WindDoll » Sailing Tips

Windsurfing Berkeley Great Wind late Season September 17 to 21

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:29:58 +0000

Windsurfing Wednesday was a little difficult. There was plenty of wind for planing on the 6.2, but the MFC 25 (it’s not a 28) was a bit of a challenge. It was my first time rigging the 6.2 on my new RDM and I didn’t use enough downhaul, so the sail was a handful. Since I seem to think I should get everything right the first time, I was irritated at having to come in and make changes. Now, really, that makes no sense. Most windsurfers spend a lot of time adjusting their kits whenever they add a new piece of equipment.
September 18 through 20 were three days of really good wind.

Effortless Windsurfing: Small but Good for Fin and Sail

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:20:31 +0000

Windsurfing with too big a fin is rough! With the right fin it’s smooth and effortless.

When I hit the windline Tuesday with the 4.6, I thought, Wow! I’ve rigged right. The big wind didn’t last, but I was able to plane most of the time. With the 4.6 on the 94, I was the tacking queen!

Windsurfing Tip: Check your Equipment before you Go

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:31:13 +0000

I didn’t get to windsurf at Point Isabel because I drove off to the beach with a “new” (used) harness and it was missing half a buckle. Can’t sail with that! Should have checked it before I left the house. Good thing I didn’t drive to Third or the Delta!

I zoomed over to Berkeley and got another harness and zoomed back, but by then the wind had backed off too much for my little 85 liter rrd. Wah!
I tossed everything into the car and speeded back to Berkeley. I got off a late session with Mr Late Session himself, none other than heartthrob Anton!

Windsurfing Berkeley mid Season August 11 to 13 2008

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:56:43 +0000

While most of us windsurfers were complaining about the wind, Heidi had her best windsurfing day ever! She was riding a 6.4 Hansen and a big ole club board and experienced for her first time that perfectly balanced planing in the straps, when windsurfing is effortless.

Four days in a row riding that Goya and I still don’t feel tuned in. Domond said I was doing everything right by standing forward on the board.

HeatWave Over: Real Windsurfing in Berkeley and Happier with the Fin Works FS

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:23:39 +0000

NOAA said the heatwave would break at 5pm on Thursday, so I knew we were in for some wind and it was chaotic. I was happy when I made a couple of good tacks. It works when you keep the mast across the board and away from your body and pause just before changing sides.
NOAA called for winds 23 to 26 with gusts to 30 Friday and they turned out to be right. Yesterday I used the Flipper 14.4; my first run was powered and the board very lively. Today I thought I’d try the FS 13 again (it’s actually larger than the Flipper 14.4). It spun out on me once and then I thought, well, am I sailing the way Jason trained me? Uh, maybe not. So I worked on keeping my back knee bent and I never spun out again, even when I was dragging a salad’s worth of weed!