2 decades later and finally a surf sailing session again, I've been waiting for this day. 1.5 years back into windsurfing and the brain remembers but the body was struggling to do what the brain was saying! It was good fun none-the-less and I'm hooked again!

Man was I anxious, good NE 15-20knots, messy waves waist high with the rare near head high. 6.4 KA Kult flattened out and a big arse 135L Fanatic Cross. I didn't last long, I've forgotten that there is a different degree of fitness required for the surf compared to flat water. You really don't get too many breaks (excuse the pun), it's go go go in the surf especially in the breaking zone! Once launched from the beach you really need to commit and just go for it, baulk and it's crunch time. I've forgotten that getting air requires little effort, just speed and an oncoming wave, woosh and you're up there, how far, high and with a sail up landing was a different matter. I landed a small one and planed away, that was really nice and then got too ambitious and ate the rest with arse first (mine not board's) landings. I'll sort that out. But what a hoot!

Waterstarts was where the lack of fitness showed, I was burning lots of energy waterstarting, bumpy water made it awkward. Mental note, I must use the NP flotation vest next time, it'll help with popping the mast up for waterstarts and should also assist with me treadwatering and getting the sail and board into position! Just have to get the fitness up and I'll be right.

It may sound like I had an awful time, I didn't, I was dissapointed I didn't last very long (ran out of puff and got really thirsty waterstarting) but I got the monkey off my back and I'm back in the surf and that's what makes me stoked! Next session I'll start concentrating on landing jumps and making succesful gybes and then start working on riding the waves. Long way to go, but who cares I'm in no rush.

Thanks to Adam (AJEaster) for the invite and encouragement to go out and the use of your wave fin, I wouldn't have got out there without you mate. It was great to see 4-5 other windsurfers out there too and one of them, Glen, was an old face from my home break at Long Reef in the late '80s. Small world.

Oh, and I didn't break anything! How cool is that!

Sounds like fun (and hard work) mate! Good on you for taking on the waves again. And with good company too by the sounds of it

When I finally ditch the L plates I too hope to hit the waves, but that dream seems a loooooooooong way off just yet...

You did well to get out in waves that high! I went out in c 2' and 10-15kts and that was a buzz..Pity you need to be so much fitter to sail in the surf. If you can do it it's certainly more interesting than flat water.
Congrats! I bet you'll be buzzing for days.

Thanks guys, hey Larko those Long Reef days were the best days of my life bar marrying the nicest woman on the planet, in hindsight I shouldn't have let the sport slip away and be forgotten. Geez they were fun days.

The gear I used yeserday was way too big for the conditions, even with the sail flattened out I rocketed off the beach and it was jump city! It was conditions like these that I waited for back in the old days. Some things came back pretty quickly, lots of speed + wave face = height! But this was my first jump in 20 years so I depowered lots but still was getting low flat jumps (controlled fall behind the wave). Pity I forgot how to land! The speed this Cross can get, with the 6.4, off the beach would have been a dream to have back then too, it's so much faster than what I used back then.

It was the first time I switched the rear outboard straps to a single rear on this board, it felt really good and was so natural to find and foot steering so much more responsive. I s'pose sailing for 10+ years with only a single rear strap explains that. I still have trouble finding the outside straps when it's set-up that way! I can't wait for the next session.

Sue, I know this sounds blasè now because I was crapping myself prior to the sail, but don't think about it too much and just do it. You already have the skills to handle it. Just don't pick a big day. I reckon you would have handled yesterday quite easily. Some wave sets were bigger but weren't steep which was my saviour. I screwed up 100% of my gybes which was my problem resulting in becoming tired from waterstarting. You have regained more skills than I have. I also had an advantage that someone was there holding my hand, I didn't head out alone + there were other sailors who I luckily met beforehand. I felt comfortable sailing in numbers, maybe a subconcious thing from the past when Longy always had 20+ sailors on most sailable days and I got used to it. Even the kiters who were out were a good lot, they even cruised past me to see if I was OK on several occasions, which was comforting to know that there were people out there to help if I got into real trouble. Sailing alone in the surf is intimidating, I wouldn't do it unless I was 100% confident in all areas and in my gear. Just do it Sue.

Hey PhilSWR, it took me a season of regular sailing way back then in a lake and then headed into the surf. You have some really good safe water around where you are, you have a mix of lake/bay conditions and surf all in one place! At least in NE'ers you'd get blown back to the beach! Just get your beach and waterstarts working right away. Hopefully catch up with you at SWR sometime soon.

I'm pumped.

Lucky he's too far away from me to be a hassle.. How did you injure yourself? ( I was going to take pics of my bruised leg but didn't get around to it..still on crutches..).

Dear October and January project. I aint finished with either of you yet

October project, consider that lovely rainbow a right of passage ......and yes, that stack looked like a legit fwd attempt wooo-hoooo

Till the next NE........

AJEaster said...

Dear October and January project. I aint finished with either of you yet

October project, consider that lovely rainbow a right of passage ......and yes, that stack looked like a legit fwd attempt wooo-hoooo

Till the next NE........

Maybe I wont come up to Wallis Lakes in winter to sail with you you sound dangerous..

AJEaster said...

sboardcrazy said...

AJEaster said...

Dear October and January project. I aint finished with either of you yet

October project, consider that lovely rainbow a right of passage ......and yes, that stack looked like a legit fwd attempt wooo-hoooo

Till the next NE........

Maybe I wont come up to Wallis Lakes in winter to sail with you you sound dangerous..

First time we meet Sue I will take it easy on you - but the second time.......

Big S.Westerly for thursday up here. Maybe a Pacific Palms day (wallis lake). I have flagged the day as a possible annual leave day just in case.


GOOD COP SAYS: REST THAT LEG, YOU DONT WANT TO EXTEND INJURY TIME BY GOING HARD TOO EARLY.
SAILBOARD COP: Well, you know what he would say

If I can bend it without pain I might consider it but its supposed to be 20-30kts which usually Id love but not with an injury..15 would be nice and gentle to see if it hurts..
Its been 2 weeks now.Some one pointed out tonight I have bruises behind my knee..a big dark one in one hollow and a lesser in the other. I always thought that bruises were from impact and I didn't hit there? I had a big bruise diagonally on the inside of the knee and below on the outside.They've almost gone.The quad muscle which is where most of the pain has been has no bruising?grr if its going to b hurt like hell at least look it could look impressive!

"Hey PhilSWR, it took me a season of regular sailing way back then in a lake and then headed into the surf. You have some really good safe water around where you are, you have a mix of lake/bay conditions and surf all in one place! At least in NE'ers you'd get blown back to the beach! Just get your beach and waterstarts working right away. Hopefully catch up with you at SWR sometime soon."

I'm hearing you. It's funny, I've lived here for 20 odd years and never looked at Trail Bay in any other way than a fishing / boating spot. Now, having got myself a sailboard (thanks Needsalt), I now view it as a fun park for wind surfing! It certainly seems designed for them.

Will work on beach and water starts, but I gotta learn to turn without falling off first! Spend 2 hours on the bay this arfternoon, had a ball in the light nor-easter, even planned for the 1st time, but fell off every single turn. Needless to say carving the tops of those lazy swells that break on the point is a long way off yet... But that is the dream!

Let me know if you ever head up, I'll join you for a sail and get some much needed pointers.

nosinkanow said...

Very noice. One day soon I might drag out the old waveboard circa '88, it was a good board in its day and still in really good nick but I'll need lots of wind, it used to be a "semi-sinker", it is now a full on sinker. Pity the track is very forward as was the norm back then, interesting to see if a modern sail will be OK with it. Probably not but it will be good to try it out again....(wipes a tear from his eye).

Hehe... have you seen Windsurfing Movie II? You're giving me flash backs of Mark Angulo taking his retro board out of the fence "This board is SICK!!! I'm gonna sail this thing!!"

nosinkanow said...

Yeah he's a contagious SOB. Hope to have a sail with you Needsalt.

He sure is. Look forward to a sail sometime soon!

Needsalt said -
Good luck with your recovery! Some times it's best to wrap your balls in cotton wool for a little while to minimise total time off the water. Short term sacrifice for long term gain

PS
If it wasn't for the risk that I might wipe out the whole season rather than a few weeks I'd be out there now.. Nothing else could motivate me as much as that fear..