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benspikey
Joined: 02 Aug 2008 Posts: 167
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 2:25 pm Post subject: Flat water vs. Open Ocean waves/chop |
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Which is better? Why?
If I want to improve my skills should I be sailing flat water or open ocean chop? Thanks! |
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dllee
Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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Doing one at the exclusion of the other just makes you good at one and passable at the other. |
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windward1
Joined: 18 Jun 2000 Posts: 1400
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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Which 'skills' are you wishing to improve? |
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benspikey
Joined: 02 Aug 2008 Posts: 167
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry I know this is open ended question..
If one wants to go faster and work on racing skills..
Do know that most races do not take place on "flat water".. Is sailing flat water really preparing one for racing conditions? |
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cgoudie1
Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 2599 Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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I think when working on racing skills on a ski slope, most people
don't charge a mogul field on downhill skis.
If you're already a superior flat water racer, then take it into the ocean.
-Craig
benspikey wrote: | Sorry I know this is open ended question..
If one wants to go faster and work on racing skills..
Do know that most races do not take place on "flat water".. Is sailing flat water really preparing one for racing conditions? |
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dllee
Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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Obviously, you need both.
Flat for trim settings, sail settings, technique work.
Choppy to simulate real world slalom conditions, jibing, and top speeds. |
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jingebritsen
Joined: 21 Aug 2002 Posts: 3371
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bred2shred
Joined: 02 May 2000 Posts: 989 Location: Jersey Shore
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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Open ocean sailing, particularly on a big day, is vastly more challenging than flat water sailing. Anyone with moderate skill can lock into the straps and harness and blast along on flat water. Very few people by comparison can sail the ocean when its overhead and blowing 30. This is why when you go to hatteras, 95% of the people are sailing canadian hole and only a handfull of guys are in the ocean. If you want to push your skill set, the ocean is where its at and these skills will carry over to your flat water sailing.
sm |
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nw30
Joined: 21 Dec 2008 Posts: 6485 Location: The eye of the universe, Cen. Cal. coast
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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I started off back in the 80's on flat water, and soon wanted to be one of the fastest ones out there. To do that it required equipment that was designed for speed, a fast board and race or slalom sails.
Then I went into the ocean and never returned to flat speed sailing. The ocean requires completely different equipment, wave or bump and jump boards with mostly wave sails (no cams and shorter booms), and even a different harness with a higher hook level for the waves.
The two disciplines are so different that I would almost call them two different sports, one is board sailing, and one is windsurfing.
So unless you can afford to have a garage full of equipment for both of those disciplines, I'd stick to one or the other.
I found the crossover skills to be limited to your very basic sailing skills that you probably already have.
I'll go back to flat water on rare occasions with some friends just for shits and giggles, but I've never felt like my wave sailing has added anything to my flat water blasting, it just soooo different, at least in my area. When windy our ocean gets very wild, comparatively.
However river sailing (Rio Vista, the Gorge) or ocean bay sailing (SF Bay) is a good in-between option if you have any of those in your area. |
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beaglebuddy
Joined: 10 Feb 2012 Posts: 1120
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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Working on your jibe is going to be a lot easier on flat water. |
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