Jul
23
23
John B asked:
OK, so what happened around the year 2000 that makes all boards manufactured before then “crap”? Did the whole industry just give up on doing this sport on freshwater lakes, and go ocean only? How could you possibly do anything on a flat-bottom board with no daggar, except get blown downwind? I don’t see any new equipment on the web with a daggar board. Why not? Finally, I am still not understanding the footstrap thing. If I put my feet in the straps, I can barely touch the trailing end of the boom. If I pull the mast back this far, I will turn upwind and stall. Are straps for use in extremely high winds only? Could it be my rig and board do not match, and this is the reason I cannot use the straps? Also, it should not hurt my back this much to put both feet behind the mast and sheet in, and yet it does. Should I just give up self-instruction and seek lessons?
OK, so what happened around the year 2000 that makes all boards manufactured before then “crap”? Did the whole industry just give up on doing this sport on freshwater lakes, and go ocean only? How could you possibly do anything on a flat-bottom board with no daggar, except get blown downwind? I don’t see any new equipment on the web with a daggar board. Why not? Finally, I am still not understanding the footstrap thing. If I put my feet in the straps, I can barely touch the trailing end of the boom. If I pull the mast back this far, I will turn upwind and stall. Are straps for use in extremely high winds only? Could it be my rig and board do not match, and this is the reason I cannot use the straps? Also, it should not hurt my back this much to put both feet behind the mast and sheet in, and yet it does. Should I just give up self-instruction and seek lessons?
1) OK, so what happened around the year 2000 that makes all boards manufactured before then “crap”?
Should I just give up self-instruction and seek lessons?
About that time manufacturers started to make the boards wider, especially in the tail. Some models from this time are the Bic Techno, Starboard Go, etc. Wider boards have better early planning capabilities, that is, you can plane with less wind and go through areas of low wind easier avoiding coming out of a plane once you are planing. They are also more stable sideways, and there are some monster wide boards (over 3′) like the Starboard Start that some people find easier to learn on. I do not agree at all with the statement that all boards prior to 2000 are “crap”, just consider that the golden age of windsurf is prior to that date. This has to do a lot with vendors trying to sell new and expensive stuff. Personally I think the best way to learn is with a longboard with daggerboard, especially if you are not a “die hard” and will still enjoy sailing around the lake at moderate speeds once you learn.
2) Did the whole industry just give up on doing this sport on freshwater lakes, and go ocean only?
I don’t think so. But the boards got much more specialized (wave, slalom, Formula etc.) and they stopped manufactuiring longboards with daggerboards for a while, which was probably an error. What happens is that in the past races were done in triangular courses (as sailboats) which would favoured lonboards as they are fast going upwind in non-planing conditions. Now, races are slalom type, and most runs are across the wind. The other reason is that for many people there is a “planning ONLY” mentality, that is that if you are not planing you are not really windsurfing or having fun. For the die hard windsurfer, planing is the ultimate goal. Early on, planing was not essential for most people as early windsurf boards did not plane well and people were happy with that. Now, most experienced windurfers are not happy if they do not plane.
3) How could you possibly do anything on a flat-bottom board with no daggar, except get blown downwind?
The fin allows you to prevent being blown downwind, and also to go upwind, although not as easily as with a daggerboard. Most beginner boards have either a fixed or a retractable daggerboard.
4) I don’t see any new equipment on the web with a daggar board. Why not?
There are many new boards with daggerboard, for example the Exocet Kona, Exocet Cruiser, HiFly Manbo, Bic Hybrid and several others.
5) Finally, I am still not understanding the footstrap thing. If I put my feet in the straps, I can barely touch the trailing end of the boom. If I pull the mast back this far, I will turn upwind and stall. Are straps for use in extremely high winds only?
If you are not powered up (that is a force in the sail that is transmitted through the mast to the FRONT of the board) and hanging from the harness (your weight also transferred in part to the front of the board) you will sink the tail of the board and what you are describing will happen. When you are powered up (WINDY DAYS and/or larger sails) the mast will have some angle with the board (not fully vertical), you will grab the boom further to the back and you will have legs and arms fully extended, all of this will help you get back in the board and in the straps. Make sure the boom is not TOO LOW, it should be about shoulder high, this will help you “hang” from it. DO NOT WORRY about the straps untill you learn the basics, you are able to move back in the board (gradually) and start using a harness. Even with a harness, especially if you are a heavy guy (say over 180 lbs) it will take a while to get in the straps, and you have to get out from them when you are not planing to avoid sinking the tail.
6) Could it be my rig and board do not match, and this is the reason I cannot use the straps?
It may contribute a little bit, but it is NOT the main reason. Note that you may be able to move the mast back in the track and the straps forward. The main reason is that you are not powered up enough and all your weight is translated to your feet..
7) Also, it should not hurt my back this much to put both feet behind the mast and sheet in, and yet it does.
Go out a windy day (say 10 mph). You should be able to have both feet behind the mast when you sheet in the sail and hang from the boom with your arms. Remember not to put your weight on your heels, put pressure with your toes so you do not sink the upwind rail of the board, and HANG from the boom, which will make your feet lighter. Once that you master this, go to higher winds and/or bigger sails. By this time you should experience planing, although for short periods of time. Only then you will be able to start using a harness and then get in the straps.
Lessons can help but they are not an absolute must. Look for lessons in Youtube or rent a video. The key is PRACTICE and PERSEVERANCE. What you are describing is not unusual, but it seems to me you are trying to get in the straps much sooner than what you should. Very likely in the class they will have the straps REMOVED from the board. My suggestion, go to where the locals windsurf and get tips from them.
Waarom bent u toe aan een Daggerboard zo veel? Zwaarden voorkomen schaven, alle de lift je nodig hebt om tegen de wind in te gaan komt uit het fin, dus is er geen reden voor een zeilplank op een Daggerboard hebben, tenzij de raad een beginner … Hoe dan ook, klinkt het formulier verknald en je bent waarschijnlijk krijgt dan geschroefd met behulp van een oude lange boord, probeer dan te investeren in een nieuwe, grotere raad van bestuur en het zal wonderen doen.