I'm 56 started when I was 18. Dad said son it'll be a 5 minute fad. Hmmm, 38 years later still love it as much as I did when I was younger. Bought back memories of the 1st 20 kg long monstrosity of a long board and soft sail sailing on a lake to 1st slalom board 125 litres on port Phillip bay Melbourne were I live and straight to custom fibreglass wave board maybe 80 litres 8 foot 6 inches long. Was like balancing on a matchstick. Those were the days when life was easier late 1980's. Had to learn sailing all over again on this smaller board, where to stand feet position feel of the sail learning to gybe on smaller board is little different to bigger board in all wind conditions especially light winds. Definitely don't sail as someone said too far from shore esp if on smaller board. As my experience will tell you as I've been 1 km from the beach in port Phillip bay Melbourne and wind dropped from 20 knots to about 5 knots. That's why board trim balance is so important. And being able to uphaul on smaller boards or do a light wind water start, which I can't do. Took abt 45 minutes to get in. Fell in many times uphauled used swell when I could, ... nightmare. Sometimes can't pick when the wind drops like that. I was exhausted as think swam last 100 odd metres using swell to get myself in between 2 large rock walls as zero wind by this stage. Guy had been watching me thought might need ambulance as I was completely exhausted. Was on 74 litre wave board 5.0 metre sail at the time. But teaches you even with experience we still screw up. My 1st time on the custom wave board was at Torquay Victoria. I sailed 100 metres tried jump then gybe fell in, water started sailed back jump tried to gybe fell in at shore, beach start and repeated. Mental note. Unfortunately I watched movie jaws night b4 and had several panic attacks while trying to water start which had me jumping on the small board til I got the courage and reality I'd be unlucky if shark decided I was a tasty meal lol. But that thought does make you water start that much quicker! Keep up the great work it'll get easier and heaps of fun the more you get used to the smaller boards. This did bring back a lot if memories 4 me and we have all been there b4. Lovely spot btw. Cheers
Lol, brings up some very painfull memories :-) We've all been there. A good starting "safe" point, is for the 3 first months or so, NOT to sail further away than you can swim back to the beach. Almost drawned several times before I realize waterstarting in every condition, on every gear is key to be and feel safe. And yes, being slightly overpowered is better than the opposite. Keep us posted on your sessions!
Most of us remember when we decided to go smaller and leave the confort of big boards, but it was worth the pain. . Keep going and enjoy the ride. I suggest you to buy an helmet and maybe an impact vest.
What is your weight? I would say choose a slightly large sail (5 - 5.2m), also a slightly bigger fin and push your boom up the mast a bit to give you more downward mast pressure = more speed, Well done!
I'm 82kg. Yes I should have used larger sail. As for the Fin, I didn't have any spin out, even 28 fin seemed short to me as well. Thank you for the tips 🤙🏻
That last gust on the way back made it worthwhile! Otherwise, it would have been a long limbo session back to shore! I remember being under power on a short board with my 110 kg at the time… Sinking to my knees and cursing… Well done and maybe a small advise, rig a little bigger than going too small! Just my 2 cents! ;-)
105 litre is small? Try 85 Litre and being 95 kg. Anyway i kite now since 15 yrs. Sold all my windsurfing kit. Still Windsurfing was my first love. Changed my entire life. I remember being on San Carlos, Baja, only person in the water, exhausted trying to water start...i literally made it on my last biy of strength and sailed directly back on a gust....there was nothing there...no surf station nothing. Got very lucky. It is also shark infested.
dude is Way underpowered, not enough wind for that sail, looks like to me about 10 knots of wind, takes 15 just to form whitecaps, this is a really good reason to learn the limits of your equipment or like this guy you might be swimming back, i would have sat and waited for MORE WIND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is this your main sailing spot? Does the wind always come from this direction. Because this is a tough place to be trying short board sailing for the first time. You are running right into the swell, so can’t get a smooth ride on the water for long enough to get onto a plane. The board has to ride flat on the water for a bit for you to get fully planing and in the straps and harness. Notice you did better on the way in then the way out. That’s because you’re riding with the swell in that direction and the water is smoother going that direction.
It's my home spot with usual conditions and that's the reason I bought this narrow board to survive swell. You are absolutely right, plaining on the way back is always easier. I'm doing much better now, but still no jibes and no jumps. Jibing needs practise, but jumping seem to need balls and still trying to find the courage. I'm planing on capturing my first big jump (over 10cm 😂) if I land and still alive I will upload it. Thank you for your tips! 🤙🤙🤙
I disagree with others who said your sail is too small (maybe 5.4m would've been better but whatever). To me it seems like a technique issue. Your front hand is too close to the mast. Move it back, open up the mast and have the sail more upright. Then commit to the harness and push through the front foot. Its your first time on smaller kit, so understandable that you are scared to commit and fall, keep going and you'll get the hang of it soon
Having sailed with this board 8 times after this video, I confirm, it is about technic.Even though I was not full power I could start plain earlier. Thank you for your comment!
Ποσα κιλά εισαι? Ποσα λιτρα σανιδα να πάρω με δεδομενο οτι κανω μποτζα, beach start και φυσικα γαντζο, δεστρες και ειμαι 90 κιλά? Δεν με ενδιαφερει κύμα, σλαλομ, μονο freeride ? Τωρα εχω ακόμα 210 λιτρα δασκάλα απο το 2013 αλλά όπως καταλαβαινεις δεν στριβει.
Ένα 125-145 λίτρα θα το μάθεις εύκολα και θα ακούει στα πόδια. Εγώ είμαι 80kg (τις καλές μέρες), μπορω να καβαλήσω και 80λίτρα, αλλά μονο σε ευθεία. Στροφές δε βγάζω ούτε με 130 λίτρα Μη βιαστείς να πας σε μικρό, γνώμη μου.
Transition from 10 L more shouldn’t be very different, you did fine. The board won’t plane as early, so until you get skill a bigger sail than you use on a larger board would help. You eventually use gusts and water contour to get planing earlier. Make sure you can waterstart, 10cm narrower board very difficult in any kind of chop to uphaul.
It's actually good, that you know what you want from a board and you waste no time to admit it. For me I'm getting used to this old board and I'm trying to get better before I invest to a younger one.🤙🤙🤙
when you are underpowered there is little chance you will end up where you started, nothing worse than slogging back into the beach, LEARN YOU LIMITS better to get blown off the water than swimming back in
For me it looks like you were very well powered up to plane. You need more practice to control the chop and the speed, so that you can commit to the sail. For me you looked scared when you reached speed and when you were planing. I would have chosen a smaller sail then. I don't know how you felt on the bigger board but I think it would have looked similar. Actually I would try to get better stance and control so that you can nicely fly over the chop. Only when you master the bigger board perfectly, then choose a smaller board. I might be totally wrong and I don't know what your level of skill, and your other equipment is. Just think about it.
I've sailed couple times with this board since and I can confirm most of your "spots". I think I'm doing better with early plaining, still facing difficulties on going upwind; I'm loosing speed or having spin outs. I'm doing much better with the chop and managed 1-2 (really small) jumps. Price was 4-5 catapults and ~1lt salt water drinking. It's free to check my previous videos.
@@stratosmuse good to hear. What did you change to get more comfortable? I'm not an expert in upwind surfing but it's also not my priority. I recently also had a lot of spin outs, which got better after sanding it and smoothing the fin surface. In your choppy conditions it's definitely not easy. One always has to adjust the fin pressure so as not to get any spin outs. But this you probably know.
@@Tobias1949 I lied more on the harness, by moving my upper body closer to the boom, bit more forward and I bend my knees smoothly for absorbing the chop. I reached only 39.4km/h top speed though. Going upwind to the open sea is vital.
I'm 56 started when I was 18. Dad said son it'll be a 5 minute fad. Hmmm, 38 years later still love it as much as I did when I was younger. Bought back memories of the 1st 20 kg long monstrosity of a long board and soft sail sailing on a lake to 1st slalom board 125 litres on port Phillip bay Melbourne were I live and straight to custom fibreglass wave board maybe 80 litres 8 foot 6 inches long. Was like balancing on a matchstick. Those were the days when life was easier late 1980's. Had to learn sailing all over again on this smaller board, where to stand feet position feel of the sail learning to gybe on smaller board is little different to bigger board in all wind conditions especially light winds. Definitely don't sail as someone said too far from shore esp if on smaller board. As my experience will tell you as I've been 1 km from the beach in port Phillip bay Melbourne and wind dropped from 20 knots to about 5 knots. That's why board trim balance is so important. And being able to uphaul on smaller boards or do a light wind water start, which I can't do. Took abt 45 minutes to get in. Fell in many times uphauled used swell when I could, ... nightmare. Sometimes can't pick when the wind drops like that. I was exhausted as think swam last 100 odd metres using swell to get myself in between 2 large rock walls as zero wind by this stage. Guy had been watching me thought might need ambulance as I was completely exhausted. Was on 74 litre wave board 5.0 metre sail at the time. But teaches you even with experience we still screw up. My 1st time on the custom wave board was at Torquay Victoria. I sailed 100 metres tried jump then gybe fell in, water started sailed back jump tried to gybe fell in at shore, beach start and repeated. Mental note. Unfortunately I watched movie jaws night b4 and had several panic attacks while trying to water start which had me jumping on the small board til I got the courage and reality I'd be unlucky if shark decided I was a tasty meal lol. But that thought does make you water start that much quicker! Keep up the great work it'll get easier and heaps of fun the more you get used to the smaller boards. This did bring back a lot if memories 4 me and we have all been there b4. Lovely spot btw. Cheers
Definitely learn uphauling on a sinker.
haha, you never know when a hungry shark might mistake your buttocks for a tasty tuna fish
In my 30s and just started learning windsurfing in the port Phillip bay :)
Sei un grande 💪💯💯💯💯💪💪💪
Lol, brings up some very painfull memories :-) We've all been there. A good starting "safe" point, is for the 3 first months or so, NOT to sail further away than you can swim back to the beach. Almost drawned several times before I realize waterstarting in every condition, on every gear is key to be and feel safe. And yes, being slightly overpowered is better than the opposite. Keep us posted on your sessions!
Great tips. Thankfully my waterstart skill is good enough. But a had always in mind to stay close to the shore. Thank you!
Most of us remember when we decided to go smaller and leave the confort of big boards, but it was worth the pain. . Keep going and enjoy the ride.
I suggest you to buy an helmet and maybe an impact vest.
Small boards are easier
Good job 🤙 Lovely sailing spot
Those were the days! Good job!
I know this feeling, it feels you have to start all over again when coming from big 😂
I Confirm. Tacking is on 20-30% success and jibing is 2%. 😂
What is your weight? I would say choose a slightly large sail (5 - 5.2m), also a slightly bigger fin and push your boom up the mast a bit to give you more downward mast pressure = more speed, Well done!
I'm 82kg. Yes I should have used larger sail. As for the Fin, I didn't have any spin out, even 28 fin seemed short to me as well. Thank you for the tips 🤙🏻
That last gust on the way back made it worthwhile! Otherwise, it would have been a long limbo session back to shore! I remember being under power on a short board with my 110 kg at the time… Sinking to my knees and cursing… Well done and maybe a small advise, rig a little bigger than going too small! Just my 2 cents! ;-)
Thank you for your tip mate!
105 litre is small? Try 85 Litre and being 95 kg. Anyway i kite now since 15 yrs. Sold all my windsurfing kit. Still Windsurfing was my first love. Changed my entire life. I remember being on San Carlos, Baja, only person in the water, exhausted trying to water start...i literally made it on my last biy of strength and sailed directly back on a gust....there was nothing there...no surf station nothing. Got very lucky. It is also shark infested.
dude is Way underpowered, not enough wind for that sail, looks like to me about 10 knots of wind, takes 15 just to form whitecaps, this is a really good reason to learn the limits of your equipment or like this guy you might be swimming back, i would have sat and waited for MORE WIND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well done, looked great coming back in. Perhaps a little underpowered outbound and water starting?
Yes indeed I should have used bigger sail. Thank you for your comment!🤙
Is this your main sailing spot? Does the wind always come from this direction. Because this is a tough place to be trying short board sailing for the first time. You are running right into the swell, so can’t get a smooth ride on the water for long enough to get onto a plane. The board has to ride flat on the water for a bit for you to get fully planing and in the straps and harness. Notice you did better on the way in then the way out. That’s because you’re riding with the swell in that direction and the water is smoother going that direction.
It's my home spot with usual conditions and that's the reason I bought this narrow board to survive swell. You are absolutely right, plaining on the way back is always easier. I'm doing much better now, but still no jibes and no jumps. Jibing needs practise, but jumping seem to need balls and still trying to find the courage. I'm planing on capturing my first big jump (over 10cm 😂) if I land and still alive I will upload it.
Thank you for your tips! 🤙🤙🤙
What size of board were you sailing before this ?
Great fun.
112lt but 10cm wider. Big difference on how it feels
I disagree with others who said your sail is too small (maybe 5.4m would've been better but whatever). To me it seems like a technique issue.
Your front hand is too close to the mast. Move it back, open up the mast and have the sail more upright. Then commit to the harness and push through the front foot.
Its your first time on smaller kit, so understandable that you are scared to commit and fall, keep going and you'll get the hang of it soon
Having sailed with this board 8 times after this video, I confirm, it is about technic.Even though I was not full power I could start plain earlier. Thank you for your comment!
where is the spot?
Artemis Greece, Attica
Ποσα κιλά εισαι? Ποσα λιτρα σανιδα να πάρω με δεδομενο οτι κανω μποτζα, beach start και φυσικα γαντζο, δεστρες και ειμαι 90 κιλά? Δεν με ενδιαφερει κύμα, σλαλομ, μονο freeride ? Τωρα εχω ακόμα 210 λιτρα δασκάλα απο το 2013 αλλά όπως καταλαβαινεις δεν στριβει.
Ένα 125-145 λίτρα θα το μάθεις εύκολα και θα ακούει στα πόδια. Εγώ είμαι 80kg (τις καλές μέρες), μπορω να καβαλήσω και 80λίτρα, αλλά μονο σε ευθεία. Στροφές δε βγάζω ούτε με 130 λίτρα
Μη βιαστείς να πας σε μικρό, γνώμη μου.
Transition from 10 L more shouldn’t be very different, you did fine. The board won’t plane as early, so until you get skill a bigger sail than you use on a larger board would help. You eventually use gusts and water contour to get planing earlier. Make sure you can waterstart, 10cm narrower board very difficult in any kind of chop to uphaul.
Actually, it felt faster on plaining compared to my wide 112lt board. I could feel the acceleration on some points. Thank you for the tips!
You did well 🤙🏻
Felt beginner to be honest, but if you say so.. 😂 Thank you for your comment!🤙
I remeber, i Had the Same issue when i changed to a fanatic falcon
..later i sold IT because we sind Not get Friends.
It's actually good, that you know what you want from a board and you waste no time to admit it. For me I'm getting used to this old board and I'm trying to get better before I invest to a younger one.🤙🤙🤙
when you are underpowered there is little chance you will end up where you started, nothing worse than slogging back into the beach, LEARN YOU LIMITS better to get blown off the water than swimming back in
wind was way to light
Yes indeed!
Definitely NOT your 1st time on a short board.
Yes it is. If it's not visible on the video, seems that I did it pretty well. 🤙Check my previous videos, that is my only evidence.
just board not so small )
For me it looks like you were very well powered up to plane. You need more practice to control the chop and the speed, so that you can commit to the sail. For me you looked scared when you reached speed and when you were planing. I would have chosen a smaller sail then. I don't know how you felt on the bigger board but I think it would have looked similar. Actually I would try to get better stance and control so that you can nicely fly over the chop. Only when you master the bigger board perfectly, then choose a smaller board.
I might be totally wrong and I don't know what your level of skill, and your other equipment is. Just think about it.
I've sailed couple times with this board since and I can confirm most of your "spots". I think I'm doing better with early plaining, still facing difficulties on going upwind; I'm loosing speed or having spin outs. I'm doing much better with the chop and managed 1-2 (really small) jumps. Price was 4-5 catapults and ~1lt salt water drinking. It's free to check my previous videos.
@@stratosmuse good to hear. What did you change to get more comfortable? I'm not an expert in upwind surfing but it's also not my priority. I recently also had a lot of spin outs, which got better after sanding it and smoothing the fin surface. In your choppy conditions it's definitely not easy. One always has to adjust the fin pressure so as not to get any spin outs. But this you probably know.
@@Tobias1949 I lied more on the harness, by moving my upper body closer to the boom, bit more forward and I bend my knees smoothly for absorbing the chop. I reached only 39.4km/h top speed though. Going upwind to the open sea is vital.