow will be Bayview Yacht Racing Association for the Peter Loft Marathon. Briefing at 11am. It's a great event, all boards are welcome. Come along and join the Windsurfing Revolution!

albymongrel said..
Hey guys, I can't make it down to Gosford on Saturday - gotta show a few overseas friends around Newcastle and Valley (had planned a windsurfing lesson for them but it may be a tad too windy for they haha ) and Mother's Day commitments mean I need to sail close to either Toronto or Swansea Channel Sunday.

No worries mate. Although the forecast is looking great.

My Phantom is out of action as it's drying out in readiness for a deck repair. So I might go small rig and foil this Saturday.

regal1 said..
AUS817, I'd be interested in knowing how heavy your phantom is now and the weight it dries down to. My board lost 1.5kg when I dried it to repair the soft deck.

It weighed in at 15.7kg bare (no mast track, no centreboard and no footstraps). I'm expecting to drop about 1-1.5 kg.

Not much breeze. 130 and im the only starter. So im heading to umina to sup surf . Working next saturday so ill be a very late starter or no show possibly.

barbarian said..
I'm away next Saturday, but hoping to be there the week following. Hope you guys are well.
Matt.

I'm going to the RS:X state titles at Hunters Hill this weekend, do will be back at Gosford the following Saturday.

See you all then.