Learn to duck jibe, flaka, and loop in 30 seconds.....

....which is about how long it takes the read the instructions!

Visit our friends at www.fanatic.com to play their Super-X game, a nice way to get your daily windsurfing dose during the cooler months.

What does 40 knots look like?

Test Drive

Local sailor Gord Jones, who puts the hard in hard core with his 11 month sailing season, takes the 2006 Gaastra Manic 5.0 for a test drive in late Fall 2005.

What was the verdict? Well, since he bought it right on the spot, I would have to assume it was love at first sail.

Rigging a Gaastra Freetime Sail

Check to see that you have all the parts.







Roll your sail out with the front bottom corner upwind.

Insert your mast.







Hold the boom opening together helps as you feed the mast.







Make sure the mast tip is seated in the mast cap of the sail.






Check that the two parts of your mast are all the way together. Feel for a gap with your hands.

Set your mast extension.

The sail spec sheet at the tack should tell you how much you need.





Insert the extension and feed the downhaul line so that it runs smooth without crossing up.









Downhaul your sail and cleat the line.










Tension your battens.








Set your boom to the recommended length.


Attach your boom to the mast and clamp tight.







Feed the outhaul.







Cleat your outhaul.

Tie off the loose end.




Now you can tune your sail.


Trim the downhaul and outhaul so that the front of the sail is tight, and the leach of the sail is loose at the top with a little tension at the clew.

Here are some links to sail manufacturer rigging guides.

Gaastra Sailworks Severne

Think your tough?

Then lets see you try to break this.

In the past Euro Pin systems have had a tendency to have the pin shear off, leaving you hopefully not to far from shore trying to figure out what to do with your rig now that it isn't attached to your board.

The brain cells as Chinook have taken care of that once and for all with their new pin system. It is all cast from one solid piece of stainless steel, meaning that there is nothing threaded, screwed, or held together with locktite. So, unless you are regulary breaking stainless steel rods, this might just be the new mast base for you.

How do I install the vent screw in my new board?

If you have just unwrapped your new board in there is a hole in front of (or sometimes behind) the mast track, then likely in the mast track wrapped in plastic (or sometimes in the hardware pack) is a vent screw.

Not installing the vent screw in leaves you with a hole directly into the foam core of your board, and will result in your board taking on water if you go sailing. Taking the vent out when travelling by plane is mandatory so that the pressure inside and outside the baord can equalize. Not doing so will cause your board to inflate (lower air pressure outside, higher inside the board), which will all but ruin your board. Just remeber to put it back in once you land (See Ask Evan from Thursday, January 12, 2006 for more details on how to remember).

Your first step to install the screw is to take it out of the plastic wrap. Almost as important as the screw itself is the black gasket, just beneath the head. Without this, the screw won't effectively seal, and the risk of taking on water is high.

Put the screw into the hole, and thread it a couple of threads with your fingers, making sure not to cross thread the hole in the board.

For the final step, leave the torque wrench or power screwdriver in the garage, and simply screw the vent screw down until it is hand tight.

We knew they would be good.......

....but we didn't know they would be this good!

I snapped this picture of the 2006 Fanatic NewWave and FreeWaves in the fall when they arrived. We have put some pretty serious miles on the Freewave 98 and 88, and the New Wave 81 and all expectations have been shattered with these boards being put into the "best ever" category.

Mike is getting good sessions in Barbados on the Freewave 88 and has commented:

"....It is unreal! So fun in the waves, quick, loose, planes early, great for jumping and a dream to jibe. Sorry Glenn - I should have brought it down in January"

Sorry indeed, but given that the NewWave 81 was so snappy and lively feeling I don't feel to hard done by. However, don't think that these boards are slow wave boards, they little speedsters that give just as much performance in high wind bump and jump as they do in the waves.

When we have the chance to try and sail every board available, the boards that we choose to sail ourselves have to outshine the rest.....case in point, the 2006 Fanatics. Mike has a van load of them already, Glenn has a Skate 102 and New Wave 81 or 76 (can't decide...maybe I will collect the whole set!), and we have caught Evan gazing at them as well.

Barbado-thon Phase 3 picks up where Phase 1 and 2 left off.

A slow start to the day (plane out of Miami was 3 hours late, so into hotel at 2am), unpacking, getting groceries, finding where Glenn left my gear, setting up the 2 boards I brought down and rigging up the 5.3 Gaastra Manic.

Unbelievably, I finally got on the water - was immediately WAY overpowered on the 5.3. That woke me up in a hurry! While the wind was a little side off, the waves were unreal - straight on shore, clean, spread out, steep and quite vertical for big jumps - and no sizeable shore break. So back in to rig the 4.7 Manic and very nicely powered on the Fanatic NewWave 81.

The wind backed off a bit, then went more side and finally side on-shore, so ended up with the 5.3 on the 2006 Fanatic FreeWave 88 I brought down this trip - and it is unreal! So fun in the waves, quick, loose, planes early, great for jumping and a dream to jibe. Sorry Glenn - I should have brought it down in January. You could have used it tons with all the 5.7 and 5.3 days you had.

Have to download the pics from the downwind race out of Surfers Point to Silver Sands won by Trevor Hunt - after I go to the dinner and party this evening at Surfers Bay Beach Bar - a 5 minute walk from Silver Sands.

Yes, it's great to be back at Silver Sands!

How can you make windsurfing easier?

There are actually more things to make your windsurfing easier than you can shake a stick at. Here are a few of the most helpful ones (from top to bottom):

The Waterstarter - great to help learn waterstarts as it helps the clew float. Also makes waterstarting large sail in light winds easy.

The Deviator - protects the nose of your board during falls. Makes live easier for you as your board is on the water and not in the repair shop!

Easy Uphaul - for anyone who is using a harness, the bigger the sail the better. Just hook your spreader bar into the loop on the Easy Uphaul and lean back.

Rig Winch - the mack daddy of all downhaul tools. Just put it in your mast base and crank away.

Tug Cleat - small and simple. Just use the cleat to crip your downhaul rope and pull away.

Instructional DVD - your very own private lesson in your living room. Details analysis and lots of visuals help with entry level skills and beyond.

I just received my first new rig, but am not sure what everything is?

A great question, especially since for someone just starting the sport, all the parts may not be regognizable.

If you have ordered just a rig from us (ie Gaastra Pilot, Gaastra Freetime (pictured), you will have received (from left to right):

Boom - the large wishbone shaped piece that you hold onto. We make sure that the boom is properly sized to your sail.

Sail - Is delivered rolled up, which is how you will also store it. Will either be in a cloth bag, or a plastic bag.

Mast - Comes in two pieces, and is sized to fit you sail accordingly.

Uphaul Rope (far right, top left) - Stetchy bungee rope that you use to pull the sail out of the water.

DVD (far right, middle) - A guide to help you learn how to windsurfing *Note - the DVD is only included in our complete packages that include both rig and board.

Mast Base - Blue aluminum tube that is used to downhaul your sail with.

This is only checklist of the parts you will have received, and a more complete rigging guide will follow shortly.

Ripping Report

Barbados showed me her finest side over the past 12 days. Winds everyday of either 5.7 or 5.3 (FYI...the 2006 Gaastra Manics are as good as good can get) and head high waves that the Fanatic NewWave 81 was made to tear apart. The great thing about the waves in Barbados is there are huge rewards for going at the lip as hard as possible, but they are gentle waves over a pretty deep reef, so the punishment is minimal if you go down.

Great crew of both locals and foreigners on the water, great surfing, and great evenings out (note - no one should ever leave Barbados without having at least one dinner/several drinks at Surfers Bay), and just the most chilled out and welcoming sailing scene I have ever sailed in. It is almost as though someone put a "Check you ego here" sign at the airport, since local pros like Brian Talma mingle and sail with first timers.

Sadly, most of the action shots of the reef that we took didn't turn out that well, but here are a few pics from my phase of Barbado-thon 2006.....Mike kicks off phase 3 on the 11th!

Scoping out the conditions

Evening surf session at South Point

Timing the shore break (....why did Paddfield never carry my stuff into the water like he does for Sally in the picture below?)

Padders helps Sally deal with the shorebreak.

Wedding Day

A great trip to Barbados, sailing updates and pictures to come, but the big news from the trip as posted yesterday is that I am now married! We had a small ceremony just before sunset on the beach, just the two of us and reverend Jeffrey.

Thanks to everyone who has called, posted, or e-mailed their contgratulations, and as promised, here are a few pictures!

Glenn, Dinah, and Reverend Jeffrey at Foul Bay

Mrs. Dinah Morton

All smiles after the nerves of the ceremony calmed down

The only thing on the beach other than us was this fishing boat, which with Dinah's flowers made a nice picture

Getting ready to exchange rings

Glenn's Big News

The big news from Glenn's trip to Barbados wasn't that he scored the best 10 days of windsurfing he has ever experienced.

The big news wasn't that Glenn can now loop on port tack - just not as well as starboard tack.

No, the big news was Glenn marrying (or eloped with) long time girlfriend Dinah Wednesday, Feb.1 during a very private sunset ceremony on Long Beach! Knock me over with a feather.

Please join me in congratulating the happy couple and wishing them all the best.

Mike
PS - Glenn promises wedding pictures tomorrow.

Action!

Now that's what I call logo high!

Yann schools everyone at Silver Sands on how to do a push loop.

Mike can't wait to get back to Barbados next Saturday. Glenn's back in the great white north today - look for lots of pics and stories uploaded to the blog and gallery next week.

Barbado-thon Phase 2 is winding down

Last full day for Glenn. He gets to sail tomorrow morning before heading home tomorrow night. Glenn reports that he has been sailing every day of his trip on 5.3 and 5.7. Catching some great front side riding - and even learning to loop on port tack. (Glenn is a strong starboard tack looper).

Glenn reports the 2006 Fanatic FreeWave and NewWave boards "are awesome", while enjoying the '06 Gaastra Manic's great handling and power.

Mike has postponed Barbado-thon Phase 3 from this Saturday to next Saturday, so our string of consecutive sailing days in Barbados (since Jan. 9) will be broken this weekend.

Chillin'

After a morning of awesome sailing, it's great to chill out under a palm tree in front of the deluxe studios at Silver Sands Resort. Here Surfer Sal spoons Dave the Wave with Baz wondering who's wearing the pants. We all know the answer to that one, don't we Dave?


Andy (with wife Becky in the background) caught catching flies!

The sailing is great, but the friendships you make are even better

As much as I enjoyed sailing every day, the best part of visiting Silver Sands in Barbados is seeing friends from previous years return. Then of course, the dinners, drinks, laughs and stories. Here's the Poole Crew - Colin, Sal, Padders and Dave on my patio. Colin and Dave were very entertaining to watch in action in the bars - the party boys!


Arnie, Annetta, Caroline, Sally, Tracy, Barry, Padders and Buckey are all smiles after another great day of sailing at Silver Sands. The great thing about Silver Sands is that is likely the most social windsurfing destination I have been to. The local sailors and regular visitors hang out together, so it's much more than just about the awesome windsurfing and great weather.

Barbado-thon Phase 2

Glenn leaves for his stint in Barbados this evening, but has big shoes to fill in terms of Mike's impressive 16/16 sailing record. The forecast looks like a couple of warm up days late this week/early weekend, and the building into next week.

Max is our temporary replacement for whoever is in Barbados. He was in Mikes office for the past two weeks, and will make his way downstairs to Glenns starting tomorrow morning.

I am sure Mike has plenty of pictures for the gallery that he will be posting, and I will have the same when I get back.

Silver Sands Shot of the Day

Great picture of a classic push loop at the reef by Yann Sune. Taken by Mike on the boardwalk at Silver Sands Hotel.

If you figure the wave he takes off from is about 10 feet (and hasn't fully jacked yet!), and his mast is in the 13 foot range......I am guessing he is up there about 25 - 30 feet.

Silver Sands was firing this morning and yesterday with 4.2 - 5.4 conditions and logo to mast high waves. The trade winds are back and conditions this winter are like those seen in Barbados 10 - 20 years ago.

Not many on the water this morning due to a lot of sore hands and heads after the gang sailed all day, then rocked it up into the wee hours at McBrides last night!

Perfect 4.2 day in Barbados....too bad Mike only had a 4.7

Barbados Battle Wound

Now that is what I call a bicep bruise.

Mike's arm after it met his boom in the rinse cycle during Barbado-thon 2006. A logo high macker closed out on Mike while water starting in the impact zone at the reef.

Latest report from Mike is 5.7 Gaastra Manic on the Fanatic NewWave 81 in sweet side off conditions this morning, with head to logo high waves. Mike has extended his stay until Wednesday due to the www.windguru.com Barbados forecast. Saturday through Wednesday calls for side off 20 - 27 knots and waves up to 4.5m (15'). The reef is going to be huge!

9 for 9 at Silver Sands

Barbado-thon 2006 is off to a great start!

Mike reports scoring 9 straight days of wave riding and jumping. The first seven were on 4.7 or 5.3 2006 Gaastra Manic and Fanatic NewWave 81! Yesterday and today he was flying on the new 6.2 Gaastra Poison or 5.7 Manic and the awesome Fanatic FreeWave 98. He took delight in planing before most kiters!

Things are looking epic for later this week and early next week with 25 knots and a big swell on the way to Barbados. Mike is talking about extending a few days until Glenn arrives to take advantage of the forecast 4m+ waves with 11 second intervals (mast high at the Silver Sands reef). Glenn's countdown is now at 11 days!

That is our mate, U.K. Dave "the Wave" (aka Padders) in action a couple days ago.

Strong Start

Tabou/Gaastra team rider Thomas Traversa gets the year off to a strong start at the 2006 London Indoor event with a second place finish.

A Tabou 3S and an 2006 Gaastra Manic......a very sweet combination for waves, freestyle, flatwater, freeride, and pretty much anything between.

Should I remove the vent plug?

Your board has a vent plug to allow trapped air out in cases where it will experience drastic changes in pressure. Air travel, driving over mountains, or sitting in a hot car are three cases when you should remove the plug. But I have seen more boards ruined because the vent was left out while sailing, than I have seen blown up and delamed because the plug left in. Most boards have the vent right in front of the mast track. A handy place to put your vent when you remove it is in your Chinook Two Bolt Mast Plate. You can lock it in there, you won't lose it and it will be impossible to go sailing with out noticing that it is missing.

Barbado-thon 2006

GAME ON!

Guess the time?

No sun in the sky (which turns an erie blue), full moon behind, it must be at least......1:30? Yep, went on a couple of long cross country skiis, and snapped this shot of the scenery just before it got dark, at 1:30. This is just on the arctic circle, about 50 kms from the Finland/Russia border.

A little closer the equator, Mike reports 4.7 and head high waves from Barbados today. My countdown is at 16 days until I head down!

Up, up, and away in 2006

Happy New Year to everyone, lets all hope for a windy and warm 2006.

Glenn is just back from Finland, and Mike just kicked Barbado-thon 2006 this morning, and from the sounds of it, getting some wind on the very first day. Warm and windy for him today, however Glenn is glad to just be seeing daylight after nearly 3 weeks of darkness! I will post a Finland picture or two, but it was a great trip. Did a lot of snowboarding, cross country skiing, and traveling around the country in a 1982 Saab meeting my better half's family.

Does anyone have some pictures from a Christmas sailing trip? If so, send them to me at glenn@windsurfing-direct.com and I will get them up in the gallery ASAP.