On May 2, 8:05 am, bertbarndoor <bertbarnd...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Good advice. I guess what I was saying is that I DO WANT to learn
> waterstarts, just that I figure it might take me a season or two to
> get there. That said, I am a quick study, in decent shape, and have
> had some 'practice' over the years, so you never know. Any case, I
> appreciate your advice and I hear where you are coming from. Maybe
> I'll make my planned learning curve a bit steeper! Thanks, Rob
>
> On May 2, 3:13 am, sm...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
>
> > Don't have any comments on your choice of boards, but I would suggest
> > you rethink the idea of learning waterstarts. Even if you get light
> > and/or flukey winds at your most common sailing site, you will find it
> > an extremely useful skill. For many if not most people, it's the
> > stepping stone to all other advances in sailing, since it helps you
> > get out into stronger winds and significantly decreases the amount of
> > energy you waste uphauling. And if you get hooked on the s****t like so
> > many of us have, and it sounds like you're well on your way, you'll
> > want to travel to other places to sail -- Maui, the Carribbean,
> > Hatteras, the Gorge -- and I can guarantee you that those places are
> > almost unsailable if you can't waterstart.
The Kona's largest strength is how it sails once on a plane. The step
tail boards release like no other long board. The fin is placed in
such a way that one is driving off the fin like a short board sooner
than a conventional, fin back, long board. Next best is its turning,
again because of the step tail. It rips around on a planing gybe with
moxie.
There are several Konas available. The Kona 11-5 is my favorite. It
does fantastic things for me in the surf and ain't a slouch in the
flats either. Methinks it planes earlier than the boards with EVA
foam to the rails.
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