Hey guys , Im getting ready for the season , normally I go to the estuary to sail which is waist deep and great to learn. Im 3 years in now and would love to get to the ocean and sail/surf waves.
Im after any advice to get me there . I have wind supped twice on waves and love it.
Do most wave sailers gybe or tack . I would have to say im not that keen on spending to much time in the drink 300 meters out.
Im 95 kg , so wondering what size board most would recommend , do sails need to be wave sails ? been using a simmer enduro
Would you recommend to grow a set and just get out there or are there certain skill sets to master first. I can water start but its still hard work if the rig falls the wrong way. Can gybe 4 out of ten times.
Should I stick with the sup for waves and practice in the estuary ?
do they make wave boards 120lt plus ? never see any for sale

1st day out, look for 20 mph breeze with 6.0...at bit underpowered and small waves you don't fear, with the board you are comfortable riding.
Wind has to be side shore to head out and back, as much as 45degrees to shore doable.
More onshore, plan to spend more time just riding inside in waist to head deep whitewater. Big space between rows of whitewater to ride along the beach.

If you get outside, only go out as far as you're comfortable swimming in. Jibe or tack, what feels best for you. I have NEVER tacked surfsailing, and that includes my 1st day in waves with a 12' beginner board. To me, tacking adds a static moment which causes balance problems in rough water, backwash, current, and waves.
Ride out and back to shore a few runs to get comfortable.
After that, you're there.
Watch other's.

Wave boards 120 liters? Real wave board no. Some FSW are more wave oriented, about 115 liters.

That 120 size a windsup could be a better choice, or just a FSW.

WITH A BOARD YOU ARE COMFORTABLE riding!
Caught and rode 7 waves at 4' Ocean Beach SF my 9th day windsurfing with a Bic Dufour Wing.
My bud at 275 lbs. was riding Waddell Creek same size his first surfsailing day on a Marker 1, 11'9" x 200 liters.
Ride what you got.

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LeeD said..
If you get outside, only go out as far as you're comfortable swimming in. Jibe or tack, what feels best for you. I have NEVER tacked surfsailing, and that includes my 1st day in waves with a 12' beginner board. To me, tacking adds a static moment which causes balance problems in rough water, backwash, current, and waves.
Ride out and back to shore a few runs to get comfortable.
After that, you're there.
Watch other's.

I have to say that all the good wave sailors I've seen tack more than gybe.

Both skills are nice to have but only one is necessary.

Thinking more about tacking onto a wave or outside transition.
Personally, never did it.
Competed in over 10 surfsailing events, but never got snaked on a wave by a tacker. Priority is to furthest outbound and upwind sailor, not who can snake a wave.
Inside jibe allows planing and jumping. Tacking might keep non planers upwind.
I like to plane both directions.

I can't tack a waveboard and frequently can't gybe the damn thing either. Neither one keeps me from enjoying side-on/onshore conditions, my waterstarts however are pretty well dialed which is I think the only skill a person absolutely needs provided they stick with conditions within their comfort level.

perfect , cheers guys really appreciate it

I brought 2 beginner friends who don't surf to Punta Abreojos, a renown wave sailing spot in central Baja West Coast.
Both didn't know how to waterstart.
They did fine riding in and out thru the surf zone, which never got smaller than 4', chest high.
Uphaul even in the whitewater zone, neither broke gear but both did get washed to shore a number of times.

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LeeD said..
Both skills are nice to have but only one is necessary.

Neither is necessary - dont be an elitist ass hat. Waterstarting is a requirement though.

Sorry to be a pain but FSW is that free style wave ????

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HENDO 77 said..
Sorry to be a pain but FSW is that free style wave ????

Yes

Tacking a wave board is very handy BTW, highly recommend learning (start in the shallows) keeps you upwind check the online videos for tips

If the rig is wrong way / under when attempting to waterstart just use an uphaul to get the rig the right way (or get going again) instead of struggling in the water

I'm around the 95 - 97kg mark and I'm using a Starboard Code FSW 103L as mentioned a 115L board would be floaty enough, not sure how good the Wind Sups are for jumping? another good reason to hit the waves

As someone who has only very recently begun wavesailing, I found that watching some youtube videos was great help (namely this one: ) This helped me keep my kit in one piece when stranded in the impact zone with no wind.

I also found that having plenty of consistent wind was helpful as I could outrun the waves if need be and waterstart easily.

Sailing with others is very important as you can see what to do and places to avoid.

As for tacking and gybing, I suppose it depends which direction the wind is coming from and which direction you are riding the wave. I think tacking makes lots of sense if you can do it well. I'm still working on it.

I'm 82kg and have been wavesailing on a 94L freestyle wave (Starboard Kode) with an old 4.7m Neilpryde Zone. I'm yet to use my 113L Kode in the waves. This could be good in float and ride conditions.

Edit: quick, effortless waterstarting is very useful in the waves. As mentionned by others, no shame in using the uphaul if you can balance on the board!

Good luck!

The only requirement for wave sailing is desire.
Tacking, jibing, waterstarting are only acquired skills.
My first day, about day 6 of the 1st lesson, was in foggy 8 mph sideon wind with shoulder high shorebreak surf.
Plenty of guys were wavesailing before waterstart were known.

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LeeD said..
The only requirement for wave sailing is desire.
Tacking, jibing, waterstarting are only acquired skills.
My first day, about day 6 of the 1st lesson, was in foggy 8 mph sideon wind with shoulder high shorebreak surf.
Plenty of guys were wavesailing before waterstart were known.

Clearly you have reading-comprehension issues... go re-read the first post, it was quite explicit at having a short-board (circa 130L) so 8mph wind speed isn't in the ballpark.

... but I digress... your own post said "Both skills are nice to have but only one is necessary".... so which way is it ?

Hendo, I think the first thing you need is a feel for the local wave riding etiquette.
Here we tend to give way to the person riding the wave were possible. But if somebody is struggling to get out while you're on the wave give way to them. Don't drop in on or snake, first on the wave has the wave.

The third break at Avalon, is probably the best place to start. It runs into deep water, instead of reef like the other two breaks. But if it's a bigger day, head high and over, be careful of going too far down the line, you can go past the gap in the reef.

Don't try wave sailing with a cambered sail, you can't turn it off very well, and it's much harder to waterstart, the lower clue is more likely to catch the wave in a bottom turn.

You don't need to tack, very few early wave sailors could tack their waveboards, I certainly can't. A snap gybe losses very little ground, and gets me back to the take off quick enough. (As long as there's not too much competition from those who can tack). For our stronger seebreaze days a 100l board should be OK for you, but 130ls would see you out in lighter conditions.

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decrepit said..
...
Don't try wave sailing with a cambered sail, you can't turn it off very well, and it's much harder to waterstart, the lower clue is more likely to catch the wave in a bottom turn.
...

... and break battens. Don't go in the waves with tube battens or a high carbon race mast. Use a skinny.

Perfect . Ill take that advice and give 3rds at Avalon a go
cheers All

OK, so if it over 20kts, I have an old 90l wave board you can borrow to try out for size, Probably a tad small but in strong winds should work for you. Any way may give you some idea. My old high wind board is around 65l and at the time I was 70Kg.
If you want to try it, PM me and I'll give you my number