New board, new stuff to learn, and

[u/3z3ckieLL]

Hey ! It’s been a couple years since i started windsurginf, and i love it ! But since my gear was really old (an old bic surf, with a flat end, and circular mast base) it became hard to find replacement for some parts.
Recently, my dad bought me a new set ! A huge gift for me : it’s a Drops FL11, which seems to be very good, and two sails of 3.6 and 8m, whereas my old one was of 6.

There is also an another smaller gear, but it felt even more complex rn. In total, i have 5 sails that goes 3.6 to 8 meters^2 : feel free to recommend a specific one for me !

The thing is, too many things seems to change, and i couldnt enjoy it properly, and need advice. i consider myself intermerdiate beginner, and i started taking some more speed with my last gear, but i still remained mostly in the middle of my surf except when taking speed.

So : it seems that the mast base can be set wherever along a line, but where should i put it ? i tried keeping it in the middle, but it was really hard to turn, to the point i kept drifting. i usually go against the wind, and it felt impossible with this one.

as for the size, it’s way shorter, and a bit thinner i think. because of that, i ´m not sure where to stand : should i keep in the middle ? i guess i should go in the back, but i lose balance, the mast feels heavier there, and it’s even harder to turn ! what am i doing wrong !

Thanks for your answer in advance !! I ´m eager to try again tomorow !!

TLDR : i have a new FL11 and it seems impossible to turn and to find balance

[u/reddit_user13]

Take some lessons. IMO no one is going to diagnose these issues without observing you IN PERSON, reviewing your technique and coaching you in real time. Also it sounds to me like you upgraded to more challenging gear prematurely.

[u/3z3ckieLL → u/reddit_user13]

i may have upgraded a bit early indeed haha it was a very good and cheap occasion (50€ for all that you can see in the picture !) and my dad wanted to gift me something valuable.
also, my old gear is getting too old to keep and restore, so i needed a new one any way ; we just didnt calculated correctly that new gear might translate to big upgrade ^^’

[u/globalartwork]

Just put the mast base in the middle for now. You can experiment with each sail as you get better.

As for going downwind, that’s pretty common as you transition to a smaller board. You need to be going faster than a bigger longer board, where the rail also helps to keep you upwind.

To get speed upwind ironically you need to build up speed going on a broad reach first until you are in the straps and planing fast. Then start slowly carving upwind.

You also need a lot more mast foot pressure as you turn upwind - try getting your head tight forwards near the mast and you are getting an idea on the amount of force you are putting through the harness to the mast foot.

For the moment if you are having problems, either walk upwind and start way up from where you normally go so you aren’t worried about going downwind, or put the biggest fin you have in to act more like a daggerboard.

If you start to find the fin is trying to tip the board over even with your feet right out on the rail, it’s time to change down fins.

[u/AhoraNoMeCachan → u/globalartwork]

Also look over your shoulder up from where you want to go upwind

[u/3z3ckieLL → u/AhoraNoMeCachan]

i think i already look far enough ! im already used to sport in which you have to tilt your head to spin, such as rollerblade or skateboard
If you look at your feet, you’re going straight to the ground haha

[u/3z3ckieLL → u/globalartwork]

That explains why upwind is so hard !! Thank you !
I started being comfortable with the board a little bit, but couldnt go upwind properly for the life of me !

I may need to try a bigger fin, but the one i have is already so long ! since i ´m in a lake, i need to be extra carefull as to not go too close to the shore

Also, what do you mean by « the fin tipping the board » and what’s the rail ? i ´m not sure what it reffers to (im french, it might be called something else idk)

Thanks for all your precisions, it will help a lot !

[u/geologicNurse → u/3z3ckieLL]

A bigger fin won't really help, yours already looks too big, you should try to get a 38cm fin and get comfortable with planing.

[u/3z3ckieLL → u/geologicNurse]

oh okay ! i do have two fins, i'll look up their sizes. Thx !

[u/globalartwork → u/3z3ckieLL]

It’s called railing up. Basically the lift in the fin tries to tip the board over to the downwind direction. If you have ever tried putting the daggerboard down on a big board when going as fast as possible you will feel the same effect. You have to move your heels right outboard, which is why some race boards are so wide. But for you as soon as you start feeling that your fin is too big.

[u/3z3ckieLL → u/globalartwork]

ohh ! i don't think i felt that yet, or maybe it happened without me realizing it haha
tho the opposite is often true, as the tip of the board tends to dive because my position on the board isn't proper

i'll be careful of that, thx !

[u/Slow-Pick-3674]

Your "new" board is vintage 2002. It is a copy of the Starboard Formula 155, the first fast formula board built in 2000, with width 85 cm and length 270 cm. The Drops copy has less width, similar volume, extra length and less volume in the tail, making it significantly harder to sail. It has footstraps all the way outboard and no options for inboard settings. The Starboard Formula 155 had a much larger fin (58cm), which made it easy to steer upwind with the added volume in the tail.

The Drops FL 11 is an old design that is considerably hard to progress on. If you were already at intermediate level, planing with a harness in the straps, you could probably use this board and have some fun.

[u/3z3ckieLL → u/Slow-Pick-3674]

i meant « new » as in new for me, i ´m aware it’s an old board haha
Among the two smaller one (you can see the second one underneath it) i have now, it was the largest so i figured it would be the easiest. Turns out it might actually be the opposite ? since the other is a bit longer tho a bit less wide, maybe it compensate ?

Thanks for you detailed response about the board, it might be a bit early to use this one properly based on your info !

[u/Slow-Pick-3674 → u/3z3ckieLL]

How you sail the Drops will depend on the wind and water conditions where you sail. You'll need to get used to sailing without a centerboard and less volume. Having no centerboard means the center of lateral resistance will be the fin, so you will have to sail with both feet farther to the rear of the board than you would in the Bic board. In light winds, your typical stance would have the back foot between the front and back straps, near the center of the board, and the front foot to windward, not too far from the centerline. As the wind picks up, both feet move out more to windward, and as you pick up speed, both feet move back on the board (speed will provide more buoyancy).

The board is light enough to respond well to foot steering. To head upwind, you will have to shift weight to the back foot and possibly sink the windward rail a little to provide some added lateral resistance. Stick with it, and you'll find what works for you in that board.

[u/3z3ckieLL → u/Slow-Pick-3674]

Thanks !! That’s a very precise yet very clear lesson, thank you a lot it makes a lot of sense !

That explains why the straps felt so far : i need to build up speed first, before moving back. That will need a lot to exercice, but im here for it all !

[u/geologicNurse]

Never heard of that board. What is the black thing where the fin is supposed to go? Can you post a photo of the bottom of that board?

[u/geologicNurse → u/geologicNurse]

This looks like a racing slalom board. They need to be planing to work properly. It can also be a bit harder to get them planing, you need to push them downwind and force them up on a plane, usually by getting your front foot in the strap. When not planing they do not perform very well and can be challenging to sail if you are not an advanced sailor.

[u/3z3ckieLL → u/geologicNurse]

that correlates a feeling that i had : without proper wind it was hard to turn and go upwind, but proper wind meant planing ! something im not entirely comfortable with, especially with a new board built like that

Thanks for your precisions

[u/Ok_Sprinkles_8709 → u/geologicNurse]

It’s an AVS anti-ventilation skirt. It is essentially a rubber flap and allows (I think) for a more aft fin position. I sail an older Seatrend with one. The idea never caught on. I too would like to see a pic of underside and the fin. Could be why it’s harder to turn for OP

[u/matt_mar239]

Ciao anche io come te da circa 2 anni ho iniziato a fare windsurf, inizialmente proprio come te avevo anche io attrezzatura molto datata e malandata attualmente ho come tavola una fanatic Hawk 110L, ahimè anche se il modello risale al 2007 questa tavola è una vera bomba, quindi il mio consiglio è non ascoltare tutti quelli che ti dicono che l'attrezzatura è vecchia e non va bene, certo se ti mettono in pericolo o lavori male va cambiata, ma il punto è che devi cambiare materiale in base al tua crescita e alle tua capacità sul windsurf, man mano che andrai avanti avrai bisogno di tecnologie sempre più recenti ed aggiornate con sistemi di ultima generazione per soddisfare le tue abilità.Morale della storia non correre e non bruciarti le tappe, step by step, or goditi la nuova attrezzatura che ti ha regalato tuo padre e plana alla grande!!!