Rusty

am having trouble finding the foyer... Might be because I drank to much during your speech I started on longboards in the east, where the wind is $#!@, I mean not as good as it is in WA. Since converting to non-yatch type boards I have never looked back... There are plenty of modern boards the whole family can get on (at once) that don't have all the quirks of aging longboards

Happy sailing, whatever your persuasion

Go the wally board. Surely you could get one of these beauties in good nick for less than $100 these days.Perfect for drifting around the ocean and taking it easy.

I got one for free for a friend (who hasn't bothered to come and get it) through this site and was planning on passing it down the line. Not any more...
We get plenty of light wind days in WA (seems more-so lately), so Rusty, you've inspired me to keep it, with a 15 month son who may want to hang onto the front and go for a light wind cruise with me, reckon it should be great fun!!!! Cheers to getting back to basics Bloke! I suppose I have memories of the sh#tty rigs I used on said boards back then. It should be heaps more fun now with a light, modern rig!!!
I was at a garage sale yesterday and could have walked away with a nice centreboard 330 for $125 fully rigged (=cheap fun!).

I understand where you are coming from, did you know that there are still windsurfer one design nationals going on in Victoria. I miss my one design racing, sure the gear was low performance but the racing was so cool and it sure was great fun trying to course race a one design in 40 knots. If anyone knows where I can buy a complete one (inclduing rig) I would be most interested to know. Freestyle was ultra cool too, and bash em up starts for course races ahh those were the days.

L

Rusty,

About the second part of your question - what are the new 'fat' bards like?

Basically they are excellent for the initial learning stages (say about the first 10 times out). They are heaps stable, and so a beginner stays pretty dry. This boosts confidence immensly over a soaking wet beginner.

Actually I don't think my girlfriend has actually fallen off her Starboard Start board yet!

Another advantage is that they encourage beginners to learn how to use the straps and the harness early. Longboards, especially course boards, can actually teach bad habits to beginners (eg front foot too far forward, pushing against the daggerboard), and slow down skill development by a considerable ratio.

But there comes a time when a beginner is best moving away from a wide board, to the next notch gear wise, which could be a shortboard, or a wally if your in a light wind area. Once you know how to use the next gear, it is time to move.

Re performance, there are different types of wide boards so results vary, but in typical Sydney conditions (its red on the seabreeze forecast for the vast majority of the next week), a long board will be faster than a wide board in such conditions(eg 5 to 10 knot - where waterline length is an asset), but much slower in winds over say 15 knots (planning).

Rusty,

All good stuff – but I’m a little confused when you talk about modern longer boards.

Which ones are you referring to – I’m not sure that there are any longer boards made (except maybe the Mistral one design?).

Are you thinking of something like a F2 Discovery board, with the removable (screw in screw out) centre fin? If so these are good boards.

PS All beginners should take some lessons
I started out at Canton beach on cheap rented boards...$10 first hour and $5 each hour after that and the owner gave me free lessons at the saME time,HE was great and i was sorry when he closed up because of the GST coming in,He got me going,i had even bought my wally,but it was cheaper to use his then to carry mine,when he left i needed some professional lessons and to learn to rig which was what he hadnt taught me,and i was unsure of rigging my own board.
Enter Sailboards Safaris and Warren Francis,this is where I grew as a sailer,much to his surprise All i wanted was to Ride Wallys,but there was a reason I had one at home and i needed to reach a level of expertise and feel comfortable with it,he got me to the level I wanted and that was to feel i knew what I was doing,I also took some personal lessons with him afterwards and then I was confident to drive up the coast many times on my own SAILBOARD SAFARI exploring many exciting coastal areas.
Now im starting over again after a lay off,get another board If i can cope with it,then see about some new lessons or warrens Safaris.
SO newbies get some lessons,its easy to get into bad habbits,whether a wally or a modern wideboard.
HEY LAURIE is it worth having a section for newbies and funboarders,I know a lot read in the background but never write anything and then probably disapear,maybe theyd stay around if they had a section they felt comfortable posting in?

Hi Doc
your right I agree,definately,its just that more beginners will end up on wide boards as the shops do push the wide boards for beginners,hence more beginners would end up with one if they went to a shop,and thats not a bad thing,Im not against wide at all,and I believe it has revolutionised learning too,and other catogories,I'd consider a "Start" or "Go",but the "Start" is too heavy for me,and both are possibly too difficult to carry for me because of its width.
Maybe my point is really a section on this site where newbies and cruizers might feel more comfortable to ask questions,and maybe get feedback from other newbies,cruizers or veterans,I know they could do that now anyway if they wanted to, but ive been on this site for many months now and Ive not noticed many asking anything,I thought perhaps they felt it too daunting or intimidating,no offence to the regulars,who I enjoy reading their comments,thats why im still here as ive learnt heaps here,Ive just taken a chance to open my mouth,and see what happens.
Even though I was an intermediate,with the break Ive had,I feel I'll be starting a new learning curve too on a different board,and its good to hear others opinions at a similar level.
Rusty......... in colour,sailing and cars.

Hio Seaworthy
Found the one 70 at Longreef a couple of months ago,looked good condition.They are very helpful guys worth ringing them.
Well today I bought a brand NEW board........went down to call in on ECB and Longreef today to check on boards,stopped at ECB first as its first one I came to,Well found myself a brand new Fanatic Bee 315,New old stock at a good price,fits my criteria and maximum weight of 13 kg.nice board.couldnt pass it up,even though i was trying not to buy new.
thanks to Sam at ECB who gave me good service and a good deal,I can certainly recomend Sam's service,even dropped the base off to me at Narrabeen lakes after work when it was forgotten,and i still had another hours drive home,that helped me a lot.
By coincidence I saw Warren Francis there preparing for Winda Woopa next week,hadnt seen him in years,invited me up next week,but hey Im broke after buying this board Ill have to see.
Now I need some sails to use with my old rig or a whole new second hand rig.

Ah the fun of finally powering onto a plane and ten secounds latter the thing turns on its side, legs slide to leeward and arse to windward, back raps around centreboard.
a cheap chiro adjustment, well worth the 20 bucks forked out at that garage sale.

best winds
Tony Lorenz

Loose fin,

maximise your crossover fun, try your kite with the wally.

This I did last week ay Sandy Pt on my Naish Kailua with centre board in.
stand ,sit ,lay down, kneel whatever it's fun.

about as much control as with a 1983 alpha sail.

best winds
Tony Lorenz

Russell...
I must say, my brother, Lachlan insists on sailing his Wally in 25 knots without a harness just to prove he can make it back to the beach! and does so for about 2 hours..loves it!

However..on a teaching level...the newer wide style boards like Starboard Start, Bic Nova, Naish Kailua, etc etc are just SO easy for learning on...you do avoid a wet student who can sail in the inside footstraps, harnessed in on a stable board...planing!

Managed to discuss with a 104litre client into buying a 150+ board as he lives in Canberra and wants to maximise his sailing...(not sure why he had the 104 litre board for Canberra...however he does want to save it for coast missions with Scott from WetSpots - Canberra).

He for the first time, got both feet in the straps, planning comfortable in the harness....on a 160 litre board here at Winda Woppa..so was stoked! Sure it begs the question WHY did he have a 104 litre board...cos he was a straight line blaster! Might also add, he owned a Mistral One-Design but found it all too hard to turn / steer, loved the freedom of a newer shorter board!

Wally's are cool for cruising...but the newer boards are far better for progressing your skills on...esp. getting over hurdles in skill barriers!

I recall Tony's comments about impaling on centerboards..not an uncommon university trick for those beginners on the start line!

Enjoy Russell and i look forward to seeing you on your new board!

Warren Francis
www.safarilodge.com.fj

Hi guys,Warren hows Winda Woopa,this week?
This new board of mine should give me the slight change i need ,because although its the last of the long boards,its also a transitional board too.Shorter and slighly wider,and designed to turn quicker,and generally gain many shortboard attributes.
And these types have been said to be the forerunners of certain wideboard designs too.[well at least Ive read that on a number of sites]
Also Warren I drive a Falcon Van like yours....true but without the rust ...maybe you should be called Rustbucket....ha.lol[good vans eh]
And I can fit my new board inside the van,from dash vent to rear corner and still see out the windows and mirrors,now thats great for a longboard,any wider though and it would be difficult although then it would be shorter too and perhaps would still fit,I think if the board was much wider i would find it much more difficult to move around,and carry.
I was sailing mostly with the daggerboard up too,so im not dependent on a daggerboard but like the option.
Ive always thought of Wallyboards as very stable,so always find it amazing when people say they are unstable,the only time I think they are less stable is hitting some larger chop,or sailing on a Downwind Run,but thats fun being challenged.
I had taken into account that everyone says the new wider boards are so much more stable and that did tempt me,but as I was happy with the amount of stability on a wally wouldnt i get bored quickly with a super stable board?,Quite a few people had aluded to this,previous to my purchase.So I did research my product well,and this was one of the boards that fit my needs of width,daggerboard,volume,and weight.
First sail was a breeze,and didnt hurt my hearnia so i was impressed,but i wish I didnt push that 1960 Morris minor Convertible I trailered today,
Overal i think Ive found the next step in my sailing,it was this or give up sailing because of my health and damn I got on this site to just get rid of my gear,but found I couldnt give up after reading everyones posts,i cant wait to be able to power up with bigger sails once I get the operation over and done with.Then ill see this baby flyyyyyyyy.
This is the end of page one,clic below for page two.

It's been years since I sailed at all let alone a wind surf one design. Just came across this web site and had to respond. I'm one of those semi-old "Has beens". Started windsurfing 1981. Wally with wooden boom, barely even tied to the mast. Those were the days, reaching, centre board over your shoulder (waiting for it to wack you in the head or at least dislocate your shoulder).

I've owned 5 wally's (and of course an array of slalom,Wave and Speed Boards), my favorite was the wally with a rotating centreboard (the one that still stuck out of the board about an inch when fully retracted). I raced that beauty at Geraldton WA where most of the fleet would be rescued each race. I miss the great races with great friends at Nedlands Yacht Club, Bridge to Bridge Classics, the Windurfer One Design State Titles and WABSA circuit.

Wally racing was about the sailor not the size of his/her wallet and WA where it is windy most of the time being heavy was an advantage.

There's nothing like the brute strength required on 30knot day. I read elsewhere on forum about a guy learning to waterstart - try that on a wally on windy day! Or trying as hard as you can not to get slam dunked going up wind - your clew hand pulling as hard as you can and your mast hand pushing.

I can't believe I became "that guy" that doesn't windsurf any more. In the old days nothing else mattered. Maybe one day I will return, but where will my favorite board be? Probably in the same place as other equipment, somewhere up in the roof of the garage.

Well I have only recently taken up sailboarding at Jimmy's Beach, Nelson Bay. NSW.
I am 55 years, and not in the best of health. So I also tried to learn on a longboard.
On the beach learning the basic uphauling was just fine, different story on the water
though. After 1 day of continually falling off, I simply gave up. My instructor suggested
that aqaurobics might be a better choice of water sport. Let me just say that
a novice with meniere's disease and longboards just do not gel. Another windsurfer
apparently seeing my enthuasism coupled with frustration, mentioned the Starboard Start.
I did some research, dug up some jam tins with a few dollars in them and bought the
2005 model board. After only four weeks I can now comfortably sail in most wind strengths
on Nelson Bay. As a bonus I can also tap dance on the board. I can also take my wife for a
sail on the board as well. But the Start is very bulky (beam over a 1m) and heavy
(15kg). So if you seen an old fossil carrying this monster at Jimmy's, it's me.

BTW I can report that longboards are still being sailed on Nelson Bay.