Well I couldnt wait and at the last minute on Saturday decided to give it a go when the missus got home (I had the kids so couldnt just up and leave - damn!)

picked up a wetsuit (little tear on the elbow, didnt notice it though) $35 for a steamer along the way, did the job well, is it easy to repair these? I'm assuming its just going to tear further

back to the real story, I didnt have an uphaul rope so out of desperation I just cut the rope for my ladder, used it to tie the board to the roof rack, cut a section on the beach and away I went. After an hour my hands started to kill, admitedly I was constantly pulling on that damn nylon rope! Needless to say I developed a blister on my pointing finger right where fingerless gloves would end.
Are full finger gloves going to be too hard too used on the boom? I've had a look on ebay, but they seem to be diving gloves which I guess just wouldnt last given I'm going to be using them mostly for uphauling!

You probably dont want gloves unless it is mid-winter. A cheap uphaul rope will solve your problem, or just make sure you have some knots tied at just the right spots.

It could also be that your technique could be a little off, making uphauling harder than it should be.

Yep.. get a proper uphaul rope.

Gloves (if you're really that soft) need to be as thin as you can find on the "holding stuff" side.

If you get some that are thicker, you'll have big problems with forearm 'pump' due to trying to hang on to a larger diameter, and that really kills your sailing enjoyment.

The only people who really use gloves sailing (that I've seen anyway) are the same guys who sail in dry suits, and have to stop sailing when the water ices over.

I doubt there's much call for gloves in Australia..

Gloves or no gloves are a personal decision. Fingerless v full are again a personal decision. I have used gloves from my early learning days and still use them now. If you have soft hands due to the type of work you do I would highly recommend that you use gloves to avoid blisters.
I currently have full fingered gloves that have holes worn in the end! Damn nuisance. I have a new pair that are fingerless which is what I think I will stick with in the future to avoid the fingers slipping in and out of the holes in the future.

Definitely get a proper uphaul rope as it will make it a lot easier. Also you may have to look at your technique a little. If you are getting blisters it will be because the rope is slipping through your hands. You shouldnt need gloves if your technique and equipment are right. I can manage to uphaul a 8.5m sail without hurting my hands and I am not a big guy by any stretch of the imagination lol.

In saying that, during winter I do wear gloves when it is very cold but only because I have nerve damage to my fingers. I have full finger gloves but do find that due to the added thickness on my hands, my arms tend to tire and get sore a little quicker.

just ordered a rope on good ol ebay :) - I guess a thin nylon rope just isnt going to cut it.

as for technique - well I have none. I spent most of the time in the water, ended up with prune hands. not really surprised I got blisters given the circumstances.

I could of kept trying but the hands were saying no. was even keen to go out on sunday but spent it shopping for presents (and sneaking off trying to find some gloves when I could)

thanks for all the advice

Buy a proper uphaul, cheap and easy on the hands (trust me - i've spent the last year making the same mistakes you are making now - i.e: starting out windsurfing)


Windsurfing Sales have them for $19!
http://www.windsurfingsales.com.au/products/rig-accessories/

No gloves needed (but might wanna have one glove on if uphauling every 5mins for a 5hr sesh)

well the blister wore off yesterday, broke the tip of my board.......
thing is - I ended up getting gloves at a scuba shop at my local shopping centre (freaky - was trying to get them from WA and Queensland for 2 weeks)
picked up some fibreglass, board is drying now.
Waiting for it to dry now and hoping to have another go this arvo....

Hey Peter, thanks heaps for the lesson yesterday!

Heaps to think about and raring to give it another go