Hi all
i bought a Kona 11'5" and am enjoying the challenge of sailing it at Rose Bay. Its a lovely lively board. It is a model without centreboard so challenging for someone like me with limited skills. The main challenge is taking off in chop without the extra stability of a centreboard. Not sure what sails suit best. I would be interested in any tips about getting the best from it. Also keen to find the optimal fin and best ways to rig it. If anyone has a Kona with centreboard for sale I would be interested.

Hey Picklejam, welcome to Seabreeze

I have an Exocet windsup 11'8" so same designer and features the step tail. I used to only sail shortboards but then family came along so great to sail close but in offshore. Super gusty until a few hundred meters offshore then blasting, don't recommend until you're experienced.

Like any sport learning takes a while so maybe get some lessons to improve your skills.
If your young, good balance, confident then watching you tube.

You have your state as ACT, many years ago I lived in Canberra for a couple of years and spring and summer sailed the old race boards. In the lulls sail upwind then in the gusts bast in the straps.

Good luck

they are hard to find, congrats in getting one.

I found an old one about 10 years ago when I was getting back into windsurfing and i put a lot of miles on it. I don't think of it being particularly difficult to sail. The same short boarding principles seem to apply to getting it to plane. Bear off a bit, pump the sail, gradually shift your feet back. For slogging upwind though I use the wave board technique of railing the board to windward, not the longboard technique of railing to leeward. Not sure if any of that helps but there is lots you can do with that board. Regarding sails, I think anything will work from wave sails to cammed sails



More windsup blasting but not me

For flatwater - power! More than you think. The rocker means it won't plane as early as other boards but because it can be railed to windward it won't overpower either. 7.0 or 7.5 would be a good biggest sail. On the other hand, for small waves use the smallest sail which allows you to stay upwind and punch out through the waves. After that the sail is mostly yo allow you to pump onto the wave and all your speed comes from the wave itself. freestyle sails work well as do normal wave sails and even soft or semi-soft trainers. I think cams would be more weight but no more benefit.

Thanks. Very helpful and encouraging!