OK I'm starting to get there, I think I managed to leave the water on monday on the estuary on the small swell that there was, I was harnessed in and think I actually overtook someone on a shortboard at one point, have to admit that I bottled out as I was reaching warp speeds. Which brings me to the point...... How can you tell if you are overpowered, when people say it's a 4.5 today, does that mean everyone? or does it depend on weight etc I got a few sails when I got my board (bargain) but have only used the 4.5m. I haven't ventured into 7.5m territory yet. I wasn't getting up from any attempts at waterstarting, does this mean I was underpowered?





ps. there was a smal breaking wave in front of the lake wall about half way along about 1/2 a foot in surfers terms (bigger it seems if you are a windsurfer, where are all these 'logo/mast high waves?). Does this wave ever reach a rideable height? Tried to drop in on it but did not catch (I am still shite though)



Cheers

Keep up the good work on the site

hi. you dont say when on monday. 4.5 would have been ok for a beginner early on. I rigged a 5.8 at 12noon and flew down the wall. By high tide the wind had gone! went back out at 3pm and rigged the 7! enjoyed the rest of the day on that.



overpowered means that generaly you cannot sheet in the sail properly and cannot rake the rig back to get a closed down feel. move the mast track forward and keep your weight forward, as though you are looking around the mast! feels like you may catapult at first but will help you stay in control and fly upwind better. got to be better than changing down!



as for waves, well chop realy, you wont find much at W.K. just enough to hop off!





enjoy!!

I'd say you'll know about it when you're overpowered !!

The sail beecomes very difficult to handle and tends to try and 'backwind' where you cant fully sheet in and the front of the sail just behind the mast flaps and even fills from the wrong side. In a severe gust this can just flatten you backwards into the water.

But that's REALLY overpowered - I think most people mean somewhere between comfortable and what I described above - enough power that the sail becomes an effort to control rather than working for you.

If you're not using anything bigger than a 4.5m sail it's unlikely you'll get really overpowered very often - I doubt this weekend anyway although I wasn't there on Saturday.

Overtaking someone on a shortboard is the easiest thing in the world if they're not planing

No a 4.5m day does not mean everyone ! some big guys will need a 5m, some loonies will take out a 5.5, even a 6 ! but you'll find the majority of people on 4.5's is what we mean. Grover (also known as helium bones) weighs slightly less than me and Ernie, and will often take a size smaller than us (and still plane first the git !) so it's a combination of your weight, skill, attitude etc - as well as the board ! If you're on a big board e.g. it's not new, it's got a centreboard and you struggle to carry it ! then it won't go so fast - this means that in higher winds you are physically holding on to lots of power that smaller boards transmit into speed.

Waterstarting when underpowered is a skill in itself - sounds like you might have been



sounds like you've got the bug tho'



Never seen anyone surf at WK - you can ride the waves on a windsurfer though.



Bert

...and for those cynical about West Kirby waves - I'll meet you all when the forecast is for a NW wind approx 20mph or more and a tide above 9.0m.



Follow me out to just behind Little Eye - ignore all the guys sailing on the 'chop' at Tanskies rocks and I'll show you some ridable waves, often going vertical and beautiful to jump off - provided of course you can sail starboard tack !



If you need a reference see (the no longer cynical) Windy John.



Happy days.

I'll be right behind you - hopefully do better than last time I ventured out there - a long strip of rocks had my fin right off! In a moment of genius I forgot to make a note of where they were..... Any ideas.

The words 'needle' and 'haystack' both immediately spring to mind



I'm afraid your fin is now with the dozen or so I've lost in the lake or on the tide, not to mention sunglasses !



Somewhere in the universe theres a load of fins with ground tips and broken tabs each covered with a unique sock.............



Is it Friday yet ?



Bert