Where to start?

[datherley]

Hi,
I just picked up a used sailboard thinking I might like to try windsurfing. I spent much of an afternoon at Yuba trying to figure out how to make the dang thing go, after lots of time spent in the water I figured out that there is more to this sport than just standing on the board and holding up the sail. I purchased a book to help me learn some of the basics and I think I have a little more knowledge than the day I spent at the lake. The board I picked up is about 12 feet long and is probably pretty dated but seems serviceable from my limited knowledge. Where is a good place to learn to sail and what advice would you offer the new kid on the block to help reduce the initial frustations and dangers?

[Carl Christensen]

go somewhere you can sail with others who can help. this usually means Deer Creek Island Beach if there's wind. having bits of advice here and there can make all the difference in the world. also choose places where the inevitable downwind drifting pushes you back a convenient beach that lets you walk your gear back up to where you started to get ride after ride until your arms fall off, you drag yourself off the water, and use your last ounce of strength to pry open your beverage of choice. funny thing is you are convinced you can't sail but after 5 or 10 times you really are a lot better. ask anybody.

[datherley]

Thanks Carl, sounds like a good place to start.

Dan

[RickHeninger]

Datherley,

Deer Crick as it were or was, whatever is the RN way of sayin' it... Is good to learn... But you have to have your afternoons free to learn there... If you are an early riser... Go out to Grantsville Reservoir in the mornings and you'll usually get at least a little sump'm sump'm. (somethnig something just in case, he he)... But if you are seriously liking it... Utah lake in the Spring and fall... Some go to Provo Boat harbor where there is an awesome area inside the jetty's to begin... Yuba Reservoir, spend some weekends there for the grabbag of wind that usually pans out something... TIME ON THE WATER IS THE ANSWER TO IMPROVING!

Try to go when you can ask questions from people who are experienced sailors... It really reduces the discouragement factor to get pointers... In fact I'd been sailing since I was 9 years old and it wasn't until I was 29 years old that a friend helped me see that I had to point the nose of the board DOWNWIND more in order to waterstart... I could've really helped myself out by simply asking a lot of questions sooner!!! I'd have known that getting wet is the point of windsurfing!!! Not always staying dry... And I probably spent more time on the water my first year after finding some of these things out than I did in my first 20 years of sailing. Don't waste energy and time... Ask a lot of questions to sailors whom you meet on the beach...

Post what kind of car and sail rig you have so that when we see you we can help you out. See you out there...

[datherley]

I appreciate the advice Rick, I have spent a fair amount of time on Yuba and a little on Utah Lake but my sailing experience on these two were on the back of a catamaran. What I found out from my first experience on a board is that it is a whole new ball game and I am going to need a lot of help from others to learn how to spend time on the board and not so much in the water. Catamaran sailing is also about getting wet and that is probably why I am drawn to wind surfing as well.

Thanks again
Dan