I am fairly new to the windsurfing game. I don't have a GPS.
What is the estimate on how fast am I going here? 25 -30 ?
Wind 20-25 Knots, sail 6.5
Thanks

Looks like flat water , My guess would be 27-28 reaching. Seems to be the average on freeride gear like that. Maybe a 29 2sec. The first time you put on a GPS is a surprise. What feels very fast isn't.

Looks like flat water , My guess would be 27-28 reaching. Seems to be the average on freeride gear like that. Maybe a 29 2sec. The first time you put on a GPS is a surprise. What feels very fast isn't.

Thanks.
It certainly felt fast for me. Big Fin 500mm and Wide board 80cm obviously has limitations. Maybe leave the GPS in the shop until I get the skills and a smaller board.
Cheers

Actually getting a GPS will help improve you skills. You will be able to see how little changes and adjustments make you faster. Don't forget it has the alpha reading and NM. If you focus on just one of these reading for the day you will improve out of sight.
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Just watching that Video, it is hard to tell from a camera but it looks like your sinking the windward rail a bit. If you flatten off the board it will go faster.

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ULF said...
Actually getting a GPS will help improve you skills. You will be able to see how little changes and adjustments make you faster. Don't forget it has the alpha reading and NM. If you focus on just one of these reading for the day you will improve out of sight.
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Just watching that Video, it is hard to tell from a camera but it looks like your sinking the windward rail a bit. If you flatten off the board it will go faster.

Thanks. I'm interested in how to flatten the board. Is it done by lifting up on the straps ? I get told to move the straps further out, but I find this makes it worse as I put more weight on the outside edge. Then I see experienced sailors with straight legs and straps right out, & board is flat.

Ye get the straps out for a start. A tip I got years ago was point the toes on the back foot and pull up slightly on the front foot. Going up wind this can make a huge difference. It works on a reach to flatten the board. Go carefully to start but just roll the pressure on the back foot toward the centre of the board. You will feel it accelerate and free up.
Looks like Wello, there are heaps of very good sailors there. I'm sure they will show you.

Good speed on that gear but close to the water as the camera is gives a faster appearance, 25/27 knots max, a few years ago 30knts was the magical speed but most guys on slalom gear will hit 30knots on a not so windy day. Looks good though.

Who cares! It looks like you are having a great time!!! Good work.

Have a look on the GPS Team Challenge website. Vando and Phill were doing about 39s, so my guess is that you would be a bit slower that them. Maybe 36-37? If you go by that theory you will know that you are going fast.

If you want to be disappointed then get a GPS I swear that mine is broken

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The Pom said...
Who cares! It looks like you are having a great time!!! Good work.

Good point. I had a ball, felt like a kid on a roller coaster.
Cant wait to get back out there again.
Cheers

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remo81 said...
Have a look on the GPS Team Challenge website. Vando and Phill were doing about 39s, so my guess is that you would be a bit slower that them. Maybe 36-37? If you go by that theory you will know that you are going fast.

If you want to be disappointed then get a GPS I swear that mine is broken

I was watching vando on the day. He would be some 10 Knots faster than me.
I would be stoked with 29, on beginner gear & limited skill.
Cheers

23-24 knots.

I think if you are "fairly new" to sailing, wondering about how to use outboard footstraps and using a 50cm fin with 6.5 then you'd be doing at most 24 knots probably less. As Ulf said, getting a GPS can be a huge reality check and you discover what you thought was really fast is normally the low mid 20s. The other thing that's true is getting a GPS and joining a team on GPS Team Challenge will make your sailing improve from day one - even if you end up not chasing speed and just working on being a more efficient, tuned-in "soul- sailor."

id say 20-25 max.
if i see you when im at the point i have a spare GPS you can use.
I can tell you that when you start using a GPS you realise how fast you arent.

Might looks flat in the vid but i can assure you that day it wasnt at that time.
you can see the water over top of the bank so top of the tide = rough.
It did flatten off later when the tide dropped.
I guess you would have been doing 25knots.

If you really want to know your speed get a gps, I am like you gave up in the 80s started again in 2012. I Find the gps a good tool to improve skills. And yes the plastic does get a workout. But its so good to be able to still sail, even as a beginner again.

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vando said...
Might looks flat in the vid but i can assure you that day it wasnt at that time.
you can see the water over top of the bank so top of the tide = rough.
It did flatten off later when the tide dropped.
I guess you would have been doing 25knots.

See The King has spoken. If you get a GPS then what ever you do, don't try and get the same numbers as the Vando all his fast mates. They are just too fast.

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vando said...
Might looks flat in the vid but i can assure you that day it wasnt at that time.
you can see the water over top of the bank so top of the tide = rough.
It did flatten off later when the tide dropped.
I guess you would have been doing 25knots.

It wasnt flat. It was pretty bumpy that day. The video doesnt show it though.
I was just stoked to go this fast without crashing to be honest.
My first successful water start that day as well.
Now to work on Gybing. Might need another 12 months for that after watching you guys.

Not sure how fast you are going but I'd give the "YE HAR" a good 8/10