ATC 276 for a late begginer?

Hello,

I need your 'educated' advice whether Pro-Tech ATC 276 is suitable for a late beginner.

I'm not sure about the 'late beginner', but I can sail in moderate winds (up to 20mph), use harness and straps, can beach start (well, most of the time), and learning to waterstart and jibe.

I'm sailing now a big animal HiFly Motion (3m length, 1m wide, 200lit) with 5.6/6.5/7.2 sails. Also, I sailed a few times a friend's Go with 8m2 sail in marginal conditions.

I'm living in Boston area and going mostly to Cape, though some lake sailing happened.

I need a board (this or similar one) to learn more (waterstart, jibe, fast tack, etc) and keep it for light wind sailing thereafter.

I'm about 65kg and quite athletic.

Thanks in advance for any help.

I guess I was a late beginner too, I started in 1988 when I was 35 years old. My main mentor talked me out of shortboarding for a coupla' years until I ran into the right people and they set me straight. I bought a used 115 liter 9'4' (I weighed 145-150 at the time) and I learned to sail it.

The first time I got on it, I put my 9.0 RAF on it, sailed 100 yards, tried to tack and fell about 10 times, finally uphauled, got back to where I started and figured things could only get better. A year later I was ripping on it with a 5.5 and that was my most-used setup for several years.

At 65 kg, you are already sailing in the wind you need to be planing. I would throw that 5.6 sail on the board and take her for a spin; just do it somewhere safe, because you will likely have a heck of a time trying to uphaul the thing at first. After you have sailed the board a few times and start getting used to where to not put your weight, your uphauls will get much better. Be very careful and try to sail with friends until you can uphaul and have your waterstarts in progress.

Hi,

There are a few of us here who have the 276 and will recommend it highly. If you're planing, powered in the harness and straps, I think most will agree that you're a bona-fide intermediate. I think the 276 would be perfect. If you were all the way up the learning curve, I'd say that at your weight the 275 or equivalent may be optimal. But if you still appreciate a little extra float and stability, then this'll give it to you. Its a very high performance board, maybe a bit heavier, but certainly more durable than most. Incredibly versatile. Does everything well and jibes and fast tacks are made easier by its being very turny, yet wide and stable. I weigh 200lbs and use it with sails from 6.5 up to 9.6. That you weigh less just means that, if you're interested, you'll be able to plane well down into the single digits of wind, a few less than me. My threshold is about 9 or 10mph with the 9.6. At the higher end, I sail it comfortably with a 6.5 up to around 20. Beyond that or a bit below, I use a short board. May be a bit bouncy around 20 for you, but if you can handle that HiFly in those conditions, you'll find the atc far more comfortable. As always, if you can demo it first, much better. I just bought mine a few months back and am obviously enthused. Any more questions welcomed.

Doug