Windsufing newbie advice

[Cogcog]

I went and did my 2 day RYA course last week and they have an intermediate course in September. I will need lots of practice between now and then but my local water hires for £8.50 for 2 hours in the evening.

Should I just continue using the trainer board (which is a Hi-Fly 4.5 trainer) or try my hand on one of the other boards they have for hire (Starboard Rio and Go), or even get my own?

[disco1]

When you're starting out it doesn't really matter what you're on providing it's stable and the rig is light to uphaul. Saying that, back in the late 80s when I started out I used old mans fanatic 360 (think of nimitz class carrier) and tonne of wayler rig but my mate started out on a shortboard and 3.8m wave sail similar to how the wave heads in maui learn.

Lessons are good when first starting but after that there's nothing like learning for yourself and by your errors.

[Jackleman]

I would try and get on a lighter board after every 6 or so hours. I learnt to windsurf in Dahab in Egypt and after two weeks I was planing, using the harness and on 130 litre.

[mrmaggit]

If you're interested, I have a full set of boards, sails, masts etc that I no longer use. I'd be happy to part with it if you want it, Cost me loads (well over 2.5 grand) years ago to get it, it is old (early 90's stuff) but good quality (Mistral boards, North sails and masts) and you'll have enough to get you sailing in no time, then you can pass it on when you've finished with it. Hasn't been used in at least 15 years, sails are still in their bags.

The boards are an IMCO 3mtr and Shredder 2.9m, Infinity 6 and 5.1 sails, clip-on boom and North ally mast with flex-top. And all the usual little nick-nacks in a big bag.

maggit

[Cogcog]

mrmaggit said:

If you're interested, I have a full set of boards, sails, masts etc that I no longer use. I'd be happy to part with it if you want it, Cost me loads (well over 2.5 grand) years ago to get it, it is old (early 90's stuff) but good quality (Mistral boards, North sails and masts) and you'll have enough to get you sailing in no time, then you can pass it on when you've finished with it. Hasn't been used in at least 15 years, sails are still in their bags.

The boards are an IMCO 3mtr and Shredder 2.9m, Infinity 6 and 5.1 sails, clip-on boom and North ally mast with flex-top. And all the usual little nick-nacks in a big bag.

maggit

They put me on a Mambo by mistake yesterday, I couldn't even get on the board for more than a vew seconds. Mrmaggit, thanks for the offer and I think that kit sounds great but well out of my skill base?

[mrmaggit]

Cogcog said:

mrmaggit said:

If you're interested, I have a full set of boards, sails, masts etc that I no longer use. I'd be happy to part with it if you want it, Cost me loads (well over 2.5 grand) years ago to get it, it is old (early 90's stuff) but good quality (Mistral boards, North sails and masts) and you'll have enough to get you sailing in no time, then you can pass it on when you've finished with it. Hasn't been used in at least 15 years, sails are still in their bags.

The boards are an IMCO 3mtr and Shredder 2.9m, Infinity 6 and 5.1 sails, clip-on boom and North ally mast with flex-top. And all the usual little nick-nacks in a big bag.

maggit

They put me on a Mambo by mistake yesterday, I couldn't even get on the board for more than a vew seconds. Mrmaggit, thanks for the offer and I think that kit sounds great but well out of my skill base?

The Shredder would be, definitely, you need to be a level 3-4 to be able to use that, but the IMCO is a surprising board. Although it had a race class devoted to it in the early nineties, it is actually a very capable (if expensive, new) learner board. IIRC it's a 3.6m board, with dagger board and a wide body and very long mast-foot track, when I went to Wales to do my water-start training, nobody else on the course could match it for against-the-wind performance.

Because it is a long board, it also tends to stay going straight when not on the plane, and doesn't wander around or get blown leeward.