| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
isobars
Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 11492
|
 Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 5:50 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| techno900 wrote: | I have occasionally rigged too small hoping for wind that was only there for short periods and ended up slogging way too much.
However, the wiser move is to rig the larger slalom board, cambered sails and hang on in the gusts
The other issue is "it's going to pick up" syndrome, so you rig too small. This is frequently a dumb move. Rig for the moment and get on the water. If it does really come up, then re-rig. |
Many -- both?  -- of my friends go nuts at the first whiffle or blast of planing wind, telling me (if I'm there yet*) I'm gonna miss it. My answer is that if that's all the longer it lasts, I want no part of it. That first surge almost always changes by at least one board and sail size in either direction, so knee-jerking to it means re-rigging very quickly, very often before that first sail is even rigged or following a huge slogfest.
* I usually don't even leave home until the wind gets sailable. I live just 70 miles away, and that hour gives the wind time to pick a consistent speed and the swell time to build. My arrival is very often met with two choruses:
a) "Perfect timing. The wind just steadied out and the swell is ramping up."
and
b) "$#!+! Fick's here."
I rig larger, but it's still a wave board and sail (it's all in one's adrenaline threshold.) This gets me planing before the other wind snobs, for better or worse. Better, if the wind doesn't surge so much I have to rig down, a fate worse than ... oh, say ... having sex and eating ice cream at the same time. Worse, if the wind doubles just as I launch. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
cgoudie1
Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 952
Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove
|
| Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: Gusty/Up and Down |
|
|
| isobars wrote: |
Isn't the only difference between holey and gusty one's sail and board size? Rigged for comfort in the gusts, only the holes are challenging, so we declare it a holey session. Rigged to plane in the lulls during that same session, only the gusts are challenging, so we declare it a gusty session.
|
That, or what you're focused on, but I usually consider it holey when
I can see the glassy areas in between the gusts.
| isobars wrote: | | The Wall's classic 10 or 40 mph days in NW winds emphasize that distinction. |
OH BABY! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
WATUPWITU
Joined: 21 May 2000
Posts: 34
|
| Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 11:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
seems to me if the wind has an average it can then occasionally gust from there or it can occasionally lull from there, so there can be a difference whether it is gusty or holey, which ever it is doing more of.
It can also just be what we used to call "technical" sailing, up/down/gusty/holey/changing direction and the work to fun ratio is just stupid. But some days ya just gotta go out no matter what... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nw30
Joined: 21 Dec 2008
Posts: 650
Location: The eye of the universe, Cen. Cal. coast
|
| Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 10:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
| beallmd wrote: | Three capital rules of windsurfing;
1. Never leave wind to find wind.
2. Never wait for wind when you have wind.
3. Rig for what it is, not what you think it will be.
Face it, we've all broken them... |
You forgot #4, maybe the most important one.
Always bring all your sails and current boards, don't try to guess what you'll need from your house, and just bring that, you'll guess wrong. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
isobars
Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 11492
|
| Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 2:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
All excellent rules ... and all breakable, sometimes for a win, sometimes for a loss. I've saved hundred$ already this year (gas is at $4.15 and still rising here) at the risk of driving a smaller vehicle and choosing gear based on the forecast, but it's going to bite me one of these days.
I've often left good wind for great wind ... and won and lost.
I often wait for more wind while I have sailable wind. It often pays off, and I don't mind missing some marginal wind.
I've also rigged two sails simultaneously, side by side, letting the water's changing appearance dictate which sail I'm working on at the moment. The first sail to get finished gets sailed ... unless, of course, the wind changes again while I'm getting in to my wetsuit. One more reason not to knee-jerk at the first sign of wind. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
photodad2001
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
Posts: 21
|
| Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 10:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Ran into a windsurfing buddy of mine today and we were talking about what we're bringing to the lake tomorrow (10-20) and he's bringing a 6.5 but with 2 boards, a 90 liter and a 120 liter. He says it's easier to change your board out for more or less liters than to change your sail. Makes sense, we'll see how it goes tomorrow. If anyone thinks this is stupid, I didn't say it, if you think it's a great point, then your welcome. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
coachg
Joined: 10 Sep 2000
Posts: 1803
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 1:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
I do it all the time. I can run that 6.5 through 3 boards on a small lake. 93, 110 & 133 liters. Changing boards & fins is far quicker than re-rigging and far less painful than rigging 3 sails "just in case." Besides, many of my sails share the same mast. 
Coachg |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
isobars
Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 11492
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
| photodad2001 wrote: | | Ran into a windsurfing buddy of mine today and we were talking about what we're bringing to the lake tomorrow (10-20) and he's bringing a 6.5 but with 2 boards, a 90 liter and a 120 liter. He says it's easier to change your board out for more or less liters than to change your sail. Makes sense, we'll see how it goes tomorrow. If anyone thinks this is stupid, I didn't say it, if you think it's a great point, then your welcome. |
A bud left his brand new, just-arrived, first high-wind board home because the forecast was for 15-25. It was so windy all day -- well into the 30s -- he wasn't able to sail, and he was a very good sailor. Oh, yeah; the lake was 200 miles away.
Take all your toys. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
photodad2001
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
Posts: 21
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| isobars wrote: | | photodad2001 wrote: | | Ran into a windsurfing buddy of mine today and we were talking about what we're bringing to the lake tomorrow (10-20) and he's bringing a 6.5 but with 2 boards, a 90 liter and a 120 liter. He says it's easier to change your board out for more or less liters than to change your sail. Makes sense, we'll see how it goes tomorrow. If anyone thinks this is stupid, I didn't say it, if you think it's a great point, then your welcome. |
Take all your toys. |
Now that I've bought my first van I constantly keep all my sails, masts, booms, sail bag, wet suit gear, and even a board in there at all times. Throw my only other board on top and I now have everything I own with me at the lake. Even room for a couple lawn chairs, cooler, some beach toys....  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
U2U2U2
Joined: 06 Jul 2001
Posts: 2315
Location: Shipsterns Bluff, Tasmania. Colorado
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 7:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
some of this sounds like a episode of HEE HAW
felt like sailing in a blender
is far far the best expression I have heard
_________________
Rights in Rodanthe |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
|
|
|
Search
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Register
