Paul said...

Here are some news clippings from 1987-91 with some names a few of you may remember.

Mal Wright's brother Trevor and Jez Hammond (2ndwind sailboards) Aussie tandem speed record holders

What became of Mal and Trevor? they were real characters and so innovative.

Here's a Z Boom in France, not so long ago.

Paul said...

Mal wright practising for his speed record attempt(top). Does anyone Know the other guy?(bottom)

Sandy Point at high tide!!!
I think the guys name was Mike English and in those days he was very quick and sailed for Wild Winds.
Up until a few years ago I had the 6.4m twin to that very sail in my shed somewhere with the same stickers and number on it. Can't remember if I sold it, gave it away or took it to the tip. It never worked worth bird poo for me but he was flying in it.

Cool moves mate: as you must know, very few people in the world could do those moves, then and now.

I don't recognise the spot... looks like Tasmania with the hills and all?

Is the pic of the gear spread out just one person's quiver?

A selection of shots
1. early eighties in Greece (Kos?)
2. 94 in British Virgin Islands (Branson's Necker Island in the background)
3. First board the windsurfer one design (beautifully rigged sail, excellent stance and check out those harness lines)
4. Hayling Island UK on a Bic 360 '86
5.Greece again on a Wayler (skiathos?)
6. Cornwall UK (Gwithian)on a bic 305 '88(my first short board)
7. Maui slalom series '88(my housemate Andrew Parker sponsored by Hot Buttered? far right)
8. Mauritius 2005
9. Dutch Inn 2007 (blue juice)
10. Doha, Qatar on my Magic Touch custom wave slalom '95

Yeah, old freestyle photos were from the Derwent river, TAS. Another freestyle photo ended up getting in Sailboard Extra and it's dated 85/86, so photos probably date back to 1985. I've place the two photos I still have either side of the one that was sent off (by the guy who took the photos) and they form the sequence!

Here's some great poster's from the Rip Curl, Sony and Merimbula (86) that I've had framed up. Rip Curl poster is Brendan Morgan and Bill Riddell on the Sony. Some memorable pic's turning up! These are full size poster's, about 1m. high!

Hey birdseyeview,
doesnt that bring back memories, I have those posters and competed in both the first two comps and many more at Merimbula and Longy.
I have all my old contest T's and posters in storage, must dig them out and see if I can post.
This is a fantastic thread!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry mkseven, I didn't mean to be rude by not replying to your question earlier - I have been distracted following the progress of the wind bearing down on us here in Vic - due to hit 40+ knots tomorrow - and not been back on this forum.

The cord hanging from the boom of the Superstar windsurfer is indeed an adjustable outhaul line as the others have noted.

Among other "features" of the Superstar was an aluminium mast made of two lengths, one fitted inside the other with the outer one only two thirds the length of the inner, thus allowing the single top third to bend more! When they broke I went into the steel merchant, bought two more lengths, rivited them at the base and presto, a new mast!

The centreboard lifted right out and had a loop of rope on the top which allowed it to be pulled out and slung over the arm on a broad reach or run.

The boom was fastened to the mast by laying the boom parallel to the mast, lashing it to the mast with rope, which tightened when the boom was swung down at a right angle to the mast, thus enabling it to grip the mast fairly tightly and not slip... too much.

As you might imagine it took a bit to get my head around the new gear when I got back into windsurfing 15 months ago after a 23 year break!

PS: snug mast tee: lotsa duct tape - BBC. I even once drilled 6" bolts through underneath. Wrecked the board in 3 months, but the mast tee held...

Dagger: useful to pull and lean on at times. Duct tape too there. Never like the retractable - too loose.

I still have teak booms I take out once a year, even at modern freestyle comps, just for show.

I've got nothing older...
2003 Mistral one design olympic board

AUS02 said...

Cool that you have performed many of those same moves.

I was at the Newcastle Worlds' in 1989 december, you might have been there. I couldn't compete then.

Then there was the 1990 in Adelaide. You mighta been there?

I might get a new SUP soon and try the same moves on a modern board. Should be the same feel or somewhat easier...

Richiefish said...

hey Julien, is that the same as the board Simon was riding yesterday ???

Nearly, That one was the mistral one design. I assume Symon was riding an Equip II, wider and faster.