so...
I randomly bought a bunch of windsurfing gear and want to try the sport. I don't even know how to put it together.
Anyone know any good site with pictures etc showing how to set it up?
I just want to figure out how to set it all up first, then after that I'll learn how to sail it <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
If anyone knows any good sites that teach how to do it as well, that'd be great. Dont forget, videos/images are key!

I just bought a bunch of stuff too! If you get yours figured out tell me I am struggling.

How have you been?

it's so funny how alike we are, and very ironic as well.

I hope to get it figured out, I only bought the stuff today and my brother took it to houston with him (I' at UT taking summer). I wont even get to try it till july 10 or so, but I hope to read alot etc so I can atleast get moving.
How much'd you pay and what all did you get? I got a steal from some lady selling her sons gear (her son is getting married next week and he moved to south carolina etc).
I got 6 sails 2 boards 1 mast 1 boom. both boards useable, 1 is somewhat old. Some of the sails are really nice and rest arn't bad. All useable.
I dont even know how to put it together yet.
BTW I sent you a message after wayward winds, you never responded :P

I found a bunch of information by googling "windsurfing instructions."

Yeah, I was computerless for a while after wayward winds. So that is why I never responded.

I got
4sails
2boards
mast and boom
and harness

I paid $250, so guy bought all of it about 3 years ago thinking it would be cool for his kidds and him and none of them every really got into it. So basically every is in brand new condition.

hmm maybe you got the better deal... I think. I have alot of random spare parts, but I mean my stuff isnt as new as yours.
Anyways, respond back to it.

By the way Mary, I already did that, was hoping to see if anyone has anything they recommend

So we know I can beat you on a cat...do we need to race the boards next?

wow you can not beat me on a cat <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
I beat you in some of those races, and you're on a 5.2, I was on a 5.0, and my crew has NEVER crewed before and was still learning, vs your crew who can do it all. My crew cant even sail the boat alone lol <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
You gota admit, after the first 2 races we did really well.
But ya next year we should both definately bring the boards and race em, but i dont think the winner will be the 'most skilled' one to say, it'll be the one with the better gear.

Feras:

GOT to learn to tack on the headers. That is where I got you on a few races. See you Sunday?

Doug

can't this sunday nor next, but after that I'll be done with the summer session and will be in austin and doing alot more sailing. We can setup a trip to redfish or so then.

Ya I couldn't do fast tacks because, like I said, my crew ernest is still learning, he's never really crewed.

Yeah, I am just giving you a hard time, but you have to look at the results...I think I won.

On the boards it might be who can actually learn to do it. Mine is in my garage along with my mold for my new boat and a whole bunch of other sailing [censored]. ALso my yard is starting to look like a boat yard between the H14, N5.2, Free Internation 420, and soon the F16.

Try www.guycribb.com
Also check out the windsurfing forums, and ask there.
http://www.boards.co.uk/forum/default.asp
http://www.boardseekermag.com/forum/

Probably best to drag the kit off to a local spot you know a few windy`s sail, and ask for help.

Good luck with it, and don`t be intimidated by the level of skill you see others have, everyone was a beginner once.

The sail thingy slides over the long pole thingy, then you attach the boom thingy, then you put the pole into the board and put the whole mess into the water, sail side up. Then you spend about 5 days falling into the water as you try to pull the sail thingy out of the water while balancing on the board. After about 400 falls you will get the hang of it, be able to pull the sail up and remain upright on the board, as long as the waves don't knock you over. Do all of this with the sail pointing downwind, the board across the wind.

When you finally get to the point where you can ballance with the sail upright, you can "sheet in" the boom and off (or over) you go. To tack, tilt the mast to the back of the board, step lively around the front of the board as it comes head to wind, get to the other side of the board and lean the rig forward to bear off, then upright again to go straight. By then you will be far away from where you started. It will go much easier and faster if you find someone who knows how, to help you get started of course. And a rescue boat is always nice... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Feras:

They use to have some lessons in Mud lake next to Clear Lake park. You will have to check yellow pages or do a Google search. I took a few, as said you will bust your *&((& at fist.

Doug

Lessons....who needs them, I taught myself to sail, I can teach myself to windsurf. Plus I am on hella strong swimmer so I should be fine.

I just set my rig up in the front yard and tried to pull the sail upright in the light wind we have. I can do it on land...no just have to add water.

ok windsurfer wannabes.....first things first what is the board volumes? it should be marked on the boards and it is usually measured in liters. for beginners, the bigger the better. hopefully, they will be 180l or bigger. it makes learning much easier. secondly, need to know your weight. that determines board volume needed.

i taught myself but man if i had not bought new equipment, i probably would of quit after the first thrashing i took.

do not try and learn to windsurf on a windy day!!! i know it sounds contrary but it is true. 5-10mph is best and on flat water. light wind is best how to learn steering. you use the mast position (forward to bear downwind and back to go upwind). sounds easy but add wind and waves and the fact there is no tiller.

to get the sail out of the water. there is thing called an uphaul that should be attatched to the head of the boom. when the boom is attatched to the mast, the loose end is mounted to the bottom of the mast. while standing on the board, you should have your feet on the centerline of the board shoulder width apart and one foot on either side of the mast. reach down and start to lift the sail with the uphaul. the sail will orient itself downwind (the mast tip will be just off the water and pointing downwind). the board will be 90 degrees to the water. at this point, finish picking up the sail. as the sail comes off the water the end of the boom will fall away downwind and you will have the mast close to you. by lifting with the uphaul, it allows the sail to rotate. there is no power in the sail as the sail is perpendicular to the wind. this is called neutral position as the board will not be moving at all and even in a 20knt wind there will not be any pressure on the sail.

to get the board moving. place one hand on the boom close to the mast and the other a bit further down. the one farther down the boom is called your back hand. with your back hand sheet in (as in sailing pull the boom toward you). you will feel the sail power up and the board will start forward.

for steering remember this for the rest of your windsurf career.

mast forward = downwind
mast back = upwind
mast straight up and down = perpendicular to the wind

hopefully, you board has a dagger board. if so use it.

windsurfers suck when it comes to going upwind, especially for beginners. when you learning, make sure you dont pick a spot that finds you in open water and no way to get back. swimming your rig to shore sucks big time. try to find a small cove that has a point in it that is upwind.

the guycribb website has lots of good info about rigging and technique once you get your basics over.

once you get steering down, gradually add wind. as you add wind the pull of the sail on your arms will get heavy. at this point, get a harness and learn how to use it. this single device makes windsurfing with any kind of wind possible as it takes the load off your arms and allows you to use your body weight to control the load a la "hiking" on a boat.

you think the catamaran community is small, the windsurfing community is crazy small. i live in the dfw metro and there probably is less than 40 people that windsurf. point is if you can find someone who windsurfs, find them and ask them to teach you. i learned all on my own but man the learning curve is steep. kinda like skateboarding.

be ready to become and addict. after the first time you windsurfer gets up on plane you will be hooked. it so affected me that my hobiecat has been out of the backyard 3 times in the last 4yrs. when the wind is blowing the performance is amazing.

i am coming back to the boat a bit though. in winds 0-15 planing the windsurfer is difficult. the boat provides better mobility and "fun". 15-30 is the domain of the windsurfer. as everybody is running for there lives off the lake, im heading out. conditions like this are unreal as most people have never been out in 30mph wind. the waves are crazy in a good way.

suggestions for the both of you is to list your equipment and specifications for sails and boards and we can give you an idea of what to expect and when to use what sail combo.

If you've never snowboarded/wakeboarded/anything-boarded Timbo's description is probably more accurate than anyone really wants to admit to. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

tx246 is spot on with board volume (and instruction). Those tiny boards look so cool jumping off the waves, but it can be tricky to get started with one. Bigger is better for beginners.

The only tidbit I can add to either post is once you get the sail out of the water, don't stand there and pat yourself on the back. Pull the sail in and get moving. The board is much more stable when it's moving than stopped.

Also, when I needed to take a rest, I would put the sail down on the board. It was a lot easier to pick it up off the board than from in the water.

Just a note of warning, windsurfing has been around for probably close to 40 years. There has been a huge amount of gear produced over that time, and the evolution that the gear has gone through during that period has been immense. For a total beginner to purchase gear with virtually zero knowledge could potentially (probably) make for a very difficult learning experience. Without knowing exactly what you purchased, it's hard to say, but if you bought anything other than beginner gear, it's probably going to be very difficult. Even old-style beginner boards/rigs are very difficult to learn on when compared to modern stuff.

The reason I mention this is because windsurfing has gotten a bad rap as being a difficult sport to learn. In reality, with modern beginner gear(made around 2000 or later), it is actually quite easy, especially for someone with prior sailing experience. The day's of falling 400 times trying to learn are over. My local shop has given plenty of lessons where the student was up and sailing and didn't fall once.

Give it a go on the gear you bought, but if you have a hard time, be aware that the gear has really improved over the years.

If you post pictures or names of what you bought, it would be helpful. You can also check out the newsgroup rec.windsurfing on google groups for windsurfing specific questions.

Hopefully you're successful, windsurfing really is a great sport!

sm

Let us know when you find out what a "catapult" is in windsurfing terms <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I used to windsurf, but now it's just catsailing. Gear is up for sale so I guess it goes both ways.

One more suggestion: try to pick a spot to learn in relatively shallow water. Seems like there was a rental place in Panama City next to the bridge? Was a HUGE advanatge to be able to walk back upwind and try some more instead of just blowing further and further downwind from my launch site. Also, a lot less energy getting back on the board given all the getting back on you WILL be doing. Just don't fall in head first and get stuck in the mud :-)

My old POS BIC finally gave out; would love to get a newer one but with 5 boats now... :-(