Hi: it has been a long time since I wrote here. Enough time to keep buying or receiving for free old boards. So now I have 11 pieces of crap that maybe have the greatest fun/cost ratio of any activities I can think of, living 5 minutes away from the beach. My last purchase was 10 euro Mistral Competition that has been unused and hanged on a wall for 35 years, mint condition.

My question is: my place has termal winds, below 8 knots until 1PM or so, increases usually to max 15 knots at 5PM. I also have the eventual storm based 25k blast. I'm trying to figure out which board to take to have the most fun for the conditions. I'm 54, weight 67k, I don't know how to water start but never had to be towed away from the sea in any conditions, learning to jive and in love with the Mistral Explosion 120L these days. But. I have options (I KNOW my Tabou is the best board I have but I'm waiting to improve to enjoy it). Which one should I rig, depending on wind? My main question is, will I have fun with 5 knots in a Mistral Competition or better stay at home or use another like the Veloce 328? Thanks!

Mistral Edge: 268x54,5 92L
Tabou Rocket: 105 237 x 61 105L
Mistral Explosion: 288x58 120L
Bic Astro Rock: 284cm 61cm 125L
Bic Techno Core 148: 283x69 152L
Mistral New Malibu: 330x63 165L
F2 Comet: 330x67 170L
Bic Veloce 328: 328x68 185L
Mistral Competition TCS: 372cm 70cm 230L
Tiga Fuego
Fanatic Viper WindSUP: 335 x 85 x 330L

My 2cents
Those conditions call for 2 boards.
Mistral Competition
Mistral Explosion
until you grow into the Rocket.

Yeah I dunno about a long skinny old school freeride being the best, as when planing it needs such different stance and trim to a new freeride like the rocket.

I say use old longboard with daggerboard in little wind and as soon as its 14 or 15kn get on the Rocket and stick with it.
Ditch all the others as I don;t think you will grow into the rocket with the bad habits developed when planing on a 280 long freeride from long ago

Mark _australia said..
Yeah I dunno about a long skinny old school freeride being the best, as when planing it needs such different stance and trim to a new freeride like the rocket.

I say use old longboard with daggerboard in little wind and as soon as its 14 or 15kn get on the Rocket and stick with it.
Ditch all the others as I don;t think you will grow into the rocket with the bad habits developed when planing on a 280 long freeride from long ago

Hi Mark! Can you do a quick summary on stance and trim differences? I agree with you, I'm progressing with the Explosion but who knows if learning nothing for the Rocket :-)

in low wind, I enjoy just cruising with the long "boats"

My vote would be the windsup until you get blown off the water

Competition and Rocket, the rest go in the bin.

Mistral Explosion all the way, I've had the exact same size since new, learnt everything on it and it's still my go to board. Looks a bit like I'm sailing a longboard nowadays but it's so good.

Mr Milk said..

JPBARNA said..
learning to jive and in love

I'm happy for you
Jive is a lively type of music that first became popular in the 1930s. If you've seen movies with people wearing 1930s clothing fast dancing and spinning around, chances are they're dancing to jive music.
But the word you want is GYBE, unless you're a flashy freestyler, in which case jive sums it up nicely

Thanks for the correction, I don't know if I can edit the post afterwards. I will definitely give it a try and, please, if you find another mistake just keep me informed. In reality, the quality of gybes I execute could depict me as a jive practitioner out of safer places. Cheers, JP

pineapple said..
Mistral Explosion all the way, I've had the exact same size since new, learnt everything on it and it's still my go to board. Looks a bit like I'm sailing a longboard nowadays but it's so good.

Yes but he has a modern freeride, he will get on it and hate it if sailing the Explosions for along time
If the Explosion is your only one and you love it, great
But with so many boards and wanting to prune it down a bit, I think he would want to keep the Rocket.

Mr Milk said..

JPBARNA said..
learning to jive and in love

I'm happy for you
Jive is a lively type of music that first became popular in the 1930s. If you've seen movies with people wearing 1930s clothing fast dancing and spinning around, chances are they're dancing to jive music.
But the word you want is GYBE, unless you're a flashy freestyler, in which case jive sums it up nicely

^^^ if that last bit is the aim, buy quality bags and new boards get put in the old bags every season, eventually she asks why you don't have new stuff

JPBARNA said..

gavnwend said..
I would master the deepwater starts.everyone who windsurfs should have that dialled. Just my opinion ??

I agree with you. Because I'm light I can even uphaul the Rocket so I can try to stick with it when windy.

False economy. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Commit to water starting, you won't regret it, way less energy waste and more ToW, jivin' and thrivin'. Pick a windy day and be prepared to blow a potentially fun session or two figuring it out. The pay back is huge. Also, Lots of tips on these pages as well to help get you ideas.

JPBARNA said..

musorianin said..

JPBARNA said..

gavnwend said..
I would master the deepwater starts.everyone who windsurfs should have that dialled. Just my opinion ??

I agree with you. Because I'm light I can even uphaul the Rocket so I can try to stick with it when windy.

False economy. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Commit to water starting, you won't regret it, way less energy waste and more ToW, jivin' and thrivin'. Pick a windy day and be prepared to blow a potentially fun session or two figuring it out. The pay back is huge. Also, Lots of tips on these pages as well to help get you ideas.

Haha, I have so few windy days that I "waste" them doing straights full speed when I can. But I will follow your advice. Question: someone posted a link to a nice Daser video about water starts but I lost it. Any links to it? Other thing is that I usually sail alone in my beach so I will have to tell the coast guards "don't worry I will be 90 minutes appearing to die under my sail but I'm really learning something exciting" so they don't call the ambulances and copters. Thanks!

A lot of Dashers stuff gets taken down. Cookie's videos can be great:

JPBARNA said..

Grantmac said..
Competition and Rocket, the rest go in the bin.

Competition could be used with old school Dacron sail that I have. Is it worth the time with low winds? I like the sail can be rolled around the mast :-)

I wouldn't, use the most modern rig you have.

Grantmac said..

JPBARNA said..

Grantmac said..
Competition and Rocket, the rest go in the bin.

Competition could be used with old school Dacron sail that I have. Is it worth the time with low winds? I like the sail can be rolled around the mast :-)

I wouldn't, use the most modern rig you have.

OK! Thanks. What about different Center of effort? Just slide the mast base?

Grantmac said..
That board has a foot pedal adjustable mast track right?

Not working (lost original base). I have a BIC base adapted with a metal plate but I can slide it there "not in regatta urgency". By the way, today I had a "blast" with 5 knots on the Competition. I even towed 4 kids on the SUP with a 6,7m sail. I will definitely use it in low wind. Other positive outcome: first time that one of my kids told me "dad, I want you to teach me that thing you do with the wind". one more for the cause, one less for kites and electric stuff.