WindsurfingSA news

Darrell Staight writes…

As a group our small One Design contingent has been rather dormant in the last month as a result of various work and social commitments. Nevertheless I’ve used the time to try out a few different locations by myself and try to come to grips with the new Kona.

As I type this, our submission is being processed by the Flinders Port Authority in the hope that we will have no further objections to windsurfers taking part in regattas on the Port River and specifically with the Port River Sailing Club. For those of you who didn’t know, after a very promising debut at the club some months ago, some took the opportunity to sight alleged problems in the past involving windsurfing and commercial shipping that operates in the area to veto our inclusing until such time as the Flinders Port Authority decreed otherwise. To this date I don’t know of any incidents that can actually be substantiated where this has actually happened. Nonetheless, in an effort to get off to a good start with all parties we decided to do things the right way and write to the Port Authority in the hope of getting a reference that would satisfy those who had concerns. I might add there is nothing preventing windsurfers from sailing on the Port River as things stand, but the Sailing Club don’t want us officially racing there until this can be sorted out with the Port Authority! Hopefully this issue can be put to rest shortly and we can continue to participate with the Port River Sailing Club where we feel we would fit in well.

I have tried out the Kona against the boats down there in non-official racing and in low winds it surprisingly compares favourably whilst not planing. Although not a high performance raceboard by any means it is encouraging to know that when it does finally blow down there and we finally have our One Design sails, I believe the board will turn a few heads. I honestly expected to be left for dead upwind by most of the decent keel boats but infact only the International Canoes and Catamarans were faster.

Last Sunday I tested Garden Island as a possible race site. Unfortunately the Kona has a 46 cm skeg and in low tide one can’t stray very far out of the channel without running aground. That meant that even in the Barker Inlet, one ends up having to turn so often whilst going upwind that it is not really a suitable site for what I had in mind. I also found the area to be more wind shadowed than I had expected and the final nail in the coffin is that in order to find any area of water suitable one has to travel well out of sight of the boat ramp and some distance down the Inlet and for the less experienced, I felt this was not such a safe place to race, particularly considering the strong current that is present there. You can certainly sail there if you know what you are doing, but you have to go looking for the wind and it’s not very satisfying, it’s very staccato when you finally get the breeze you are are rather isolated if you have any dramas. The Port River is a much more suitable flat water venue.

Today I went down to Somerton in the hope of joining in with the local Sailing Club there. For some reason they weren’t operating, but I set up anyway and for a brief few minutes sat back in the harness and enjoyed the steady ocean breeze as the Kona bounced along the top of the crystal clear water. I was really enjoying it and it couldn’t have been more than 12 knots… before the wind decided to disappear and not return! Nice spot Somerton, but whenever I go there there always seems to be an abundance of wind or none at all, so I’ve been a bit unlucky. I do know that the club there is definitely windsurfer friendly and years ago it was a regular race venue for boards. Quick easy access to the water is a definate plus, but being further down south it can be a bit far to travel if you live right out north.

Anyway that’s me for the moment. This posting is just to let you know that we haven’t disappeared or given up on regular meetings, just a bit busy in the last few weeks. I’m delighted to say that I continue to receive emails from keen sailors who want to join us and hopefully as a group we can look forward to regular meetings on weekends.

I plan to sail all the way through winter this year continuing to try new things, so feel free to contact me if you want to meet up. I’m hoping that by the time next summer comes we will have developed something much more concrete happening but it is encouraging that the momentum does seem to be gathering and the interest is definitely there.