The Best Singlehander I've sailed this year

Originally posted by Sam.Spoons

   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