OK, now we're talking.
The question about planing was, "do you know how?", if the vinta
is your first ever, and youv've never ridden another board, then we
know
the answer. Also, if the straps don't seem to matter, then you're
not moving fast enough to use them.
I've sailed at Shorline, pretty light wind there, but nice flat
water. A strong wind day there will be much better for learing than
say, Rio Vista
which is a more
advanced location. At your level of experience, you're going to have
a
challenge on a board as small as the Techno 112, and not just
learning
to waterstart. Additionally, at your level of experience, I might
look for
a board with inboard straps (the Naish Icon's straps are pretty far
outboard. It won't help your waterstart,
but it will make getting in the straps when planing much easier.
There's no reason why you can't practice waterstarts with the Vinta,
but
pick a day when you have a lot of wind, that'll help. I'm still
thinking
something in the 120-150 ltr range will work, provide enough
challenge,
but not too much, and be useful later as you progress. I'd err on the
side
of too much volume if you can.
WIth regard to the "use the tail/don't use the tail" discussion.
at 6'3", my booms haven't seen the tail of my boards since about 1991.
Using the tail can be highly addictive, but in the long run (my
opinion)
it teaches you some habits which are very hard to overcome when you
can't use the tail. You really want to be learning how to clear the
sail
without floating it up with the board, and you definitely want to
learn how to steer the board with "mast foot pressure" which you can
do by beach
starting in deeper and deeper water. As an advanced waterstart
technique,
(after you've learned how to clear the sail without the tail), you can
float huge sails(9-12M)
up out of the water in minimal wind , by putting the mast along
the centerline of the board, or by proping the boom up on the nose,
and
then spinning the board around under you after you have the sail
flying.
That Vinta is nearly bomb proof also. when you move to a lighter
board
there's a lot more potential for damage, and modern boards will fill
up
with water, so grab some ding stick before your 1st outing.
Good luck, let us know what you buy, and how it goes.
-Craig
On Apr 18, 9:20=A0am, BDB <noem...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Thanks for everyone's suggestions. To answer a few of the questions that
> came up:
>
> > very windy, that could be a good choice. =A0Do you plane?
>
> No, I think the Vinta is too heavy to plane. =A0I have trouble carrying
it=
..
>
> > Do you use straps?
>
> I have used them, but they don't seem to help much on my current board
>
> > how about a harness?
>
> Yes I use alway use one.
>
> > would you go $750.
>
> Yes, I'll spend what I need to spend to get a board that is light and
will=
> be useful for a long time.
>
> > I'm not sure what kind of a sail tha "Vinta" came with, but my guess
> > is that
> > you'll be wanting a new rig also, and none of these prices include a
> > rig.
>
> My boom and sails are newer, they were the first things I upgraded. =A0I
> might want to get a new lighter mast though.
>
> > Of course it's always best to try the board before you buy it, but
> > since
> > you're riding a "Vinta" (a very very old board), and since you're
> > looking
> > at "The House", I'm guessing there's no shop near you, and no
> > windsurfing
> > club or organization knowledge for you to leverage, yes?
>
> There isn't much. =A0I live in Santa Cruz, CA and have done most of my
> sailing at Shoreline lake in Palo Alto. =A0Also went to Rio Vista twice
> last year. =A0I would like to start going to other places that are
better
> than Shoreline because it's not very windy there usually. =A0There are
> probably some clubs in the bay area, but I don't know of them and I
> don't have lots of time to be tracking them down. =A0The only shop with
> a decent selection I've found was in Rio Vista, and it's both a long
> drive and seemed pretty expensive, and I doubt they would let me demo
> a board anyway so I may as well take my chances with a web purchase.
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