Thanks sboardcrazy - it would seem as if it is an addiction sboardcrazy lol

Week end of westerlies will have to have a go - first time in a westerly and see what happens - keen to get out there and have a run.

Looks like Wellington Point in Queensland tomorrow

Have fun

Wello looks like we are going in. Must have rocks in our heads. White caps and sails everywhere. :-)

Had a couple of good runs out there today at Wellington point. A great place to play on a board for sure - on the western side got a bit smashed as it was very bumpy and choppy.

Anita - 3m sail on the Naish180 no good...... didn't get a start. I should have grabbed the naish- there is always tomorrow sweat pea, flower of the desert of mine.

Jaye - nothing much to say here - he got on the Fanatic Shark with the 5.3 Ka sail and had difficulties on the western side of the sand bar also but once over the other side he was away. We tried the fin off the Mistral energizer 110l - about 310 skinny fin (tilldark said it was a wonder that it worked at all) the verdict is it was too small but still jaye had a couple of excellent runs. Need to get a couple more fins around the 400 mark I think

Me - Pacifico and the severne synergy 6m sail - was a good size I did struggle hanging onto it a bit in the gusts (just time will get used to the gusts I guess) The day was a bit of a challenge - had a couple of nice runs on the eastern side of the bank like Jaye, it was a lot smoother early. Got a bit shallow later on. Did end up hooking into the harness and held on and felt pretty good but that wasn't til late. Man I have to work on my fitness levels for the higher winds, I seem to only get a run or two and have to stop and have a rest. I will be back out again tomorrow - I dont think Jaye is coming tomorrow so might take the shark for a run.

One thing that really had me today was the Pacifico just didn't want to turn instead we sailed sideways for quite a bit - doesn't usually do that....but today it did it a lot just took some hard work to get it to track.

Looking forward to tomorrow

Cheers
Morgan and Co

Decided seeing as though, even when I take the Pacifico out in the higher winds I get smashed anyway - it was time to try and tame the Shark........

Anita - took one look and said no way and you should reconsider your decision - Ha!.... no way I'm going out lol

Jaye - No show

Ben - No show

Me - WOOOOOO HOOOOO....... A Milestone in my windsurfing learning curve - best decision I made

The Fanatic 165L with the 6m Severne Synergy sail and robbed the fin off the Naish..... well no one was using it. The 540 fin off the shark just wasn't going to cut it today at Wello.

I was lucky enough to get a few tips in the water from Simon (thanks mate much appreciated) and another very kind fellow windsurfer a bit later.
I was about to up haul - that wasn't going to happen - that board is so small for me I just sink it and tip it - so beach start or no start - shallow enough on the eastern side of the bank. A milestone here as well, as mainly uphaul the Pacifico in higher winds, it seems easier.

Ok - not only got up on the Shark but according to everything I have read recon the beast got onto the plane a couple of times briefly until I turned it upwind too far and fell off. Ended up eye to eye with a Mullet thought we were going to head butt each other he was out of the water and heading straight at my head as I was nose diving into the water lol. Would have been nice on the bbq tonight - lol weird experience that was. Now I am really getting the taste for more speed and then some more. I thought I did well on the Pacifico yesterday - today was a little better.

Fan bloody tastic bring it - here are a couple of photos













Even in one of the photos (proof) I am hooked into the harness - look out foot straps I have your number and I am coming - not excited lol They say as you get old, you get more child like mmm might be a little truth in that.

Well done Morgan. I sat on the rocks and watched for a couple hours and you are going pretty good. You seem to have the fundamentals sorted and just need more practice. It was pretty gusty today which doesn't help but I was impressed with your progress. Onwards and upwards from here mate.
Cheers
Marty

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MartinF2 said..

Well done Morgan. I sat on the rocks and watched for a couple hours and you are going pretty good. You seem to have the fundamentals sorted and just need more practice. It was pretty gusty today which doesn't help but I was impressed with your progress. Onwards and upwards from here mate.
Cheers
Marty

Thanks Martin - as you say onward and upward. Pretty excited about my day on Sunday was very cool - now really know what makes you guys get out there (the addiction) Was great :-)

cheers
Morgan

A couple more pics from Sunday 4th May at Wello

Mother's Day tomorrow. Do I or don't I get mrs a wetsuit for Mother's Day ? Going to golden beach tomorrow with sup boards and sails. Her request. Set up under a tree with the BBQ and burgers for lunch. Sounds like a good day on the water, wind or no wind. Happy Mother's Day to all the other windsurfing ladies out there.

Made it to the gym this morning - getting my fitness up for more windsurfing, 10 mins on the x trainer, 3 x 15 seated row, 3x 15 lat pull down, 3 x 15 seated chest press, 60 sit ups (3x20), 3x1 min plank and jumped on the treadmill to finish it off. Phew bring it on

Mothers day was great at Golden Beach we ended up paddling the Pacifico(Me), Naish(Jaye) and our Sabre Surf sup board(Anita) to Bribie twice with a bbq under the trees in between Anita was very happy. The breeze was trying - there was one kite down a bit further not doing so well oh well.... such is windsurfing. The paddle was really nice we love it as well. Good for the mind body and soul :-)

Cheers
Morgan

Good you guys had a great day Morgan, and happy belated Mothers Day Anita. Good on you too for hitting the gym mate. I took an early mark from work last Friday and sailed Wello on a SE with a few of the guys. Good way to finish the week; only trouble was I didn't take a change of clothes so had to put dress shirt, trousers & shoes back on afterwards. Felt and probably looked a goose packing up! Only thing missing was a tie...see you on the water some time. Jack.

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ShailerSailor said..

Good you guys had a great day Morgan, and happy belated Mothers Day Anita. Good on you too for hitting the gym mate. I took an early mark from work last Friday and sailed Wello on a SE with a few of the guys. Good way to finish the week; only trouble was I didn't take a change of clothes so had to put dress shirt, trousers & shoes back on afterwards. Felt and probably looked a goose packing up! Only thing missing was a tie...see you on the water some time. Jack.

Sure did thanks Jack - Ben was trying to encourage me out on Friday for an early mark for a sale but unfortunately the day didn't go as planned so finished late. Sounds like it was worth it - you got a nice sail in and as you say what a great :-) way to finish a week. How is that new gear going? Most of us have been in the same situation packing up in our dressy work duds. It is a sign of dedication to the sport lol.

Lucky you did get out on Friday cause not much wind on the weekend - even I didn't put a sail up....... now that's saying something. I think the first weekend I haven't gone for a sail since I started on the 9th of November 2013 - when I first stepped onto a sail board at Golden Beach for a lesson.




Got it going at least first day. Pacifico has copped a beating since then lol

See you out there
Morgan

Looking like Viccy Point or Manly this week end - wind is looking good for us beginners ----- got a new fin for the Shark this week from Simon a Black Project 37.5 looking forward to giving it a run on Saturday. Might end up at Manly to keep an eye on the RSX and Techno racing crew.
Good luck to all.

Had a mixed day at Manly windy when we arrived around 11am - got a bit smashed and then it died off for a couple of hours - which for me was ok as I had an opportunity to have a go at tacking and gybing without falling off.

A great day with some great guys Tony nowork and Jeff jirvin4505 we oldies were spent by the 4pm - nearly had to go rescue Jeff and at that matter me for the same reason - getting spent nothing left in the tank and the wind was up.

Anita - on the naish with the 4.3 synergy junior and was smashing it until she had fallen in one too many times and that was it offered the naish to me for a go.

Me - I started on the pacifico with 7.5m neil pride sail,needs repairs we broke some bits today :-(, I noticed simon has a work bench down the back - see you early in the week simon. But patched up with zip ties for the moment to get me through tomorrow. Might have to get out the 100 mile an hour tape tomorrow to just make it through. Jumped on the Naish and really enjoyed it - went well and at around 2.30pm got a bit of lift (must have been my new fin) and I think i was on the verge of planing. I could hear the noise thud thud thud as you smash it accross the water decided to go for the straps pull the sail back and ended up stalled and backwards in the water still hooked in the harness grrrrrr. How long does this still go for until I can just enjoy a nice ride like you girls and guys..

Tomorrow I might unleash the shark and have a play.

Here are a couple of photos of today with the three amigos and another lone sailor

Had one of those "going to sell everything days yesterday" at Manly

Anita - Did her best yesterday (Sunday) with the Naish 180l and the junior rig - even made her way upwind - fantastic very pleased with her effort. That is pretty exciting - No photos unfortunately as we were both in the water.

Me - Decided to put the Fanatic Shark 165l in the water with the 7.5m neil pride sail 540 fin wind about 10knots when we got there, so ok for a learner. Thought I should start getting a feel for the board practice some tacking and gybing in lighter winds. Felt like a real beginner fell off more times than Anita. I did eventually get a couple of dodgy tacks in and one successful gybe. After an hour of this I decided to get the Pacifico so I can have a bit of fun and go for a ride.

Anita had finished with the Naish so changed sails and headed out on it. All good for about an hour, gybing and tacking like a pro (how can 15 litres make so much difference???)... That was great - then the wind doubled and seemed like 20+ knots still had the 7.5m sail on and got smashed.....thrown 20 times forwards, backwards, sideways, smashed my head, leg, arm on something. I tried to get to the straps but couldn't get anywhere near them and fell off every time I tried. It just doesn't make any sense how you guys and girls get to them - there was plenty of wind to get there but everytime turn upwind and stall ------- I feel like I am going backwards at the moment - think I am going to step back on the Pacifico 200l, or maybe look at an RSX type of windsurfing board, with a smaller sail again.

I am the most frustrated I have ever been during my windsurfing journey - I guess because mostly I seem to be progressing until now, going backwards.

Cheers
Morgan

Morgan

We should organise to go for a sail again, you can use my RSX, many people bag them but they are actually a pretty easy board to sail (hard to sail fast in a race) but easy to stand on and tack and jybe etc(220ltrs) plus they have a railing strap that is very easy to get into, I reckon if we can get you into that strap and the harness in the right conditions you will get it planning, once we get you planing on the rsx it will make the transition to the Shark easier, it will all fall into place.

Gooday Dwbh

I love the enthusiasm that you are sharing in your journey, if you could bottle and sell it I would buy some!!

Read your sailing story from start to finish and it wasn't till the last post that I decided to reply.

Every sailor has one of the "sell it all" days every so often- some more frequently than others...

I'm 65 and still sailing, ran into a mate who's 80 and still sailing. We were a lot younger when we started but the bug

bit hard! In those days we tied the wooden boom on with rope..

Let me offer a couple of pearls that I collected along the way, take em or leave em, others may disagree but-

firstly, don't be in a big hurry to get on a short board. Too many sailors just gave it up and walked away because they

went too small too quick and couldn't cope. They are a real hazard if you are two k's out and the wind suddenly dies!!

secondly, get into the harness and then the foot straps as soon as possible when you get going from the beach.

Thirdly, trim and balance the the harness lines so you have neutral pressure on both hands, you will spend more time

on the water, take longer to get tired and start making fatigue-caused mistakes. You will be able to sail a well-balanced

sail with one finger!!! The lines often only needs to be moved forward or back an inch or two depending on the

conditions. If you trim the downhaul or outhaul you may also need to trim the lines again. Mark the positions for each

sail you use on your boom and mast base.

Cammed sails are stable and efficient but a pain to rig, uphaul and handle thru the turns . Cammless sails shift the

effort in the sail with wind strength changes but are easier to rig, uphaul deep water start and handle. when you are

learning easy is good.

Once you are in the harness you can apply the mast foot pressure that is the key to control in wind- (plenty of stuff on

the net about mast foot pressure.)

Don't be surprised that smaller and often much weaker learners progress quickly, it's about balance not strength.

(In a sailing session I spend the first third trimming for the conditions, the middle third enjoying the ride and the last

third getting tired and just hanging on, once I start blowing jibes I know I'm tired and go ashore to rest or pack it in)

Take ALL your sails to the water, nothing worse than leaving the right sail at home and driving all that way for a crappy

days sailing because of a change or miss-reading the weather conditions.

Go for comfort in your rig selection, an easy to handle board and sail is a joy to use.

Find a comfortable and easy-to-hook and unhook harness and harness line length. I strap my hook bar up on bottom

strap of the PFD so it doesn't sag and also keeps the PFD from rising up around my neck when I am in the water.

Rig the mast track position and the boom height so you can support the boom on the back of the board in deep water

starts as it makes it much easier to clear the sail from the water when you restart.

Keep sailing, you will plateau from time to time and wonder if you will ever progress but if you keep sailing you will.

Take lessons whenever you can, so you don't develop bad habits. and keep posting pics.

Pete

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cammd said...
Morgan

We should organise to go for a sail again, you can use my RSX, many people bag them but they are actually a pretty easy board to sail (hard to sail fast in a race) but easy to stand on and tack and jybe etc(220ltrs) plus they have a railing strap that is very easy to get into, I reckon if we can get you into that strap and the harness in the right conditions you will get it planning, once we get you planing on the rsx it will make the transition to the Shark easier, it will all fall into place.

Hi Cameron - that would be absolutely fantastic if you are up for it, I would love to have a run with you mate - I appreciate the offer. I seem to be a bit stuck at the moment not moving forward and to top it off didn't do so well on the Pacifico on Saturday (very strange) maybe a mental thing - not sure what is going on at the moment, doesn't make sense. (did do ok on the naish until the wind picked up - but maybe fatigued had been out for a hour or so at that point)

Cheers
Morgan

Waricle - Thanks Pete for the encouraging words mate I really appreciate it - It is rather strange at the moment I'm just not understanding what is going on - I am a bit of a logical kind of guy and when things aren't in a logical sequence I find it hard to make sense of it. That seems to be what is happening with the windsurfing according to my calculations I should be able to at least ride like I used to with the Pacifico.

I used to get out there at Wellington Point in ridiculous winds for a beginner and have a ball - no harness. Hang of for dear life lol and get the thing flying (my level). Now, when I head out in windy conditions, I just seem to fall off and fall off and fall off, still cant water start so that takes it out of me uphauling 45 times in a short space of time. The harness is a variable, have also spent a lot of time out in light winds and don't stack then - I must be doing something wrong when the wind comes up maybe - bad habit of some sort. Perhaps like you said, I need to pay more attention to the rigging and my setup.

I will make some sort of sense of it I'm sure soon - getting too cold to fall in so much.

Thanks again for the encouraging words and I will keep putting up photos

Cheers
Morgan

Morgan,

Successful high wind sailing on lower volume boards depends on a number of things:
1. The right size sail for the wind conditions
2. Learn to water start
3. Good technique and muscle memory
4. Getting into the harness and foot straps

Going through each of them one by one:
1. I have a mental table of what sail size I use in differnet wind strengths:
- 13 to 18 kts - 7.8m2
- 15 to 22 kts - 7.0m2
- +20 kts - 6.4m2
Do you have the same? Your ranges will be different, because of your different weight and sail sizes

2. Learn to water start when the wind is strong enough. Google some how to instruction videos and practice, practice practice

3. If you use poor technique in low winds, you will get caught out in high winds. You might need some advanced lessions, either one on one or in a workshop to iron out some bad habits.

4. If your harness lines are the right length (usually long enough) and the boom is at the right height, you can hook up in any wind strength. As the wind gets stronger, remember to sit in your harness (bend your knees) to bring gravity into play, to stop you catapulting. Once in the harness, as the wind strength increases you can get your feet in the footstraps (when learning, move the footstraps forward and inward on your board, its easier to get in them). As you get on the plane, put your front in first, then as you accellerate, move your rear foot in. remember to keep sitting in your harness until both feet are in. If you put your feet in too early, i.e. before you get on the plane, you will tend to round up into the wind. It's a timing thing, you'll get used to it as you practice it.

The learning curve never stops. I've been windsurfing off and on since 1982. Some things I do well, some OK and lots badly. Windsurfing can be very frustrating at times, but as they say its a journey and when the dots line up, there is nothing quite like it.

Looking forward to reading your progress in SB. See you on the water

Hi Morgan. Some great advice and encouragement here from Pete and John 340! I love the term "sell it all days" as I've had few of my own over the years. When you do finally nail a skill, those bad days make landing a skill even sweeter.

If it helps, when I was learning to get into the foot straps, I took some lessons as like you are at the moment, I was so frustrated! I learned that I needed more board speed than I thought to get the front foot in, and then the instructor had me practice putting my front foot in and out of the front strap for what seemed like most of the first lesson. When I had mastered this part, I found in the second lesson I was going faster as my front foot pushed the board forward (hope that makes sense) creating more lift and board speed, and without realising it, I found to my surprise that my back foot was pushing against the back strap. It was a natural progression then to put my back foot into the back strap (this was not as easy for me as it sounds and came with lots of crashes and tail spins, but like John340 says, it's a timing thing and you'll get used to it with practice). My biggest realization was I needed more board speed to get the back foot in. There are much better sailors on this thread than me that can explain and/or expand on this, but this was my experience for what it's worth. Keep the faith mate and we'll see you on the water! Cheers, Jack.

Hi Morgan
Must say I've had quite a few days where I wanted to put a chainsaw through the gear

After similar earlier experiences on my Starboard Go 155 I had to put it on hold for nearly a year - still only get it out when the wind is stable 10-14 and I can sail it with a big sail. Anymore than this I can't seem to keep it under control with smaller sails and higher winds. Any letup on mast foot pressure and the board lifts it's nose and goes out of control?

I returned my big boards for a year - reliable confidence boosting rides without wearing myself out crashing all the time.

The main progress came with moving to a longboard - Kona - as it always worked but I could just have easily stayed with my Fanatic Viper 220litres (I'm a big bloke also) but not as much fun in lighter winds.

What I learnt in that year was the harness and getting mast foot pressure happening. Fighting the urge to standup when getting out of control - still do it and end up over the front

I'm that way now that if I'm not in the harness I'm nervous that I'm going to crash!!

I'm still coming to grips with the footstraps - can get my front foot in sometimes.

There was discussion over in general about this and the useful info for me was to not disturb the board. Jem hall 'beginner to winner' shows a practice technique lifting the front foot up while carrying your weight in the harness. I practice this while trying to keep the board stable


As above I need to be moving fast enough and in planing conditions to play with the footstraps


Lessons / having a coach are a real boon. Must say without my mate Richard spending time with me at Cootharaba I'd probably be done with the sport


Most of my discretionary $$$ is going on lessons these days.


Cheers Jeff

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ShailerSailor said...
Hi Morgan. Some great advice and encouragement here from Pete and John 340! I love the term "sell it all days" as I've had few of my own over the years. When you do finally nail a skill, those bad days make landing a skill even sweeter.

If it helps, when I was learning to get into the foot straps, I took some lessons as like you are at the moment, I was so frustrated! I learned that I needed more board speed than I thought to get the front foot in, and then the instructor had me practice putting my front foot in and out of the front strap for what seemed like most of the first lesson. When I had mastered this part, I found in the second lesson I was going faster as my front foot pushed the board forward (hope that makes sense) creating more lift and board speed, and without realising it, I found to my surprise that my back foot was pushing against the back strap. It was a natural progression then to put my back foot into the back strap (this was not as easy for me as it sounds and came with lots of crashes and tail spins, but like John340 says, it's a timing thing and you'll get used to it with practice). My biggest realization was I needed more board speed to get the back foot in. There are much better sailors on this thread than me that can explain and/or expand on this, but this was my experience for what it's worth. Keep the faith mate and we'll see you on the water! Cheers, Jack.

Great advice

Hey guys great advice thank you to everyone for your information - it makes a lot of sense. Something for me to work on cause I am keen to get all the dots in a line up.

I will keep updates coming

See you on the water

I've been sailing for over 20 years..one day I'll have a fantastic session in flat water planing out of all my gybes and feeling like a pro- next day in chop I'll feel like a beginner and muff half my gybes...I have 4 boards and with no wind the last few months have used my largest board for all that time. It certainly makes it easier using the same one as you get used to what is needed.
I find switching to the smaller ones ( 95 rocket - much narrower ) 78ltre Pocket wave ( I only weigh 63kgs) etc takes a bit to get things together. The big board is so forgiving but the little ones don't let you get away with bad habits !
Stick with it and just put it down to a bad day - you were probably just tired and the change to the different board with chop would have required adjusting a bit.

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sboardcrazy said...
I've been sailing for over 20 years..one day I'll have a fantastic session in flat water planing out of all my gybes and feeling like a pro- next day in chop I'll feel like a beginner and muff half my gybes...I have 4 boards and with no wind the last few months have used my largest board for all that time. It certainly makes it easier using the same one as you get used to what is needed.
I find switching to the smaller ones ( 95 rocket - much narrower ) 78ltre Pocket wave ( I only weigh 63kgs) etc takes a bit to get things together. The big board is so forgiving but the little ones don't let you get away with bad habits !
Stick with it and just put it down to a bad day - you were probably just tired and the change to the different board with chop would have required adjusting a bit.

Thanks sboardcrazy you are right I will put it down to a bad day. I am keen to get back on the water - wind a bit all over the place this weekend. I love the support you guys and girls are giving me. Anita is reading all of it so when she gets to this stage she will have a good understanding of how it all works. Jaye he is 15 and has it worked out already good man..

My current stats are 105kgs Mistral Pacifico 200l sup sail board, Naish Kailuha 180l has centre board, and Fanatic Shark 165l. Sails Neil Pride v6 7.5m2, Severne Synergy 6m2 and a Ka5.3

From all the great information I have received I am thinking it is the downforce - mast foot pressure I am having my issues and foot straps and keeping my weight in the harness - they seem to all go together.

I recon lessons on the water to expedite the next stage of my windsurfing learning curve, I think Youtube is going to start charging me I am looking at so much stuff lol. I have to work out why I am turning up wind all the time and get my weight off the front foot(i seem to be pushing the front around most of the time or pushing the mast forward to turn back down) otherwise I end up stalling and falling backwards. I must ad that I am ok if I am not in the harness, I have a good ride but can't maintain that for long, fitness levels.

I will get this ---- too much fun not to hope to see you all on the water

Some things I did when learning.....To stop rounding up into the wind.

1.Use the inner most position for the foot straps. (Use 3 if the board has the option)
2.Mast base in the middle (even a little bit more forward till you get use to it)
3.Stay on the centre line (your board is wide so you are likely to be carving the board into the wind)
4.Push through your toes (keep the weight off your heals)
5.Get in the harness early (long lines help)
6.When your about to move your feet, tense you abdominal mussels like your doing a crunch (elbows down), this forces you to push your ass out and pull down on the boom which enguages the lines and increases the downforce.
7.Do the above hundreds of time with a few mandatory catapults thrown in to keep the onlookers amused.

Anyways sounds like your doing awesome....Keep it up.

Thanks very much jh2703 some nice pointers appreciate it i will try and follow those guidelines.

Decided to take the Pacifico to currumbin for a sup today and tomorrow. Might stay for the night somewhere down there - going to try and get a good mate onto the sup for his birthday this weekend. Will be interesting he has never been on anything in the water before and he is fifties.

Might take Anita's junior rig in case a little breeze turns up.

Have a good day on the water everyone

This week end is looking ok for us beginners might go to manly on Saturday for a look see. Need to do it after a week of it at work only one more sleep and we can get out on the water and all our worries go away.

lol then it is man..... i wish i could get this thing going front foot straight, back leg bent, sit in the harness, look where i am going, keep the rig away from me woo hoo sounds like fun cant wait.

See you guys on the water
Have fun
Morgan

.be

Great one there Morgan. How did you make that video with the hand doing its thing?

Good day for learning yesterday.

Cheers Jeff