Hatteras Trip Report & Transition Boards

Hatteras Trip Report & Transition Boards

Post by Richard A. Peters » Wed, 17 Aug 1994 02:23:09


Just returned from a week at Hatteras 8/6 - 8/14.  This is
generally a low wind time of year but the last 2 years were
pretty good.  This year was extraordinary.  Saturday - Tuesday
were 5.0 - 6.0 days.  Wednesday - Friday weren't too good, but
it began to pick up again on Saturday.  We stayed in Avon and
sailed on the sound behind Windsurfing Hatteras.  At most there
were no more than 10 sailors on the water at any given time.
Quite a constrast to the spring and fall when there's
gridlock.  

I had a couple of breakthroughs and revelations.

1.      Thanks to all the recent contributors to the foot strap
discussion I was finally able to routinely get in both straps
and fully powered up.  Up to now, I'd only gotten in the front
strap and I guess was afraid to take that next step.  Its now
feels very natural and relaxed and finally instead of always
getting passed, I was doing some passing.  Geez, at last I
think I got it.  Even shortened the harness lines!

2.      I spent most of the time sailing my Astro Rock but did
rent an F2 265 World Cup for a day which was a rocket.  I'm not
good enough to really take advantage of this board's
capabilities, but it felt good!

3.      My wife signed me up for the 9/24 - 25 Cort Larned
clinic as an anniversay present.  She's great!  

The rest of this relates to the transition board debate.  Some
of you may remember that I recently took the position of
defending these boards.  I was wrong and admit it.  I can't
remember the person's name that used to be on the net who sold
me the board, but if you're out there there's no hard feelings.

4.      My wife has been struggling all year to beach
start/water start in chest deep water on our Fanatic Bat.  The
board was stopping her progress.  Her first attempt to launch
and sail the Astro Rock in chest deep water was incredibly easy
and she's now out of her slump.  For me, after getting into the
AR straps and really zipping the Bat now feels like a station
wagon.  Its a security blanket that will put a halt to the
learning curve.  We'll keep it for central ***ia low wind
lake sailing, but thats it.  My wife's success with the AR was
marred only by the tail separating while she was out on the
water.  I think I've got a lemon as the nose split earlier this
spring.  I'm not anxious to buy another BIC board.

5.      At the end of the week I sailed my old O'Brien
Sensation which I'd given to my brother in law last year.  In
low winds for cruising, this board was great and much better
than the Bat.  The extra volume worked for 8.0 early morning
sailing.  Its so floaty that it takes hardly anything to get
going.  We were fortunate enough to get a house on the sound
and one of my daydreams the past month or so was to get out of
bed, have a cup of coffee, snap the sail on the board and
launch from my backyard.  At one point, we had two people on
the board standing up.  No we weren't screaming, but there's
alot to be said for high volume boards.  Its heavy and has its
limitations but doesn't try to be a doitall like the
transitions.

6.      The Bat was no good for teaching as it was much too
squirley to teach uphauling especially with a small light
weight sail.  We had great success with two people on the
Sensation.  

7.      In conclusion, if you want to improve your skills, say
no to transition boards.

--

Health Sciences Library, University of ***ia         (804) 924-0059 office
C***tesville, VA  22908                              (804) 924-0379 fax

 
 
 

Hatteras Trip Report & Transition Boards

Post by Glenn Woode » Wed, 17 Aug 1994 05:29:33


Quote:

>The rest of this relates to the transition board debate.  Some
>of you may remember that I recently took the position of
>defending these boards.  I was wrong and admit it.
>4.      My wife has been struggling all year to beach
>start/water start in chest deep water on our Fanatic Bat.  The
>board was stopping her progress.  Her first attempt to launch
>and sail the Astro Rock in chest deep water was incredibly easy
>and she's now out of her slump.  For me, after getting into the
>AR straps and really zipping the Bat now feels like a station
>wagon.  Its a security blanket that will put a halt to the
>learning curve.  We'll keep it for central ***ia low wind
>lake sailing, but thats it.
>5.      At the end of the week I sailed my old O'Brien
>Sensation which I'd given to my brother in law last year.  In
>low winds for cruising, this board was great and much better
>than the Bat.

>6.      The Bat was no good for teaching as it was much too
>squirley to teach uphauling especially with a small light
>weight sail.

>7.      In conclusion, if you want to improve your skills, say
>no to transition boards.

>--

>Health Sciences Library, University of ***ia         (804) 924-0059 office
>C***tesville, VA  22908                              (804) 924-0379 fax

I'm sure this is all relatively speaking.  I started the sport in April of
this year on a Fanatic Bat.  Since then I have begun to waterstart,
admittedly with some difficulty, constantly sail in the straps with my
harness lines as short as they will now go.  Sailed yesterday powered
with my 5.6 fully raked, and sheeted as far as I had guts for almost
the whole day.  As I cannot say that I waterstart yet, I am a master at
uphauling (don't tell anyone).  Yes, I could probably do better on a shorter
board, but this is all I have for now.  On the days when everyone else is
pushing it on their shorties, I am at least keeping up considering my
experience. I am in the market for a shorter board so I can get through
the chop but for now I really have enjoyed my Bat.  

Oh, did I mention that I only have one leg?

Glenn Woodell
NASA/Langley research Center
Mail Stop 473
Hampton, VA 23681-0001
(804) 864-1510

Fanatic Bat (10'8" 160L)-Gaastra 6.4;UP 5.6,4.6
Willoughby Bay, Norfolk;
Strawberry Banks, Hampton;
Mill Creek, Hampton
Canadian Hole, Hatteras Island

 
 
 

Hatteras Trip Report & Transition Boards

Post by Michael Kammin » Thu, 18 Aug 1994 06:23:00

Hi there accross the atlantic ocean,

i am not much into quoting but i am referring to your trip report from  
Hatteras and your and your  wifes learning curve.
I live in west germany ( Nationality dutch) and sail mostly in Holland and  
on the baltic sea as well on lakes and some other places in Europe  
(Greece),
Equipment : Fanatic BAt and Fanatic Ray (280) with a range of Fanatic/ART/
North Sails
Ability: close to perfect waterstart, most unperfect gybing, little  
jumping.
I just made the foot strap experience about a year ago and improved  
dramatically since then, but I transfered my experience with the 280 back  
to the 320 in lighter winds, I still ABSOLUTELY LOVE the Bat, I find it  
quite convienient in power gybing, planing ect, I mostly use it on smaller  
lakes because i can tack it as well.

Greetings, Michael
--
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Hatteras Trip Report & Transition Boards

Post by Michael Kammin » Thu, 18 Aug 1994 06:29:00

HI,
PS. by the way where is Hatteras ?

Michael

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