Went to the Train yesterday and had a really good run across to the sand bank and back, beach starts no worries 99% both sides. Man that was good fun.

Was on the Pacifico with Ka 5.3m sail - Probs should have chosen the six but Jaye wanted to have a go as well. He had problems sailing upwind so just went and mucked about with his mates - he was keen to sail to the sand bank. Just couldn't steer that monster upwind. Oooh sad oh well works for me as we were sharing a board lol his mates had the Naish with the kids rig and didn't seem too interested unfortunately.

I discovered that sailing upwind is easier if you get some pace going first and then steer with the - firstly found myself just getting pushed sideways, I guess because the board has such a large catchment area. so turned slightly downwind (not the direction I wanted to go but didn't want to run into a boat moored there) once she had some pace it seemed easy enough to dig the rail in and turn up wind. From that point i was easy enough to pick a spot on both sides and get there.

Hooked into the harness a couple of times only in one direction - heading back to shore. Tried to take my front hand off whilst in the harness Cammd but the sail just wanted to go back so didn't happen.

At Currumbin today for the boys birthday doesn't look like windsurfing - lucky we bought the paddles can sup anyway.

Smiling again now
Morgan

Morgan

It's Mal. Got out to Vic Pt the last couple of days & off to Manly tomorrow. Friday was pretty crap. Very choppy & first time on new board - 150l Shark and 5.4 sail. Today much better - still heaps to learn & improve. Looks like you had a good time down the coast. See you around.

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MalJ said..

Morgan

It's Mal. Got out to Vic Pt the last couple of days & off to Manly tomorrow. Friday was pretty crap. Very choppy & first time on new board - 150l Shark and 5.4 sail. Today much better - still heaps to learn & improve. Looks like you had a good time down the coast. See you around.

Yeah sure did - Have a good one - not sure if I will make it but might try for manly this afternoon.

Heading down to Viccy point today and see what transpires - Going to work on Harness, foot straps and staying on

Yep looks a good day coming up.
Targeting betwn 1-4 for enough water/wind.
See you all there.....

Nice to meet you Greg yesterday at Viccy Point and Mal - good to see another learner.

Yesterday for us was us good day

Anita - had a go in the morning with the kids rig 3m and the Naish 180 and did well - I am pretty sure will be having another go today.

Jaye - Naish 180l and 5.3m Ka sail and was smashing it with the Harness and straps - good man but gf there so was a bit distracted lol

Morgan (me) - Mistral Pacifico with 6m Severne Synergy sail. I felt pretty good about my session yesterday by the end I was getting the harness hooked on most of the time woo hoo (had some epic stacks though, bent my boom a little - no match for this heavy weight lol) Got my front foot in once heading south but seemed to stall maybe the wind dropped. Back foot seems to be quite comfortable getting to the strap both ways.

We took some photos yesterday at Thompsons will put them up

Back again today to Viccy point for some more fun

Have a good day on the water everyone and good luck to all who are in the races (maybe next year for us in the novice section)

Morgan, nice to meet you yesterday. Got smashed up a bit. Conditions were pretty challenging for me but felt I was improving as the afternoon went on. Certainly slept well last night. See you out there this afternoon. Mal.

Nice to meet you Kurt, Jack and Peter and thanks for the tips

Sunday for the cause

Anita - was doing well on the Naish 180 with the kids 3m rig - had a couple of good runs. Really put a valiant effort in to improving Well Done.

Jaye - A little while ago he was very lucky and a fellow windsurfer was very generous and gave him a Mistral 110l energiser. I though good one he should be on that by next year "can I take my board today Dad?" Why not I thought no chance he will be able to get it together just yet but he may just get a little run on it - give him something to look forward to. Yeah Right!!!!
Just steps up on it from the beach and that's it "Do I have to use the Naish again Dad" "No son" a little humble pie needed here.



Morgan - Did well and had another good day on the water - feel like I progressed well this week end - in the harness most of the time, beach start 98% successful, back foot strap a bit and managed the front footstrap on the last run (major stack)

Morgan,

Looking at your photo, when you are hooked up, your legs are very straight, so there is very little vertical resistance to going over the handled bars if you get hit with an unexpected gust. The mast just has to pull you forward. Try bending your knees a little and sit in and take some of the sail wieght in your harness. That way, when you get hit by a gust, the sail has to overcome a portion of your body weight to throw you ove the handlebars.

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John340 said..

Morgan,

Looking at your photo, when you are hooked up, your legs are very straight, so there is very little vertical resistance to going over the handled bars if you get hit with an unexpected gust. The mast just has to pull you forward. Try bending your knees a little and sit in and take some of the sail wieght in your harness. That way, when you get hit by a gust, the sail has to overcome a portion of your body weight to throw you ove the handlebars.

Yeah did a bit of that - thank you for the tip John

Hey Morgon

Good to read how you are progressing, looks like you are starting to get a handle on it, not over the handles. All the best, hope you get out and have a great harness ride.

Ross
Hervey Bay.

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ROSSS said..

Hey Morgon

Good to read how you are progressing, looks like you are starting to get a handle on it, not over the handles. All the best, hope you get out and have a great harness ride.

Ross
Hervey Bay.

Hey Rosss

Nice to hear from you - how are you guys going?

We are working on it - i have my first youtube clip seems to come up when you search Morgan and others windsurfing - Anita filmed it all lol

Anita is doing ok too.

Jaye is smashing it - good boy

Ben is doing ok too.

Take care
Morgan

Ha its got Jinksy and I tearing around in it Woot! I've got a bunch of footage from that day too, its just me and GeoGeo chasing each other

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tilldark said..

Ha its got Jinksy and I tearing around in it Woot! I've got a bunch of footage from that day too, its just me and GeoGeo chasing each other

Nice one - good to see - you guys looking like you were having a heap of fun :-)

Me and GeoGeo at Vic Point

Capn Coit Victoria Point looked awesome, I will definitely make the trip when the next forecast is promising. The longer run seems much better to be able to achieve some consistent speed rather than just a short burst off the wind.

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Mistral Nick said..

Capn Coit Victoria Point looked awesome, I will definitely make the trip when the next forecast is promising. The longer run seems much better to be able to achieve some consistent speed rather than just a short burst off the wind.

Yeah mate its good to mix things us and there's plenty of flat water there, the Baron has that place locked in he take's a bouy up to gybe around (sometimes we even put it in the right place) most of the time there's someone crashed next to it ... usually me in the right conditions you can run almost from redland bay to coochie and back. Good local bunch too

So here is a guy really trying to come to terms with the windsurfing learning curve and you guys video bomb his thread with how good you are? Give the learner the credit- if you want to show everyone how fast you are- start your own thread!

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handyman0708 said..

So here is a guy really trying to come to terms with the windsurfing learning curve and you guys video bomb his thread with how good you are? Give the learner the credit- if you want to show everyone how fast you are- start your own thread!

Sigh!

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tilldark said..

handyman0708 said..

So here is a guy really trying to come to terms with the windsurfing learning curve and you guys video bomb his thread with how good you are? Give the learner the credit- if you want to show everyone how fast you are- start your own thread!

Yes that was EXACTLY my intention

Something to aim for. Love it. These guys are just nervous that we might catch up (Jaye). And smash them. We love the input :-)

Watch out we r coming

See ya on the water

Wello Sunday game on lol

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tilldark said..

handyman0708 said..

So here is a guy really trying to come to terms with the windsurfing learning curve and you guys video bomb his thread with how good you are? Give the learner the credit- if you want to show everyone how fast you are- start your own thread!

Yes that was EXACTLY my intention

Something to aim for. Love it. These guys are just nervous that we might catch up (Jaye). And smash them. We love the input :-)

Watch out we r coming

See ya on the water

Wello Sunday game on lol

Bring it on Dwbh- the soon you can take it to the windwankers (now there's a term not used much since the mid nineties) the better- all the latest go fast gear! Put it on the race scene- like nationals or states! No doubt some talent and a fat wallet- try RSX or Techno!

Hey honestly wasn't meaning to upset anyone, I'd mentioned it in passing to Morgan was all in hindsight i should have posed it to the Vic Point thread Cheers

No worries- experience windsurfers need to encourage as mush of the son, the wife and the friend all having a crack to get as many people infolved in this great lifetime sport as we can!- Me- I'm old and slow naw but have sailed against the very bets there are on the water. Give the new guys all the support we can and allow them their achievements and glory- even if that is learning to shallow water start- or water start- or nail a plaining jibe- or just achieve hooking into harness and into the straps!

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handyman0708 said...
No worries- experience windsurfers need to encourage as mush of the son, the wife and the friend all having a crack to get as many people infolved in this great lifetime sport as we can!- Me- I'm old and slow naw but have sailed against the very bets there are on the water. Give the new guys all the support we can and allow them their achievements and glory- even if that is learning to shallow water start- or water start- or nail a plaining jibe- or just achieve hooking into harness and into the straps!

mate you are a credit keep it up that youtube clip of u planing made me remember 5 years ago when I first did it myself. You are kicking butt and will be blasting past me in no time

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tilldark said..

handyman0708 said...
No worries- experience windsurfers need to encourage as mush of the son, the wife and the friend all having a crack to get as many people infolved in this great lifetime sport as we can!- Me- I'm old and slow naw but have sailed against the very bets there are on the water. Give the new guys all the support we can and allow them their achievements and glory- even if that is learning to shallow water start- or water start- or nail a plaining jibe- or just achieve hooking into harness and into the straps!

mate you are a credit keep it up that youtube clip of u planing made me remember 5 years ago when I first did it myself. You are kicking butt and will be blasting past me in no time

It was a good day for all - Tilldark came and said hi before we went out - I must say he offered loads of encouragement to us all, as you have handyman and like we often say, you guys seem to be really nice and we appreciate all the positive encouragement we can get. Still like watching you guys blasting it out in the water - gives us something to aim for....

look forward to seeing you all on the water
Morgan

Hi Morgan, I've been sailing for a long time but this is my first post on any site! Enjoy reading but never been motivated to post until I read your 'story'. I've regularly sailed Wello for years but recently started sailing at VP as it's closer to home I met you a couple of weeks ago and you were sailing with your family. Great to see! Also nice to meet Kurt there a couple of times. Be encouraged mate, every experienced sailor can tell you their own learning story 'wins-and-losses' and for most, learning and mastering a new skill is what brings us back for more! I suffered the 'walk of shame' a number of times before learning to sail a shortboard upwind, and put my head through more than one sail (one was brand new!) while being launched in spectacular fashion while learning to use the harness Despite these, it remains addictive!!!

Keep up the good work and we'll see you on the water some time. Jack.

Another good week end on the water, no photos Anita was on Grandma duties Saturday and Sunday in the water too
Saturday Jaye and I had an excellent session at Manly with Cammd, Jaye was smashing it even with no wind he was on the Naish 180l 6m Severne synergy and very impressive tacking and gybing like a pro (in light winds anyway). We had a little upwind and downwind race throwing in 3 tacks and 3 gybes just for fun. The two guys had to wait for me.

We went out into the bay and were joined by a pod of 6 or more Dolphins, breathtaking, the day was perfect.
Saturday I was on a RS-X 220l with 7.5m Neil Pride sail, worked fine for me in fact had no problems driving this board. I completed almost all tacks and gybes successfully woo hoo. I did fall off a few times and took the skin off my knees getting back on with the sandpaper surface of the board.
Sunday down to Wello at 9.30 to get a park, Jaye didn't make it. Morgan, well I decided to brave the Neil Pride 7.5m sail on the Pacifico (a bit harder to gybe and tack than the RS-X) did manage a couple, two successful gybes and 90% of the tacks
In the morning the wind was light, perfect for some practice was awesome actually feel I am getting somewhere until the arve.
After we enjoyed a burger from the cafe the wind had come up and away we went

Anita on the Pacifico 200l kids rig 3m, had a terrible time and ended up down near the rocky point, not happy Jan.......
Me I decided I got this, I am going to take the Naish 180l with the 7.5 rig for a spin (MISTAKE) I got the thing going ok but it was all over the place seemed like I had no control so down with the centre board, even worse just couldn't drive it, some water aerobics lol, we walked across to each other and swapped boards. Anita was right from then going really well with turning and picking her line and staying on it woo hoo positive progress there for sure.

Back on the Pacifico I was right, smashing it using the harness most of the time, front foot in a couple of time but I seemed to have to stand forward for the balance with the harness so gave up on the straps. Had some major stacks, I may have been overpowered for the wind in the afternoon. By 3.30pm I was done, smashed, spent and damn tired. In fact both of us were. It was all worth it.

Was really nice to catch up with a few of the guys on Sunday Glynn, Vando and a couple of other guys who, sorry getting old can't remember names, sat under the shady tree til things got moving. Great to see you again Jack and thanks for the pointers mate appreciate it. Man it's good to watch all of you on the water.

Cheers Morgan Anita and Jaye

Saturday 22 March 14 at Manly southside of the marina - Light winds - Jaye, Anita and Me

Jaye had a great day with Cammd - set him up with a Bic Techno board and 6.8m sail and they headed out into the bay and joined in the races as an introduction to the world of Techno racing - Jaye had a great time and I think he did ok. Seems like there is a whole other world of windsurfing out there in windsurfing world and that is the youth championships. Bic Techno and RS-X as an Olympic sport and is supported by the RQYS. Good to see.

Anita - Naish 180l and 3m kids rig - did really well spent a good hour sailing accross and back staying on track, turning at each end although struggled with the low winds with the kids rig. Showing signs of improvement and didn't even get her hair wet. She was very happy with that.

Morgan - start with the Pacifico 200l with the Neil Pride 7.5m sail - perfect conditions for practising my tacks and gybes and even the harness hook in hook out. Hope my muscles remember it all lol.
After the boys went out into the bay I decided to follow to get a closer look, took me about an hour to sail up wind and made it half way out, still got to have a closer look. Thought I may have been able to sail upwind better than that on the monster (no centre board) something to work on.
OK it's Naish time - it's time to try and tame the wild Naish 180l, cammd very kindly lent me a larger fin to try (thanks Cammd). No dramas, what was I whinging about, up wind with centre board down no probs, downwind centre board up no worries - gybing ok 75% - tacking great 100%. Got to be happy about that - I pat myself on the back good work old man.

Does anyone have a secondhand fin that might be suitable for sale. The fin is the one with the lumps single screw fin box I think.

Looks like Victoria point SE today again for some light wind playing

Happy sailing everyone
Morgan

Sunday 23rd at Victoria Point

Nice day a fair breeze blowing perfect conditions just for a nice day at the beach.

We had a sup first but it was too windy for Anita so had some lunch put the sails up.

Anita - after her experience yesterday with the kids 3m sail we decided to put up the Ka 5.3m sail (mistake) but when we packed the car I put everything in for the kids rig except for the sail oooops. Tooooo heavy was her mantra - I can't lift it out of the water... So that went well.... 10 points for effort as Anita tried and tried and tried to get it going.

Me - Pacifico with the Neil Pride 7.5m and decided that today I would try the seat harness - awesome but man what a mission to get in and out of with the boom set to my shoulders. I had a good time with 100% beach starts - 90% Harness - 100% tacks - 25% gybes The monster is a bit of handful to get around on the gybes i must say. Had another go of the Naish seeing as though Anita wasn't needing it, it had the small fin on and was a bit flighty but I had a couple of ok runs - came close to getting it on the plane. I have been really enjoying the lighter wind days as it is giving me time to work on muscle memory and practice.

Jaye - was cactus from his marathon at Manly with Cammd and needed his rest.

Hoping to get out on Wednesday with Ben and Jaye somewhere after work while there is still time - days are getting shorter. They should have daylight saving in winter.

Have a good week all and see you on the water somewhere
Morgan