I have been sailing for about 2 years now on larger light wind boards and now I'm looking to get into a short board. I just sold a carve 131, that I never got to use. From what I hear, I should be looking for a board with a little less volume than the 131 for Nitnat, up the island and around Victoria. Freeride or Slalom board or...... ???

I am about 230 pounds and my sails run from 5.0m to 8.5m.

Any ideas or suggestions????

Cheers, Rob.

I would have thought that at 230 pounds the Carve 131 would have been about right for for Nitinat and would get you out at the other locations on moderate days. Probably do you for all but the strongest normal summer winds there. Your weight+wet wetsuit+weight of board + weight of rig is going to = about 125-130 litres just to float with no reserve. And thats going to be very wobbly for a beginner. As a first shortboard, you can't go any smaller than that, as you will need some reserve to allow you to uphaul till you have waterstarts wired. I'm assuming you can't waterstart yet? On the other hand, you might just be forced to learn waterstarts early, and then you will not be limited by floatation. Unless you have a rescue boat with you though it probably isn't a good idea. See what other people say here. Some of the 'big and tall' windsurfers will have a better idea.

Just about any of the modern (mostly 5 years old or less) wide/short boards are pretty good these days, anything about 130-180 litres and 70-90 cm wide will probably get you going if its a freeride. I'd suggest going to the larger size for a season unless you can afford several boards. Stay away from slalom boards for now as they are faster but less forgiving. A freestyle board might work OK too (do they make them this big?) as they plane up quickly and are quite forgiving. Formula boards are too fragile and require too much tuning for beginners, but Bobson might interest you in FreeFormula, which are a 'detuned' version, but you'd then want bigger sails&rig. Post a question here if you see something you think might work before buying. Beware soft spots in the deck near the rails on any board.

See the other discussion on the Go board. One of the bigger versions of that would probably suit you nicely.

Your sail sizes sound good for a really wide range of wind.

Thanks for the reply.

I bought the Carve 131 as a demo last year and didn't ever use it. I have a young family (hence the large sail range for light wind boards) and seem to only ever get to the lakes and occaisionally IV.

After buying the 131, I went on the Starboard forum. I explained the wind range we get here on the island to them and thought the 131 was a bit too big. Roger thought I should be leaning more towards 110-115l, 125 at max. He also thought I sould check with the local sailors. So here I am.

The kids are in school full time next fall so dad has more time to work on the windsurfing.

Rob.

I went from longboards to my first shortboard at 130 litres. I remember it feeling impossibly small and tippy, and I was only about 175 pounds then. Modern 130s are wider and shorter and the volume distribution is much further back under your feet, so are much more stable by comparison with my first board; but then you are 50 lbs heavier than I was. I think Roger was giving good advice for a little bit more advanced a sailor; till you can waterstart easily and be comfortable in the straps and harness, you'll want something with float. Then you'll probably be wanting something about 110-120 litres for 15-20 knot days and something like 90 litres for when the hollow-boned among us are on 70 litre waveboards.

It is possible to learn on the smaller board, but it can create frustration and you'll miss out on going out in lighter winds when the waters flatter and its easier to learn planing control. Mind you, if you already have a longboard, you can learn that part of the equasion on it if it has footstraps, then work on the waterstarts with the little board when the wind comes up more. If you learn harness and footstraps planing on the big board you'd have no trouble sailing a smaller board. Its just the getting going thats hard.

If you can spend a week or two at a time at Nitinat when its sunny, you'd have perfect conditions to learn to handle the smaller board. Nitinat is very safe compared to ocean beaches - even in the worst case you will always end up at a beach after a rather long drift/swim. And lots of people walk their gear up to the 'No Mans Land' by the kite beach, learn to beachstart out, then swim and try to waterstart back. If you don't manage to actually get on the board, you can quickly learn to 'self rescue' bodydrag to get you back to the beach with minimal if any swim. Then its the 'walk of shame' up to the upper beach again. and again..... The best part is Nitinat is very family-friendly, young kids often love it and there are usually lots of playmates for them. So I hope the wife likes camping!

first shortboard- you can learn waterstarts with yer frigates. considering your weight, the Nat: ~110L slalom

I once owned a carve 131 (3 yrs ago). I am 200+ lbs, and my comment to you is that Roger/Kus are smack on. A 110-120L board is as big as you want for a short board. Period. It will seem too big after a few years (really!), but is plenty floaty for "planing" at Nitinaht lake and 'milder' conditions on the salt. My 131 planed fast, for sure, but is quickly over-powered/winded at Nitinaht, turning from a nice cruise to a bucking bronco in 20+ knots. I sold my 131 at a big loss, but the gains I made "not" sailing the 131 were worth it. In my opinion, the 131 is a fantastic freeride board for lighter winds, bigger sails (e.g. 8-6m2) with little chop - such as shallow water /protected sailing (e.g. in the tropics, where there is a reef protected, shallow water sailing area (not in our conditions, even Nitinaht). Don't make my mistake - all modern freeride boards are fast to plane and much more stable than 'old school' slalom boards. I now sail a 95L and 74L board, depending on conditions. If you are interested, I have a 111L carve with a bag and 2 fins for sale in the forum. Good luck with your quest!!!

Thanks for all the tips dudes. I have bought a few boards and ended up selling them off because I really didn't know what to look for. I am leaning towards the slalom/freeride type boards such as the S-type or the Tabou Rocket. Both these boards seem to cover blasting as well as manouverability. They both come in either 115L or 125L. I am thinking I should get the skills nailed on a board 115/125, sail it for a couple years, Then look at a board around 100L or less. I should probably shed a pound or 2 when I'm back on the program too.

Any local reviews on these boards?

You haven't answered the big question: Can you water start?! Once you can the rest is gravy...Windsurfing is all about time on the water...Changing your equipment every time a new magazine comes out is silly. A big old garage sale (used Victoria ?!) long board from the 80's in the 12' range will float you & enable you to get out every time the wind blows.(makes a great parent/kid rig as well & can be used as a party raft or surf board.) Pat Bay is a great training ground for us peninsula people. Long boards have gone out of fashion but are over due for a come back...Just ask MF4 !!!

I agree, Its all about the TOW - whatever you do, just get out there & struggle like all of us (or have fun, as the case may be .

A photo of the 'locals' at Nitinaht advising on the subtler details of waterstarts... Run from them when you meet them on the beach - see look of horror in Janetfish's eyes

L to R Windsurfish, Mortontoemike, Janetfish

http://www.bigwavedave.ca/gallery/displ ... ?pos=-2404

Happy Sailing,

Windsurfish

Thanks Jimmy. And a fellow ferry worker, I've been told. I'm one of the big lugs in stores.

The 2 boards I have are a start M (205L) and a new Starboard Hybrid Formula (230L). No, I have not yet figured out water starts. This is why I am asking the question on a short board. I have bought a few boards that don't seem to be what I am looking for. Too much volume, too floaty. I want to get a board that will get me through the water start learning curve and one that I will keep on enjoying for years to come.

I haven't been in Pat Bay yet. Bobson has tried to get me out a few times but shift work keeps getting in the way.

I thought from your first post you were coming from old longboards. I think the Start and a Formula still qualify as 'short' boards, though they certainly are wide and floaty!

Certainly go for the smaller 110l board then. You can still work on waterstarts, harness and straps on the Start (once you get going you can put the footstraps out and back for blasting) then switch to the little board once the big boards start feeling harsh.

Thanks again for all the advice MF4. I will probably check out boards in the 110-115 range. I'm thinking a slalom/freeride mix.

I've been working my wife to get up to the Nat a few times this year. With or without the clan.

Me definately needs more TOW....................!!!

Cheers, Rob.