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The Best Singlehander I've sailed this year |
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iGRF
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6496 |
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Topic: The Best Singlehander I've sailed this year Posted: 01 Oct 21 at 10:16am |
Not a dinghy I fear.. it's the Original Windsurfer, revisited and called the Windsurfer LT and is already gaining considerable traction as an International Class racing alongside the Original in Europe as well as the Upside down folk.
It feels and handles just like the Original I cut my teeth on all those years ago, a bit like finding a comfortable old pair of slippers that upon wearing them someone has fitted roller skates. (For those who don't know I raced Windsurfers in the late seventies) Wider bodied to the point it could be used as a Stand Up Paddle device if you're so mentally retarded, The rig is a slightly larger 5.7 soft sail with a tight leech and a carbon mast which develops considerable power for it's size (Most windsurfer rigs have 'floppy' leech not particularly well designed unless you know what your looking for so are under powered for their size anyway.) I haven't raced it, there are no handicaps operating in the windsurf racing world and given it is the equivalent of a Laser and would be racing against the windsurfing equivalent of Contenders there would be little point, more it's been a water gym for much of the summer, mucking about, old school freestyle, playing in the shore break, sailing distances to outer sea marks, it's just been fun to play on. A pity Windsurfers still fail to be recognised as racing devices by the Illuminati at the RYA as this would be a great device for club racing in fleets and would produce so much better sailors in dinghys later on, but alas there is no appetite by our Governing body for the promotion of our sport. I would say, if you have ever sailed a windsurfer and fancy another try, you should give this consideration, such an easy board, I've not come off it yet had it all year in all manner of wind and conditions, a total delight. Edited by iGRF - 01 Oct 21 at 10:19am |
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KazRob
Far too distracted from work Joined: 22 Oct 16 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 245 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Oct 21 at 1:03pm |
It's great to see Windsurfing returning to it's recreational roots and being able to sail in lighter winds. I keep meaning to get out on my old skool Mistral Equipe (picked up for £100!) with the dinghies but never quite get round to it.
All you need to do to get a PY number is enter a few races, get your own club illuminati to give you an experimental number and make sure it's on the return to the RYA. They can't give a number in an empirical system without people doing races. |
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OK 2249
D-1 138 |
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Sam.Spoons
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Oct 21 at 1:10pm |
I have a hankering for an old Mistral Superlight but probably won't bother, I have a couple of short boards for when it's too windy for the Blaze and an iSUP and a very old Rotobat (kayak) for when it's not windy enough. Good to see the Windsurfer back in production and there seems to be a fair bit of interest, I wouldn't be surprised to see a Windsurfer OD class at UKWA events next year.
FWIW I loved racing Raceboards but was dismayed when they replaced the 7.5m class with the 9.5m, there was no way I was ever going to get fit enough to race them effectively.
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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
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iGRF
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6496 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Oct 21 at 3:19pm |
Well they do them in Mistral Colours a la Superlight a few down Hayling way allegedly and some talk of a class start for the Round Hayling... Honestly, you'd love it 5.7 rig sounds small but it's so punchy and the board weighs in around 15Kg. |
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davidyacht
Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1345 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Oct 21 at 3:59pm |
£1349 little more than the Dufour Wing I had back in the day, but not hugely more expensive than an SUP … got to be better than golf when I can find the time to retire
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Happily living in the past
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Oatsandbeans
Far too distracted from work Joined: 19 Sep 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 382 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Oct 21 at 7:50pm |
All this is getting me thinking I should get my F2 380 out of storage but I have no idea where the all the bits are for it and I would probably struggle to get it down the beach anyway with a big rig on it!
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iGRF
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6496 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Oct 21 at 8:33pm |
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Oatsandbeans
Far too distracted from work Joined: 19 Sep 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 382 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 02 Oct 21 at 8:58am |
and I thought it was the pinnacle of longboard design ( the F2 not the windsurfer!)
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davidyacht
Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1345 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 02 Oct 21 at 10:04am |
Will he take the bait?
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Happily living in the past
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Oatsandbeans
Far too distracted from work Joined: 19 Sep 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 382 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 02 Oct 21 at 10:37am |
Yes that was the idea - he will probably say the Equipe 2 was the best longboard!
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