Formula wave sailing!

Well, that subject might be a bit misleading , but IMCO bud Jeff and I sailed out through Big Sarasota Pass today, and cruised the Gulf in pretty consistent 2 foot swell. At one point I got near a little bar that was throwing up some surf that was just breaking, while comfortably powered up on a reach, which put me 'down the line'! I was able to make some Formula style slashes (read: gentle turns) between the front and back side. Pretty cool, and I didn't even break anything. Rig was near ideal wave equipment, 10.4 NX, F175 with stock 65cm fin. Eat your heart out WARDOG! My bottom turns need some work though. The big board would accelerate down the wave face so quickly that I kept running into the next wave. I think I need to make a much sharper turn to help keep my speed down, however, as you accelerate, you generate more lift and less wind, so it seems to require an increasing amount of inside rail pressure. Hmm, maybe there's a reason wave boards don't look like Formula boards!

While I had a blast while out in the Gulf and in the Pass where there was decent wind (probably 10-14mph), getting out there on the Formula was a pain! We walk the boards under a low bridge then sail between Bird Key and Lido Key to get to the pass. This area is rather protected, and was pretty much a beat going out and a run coming back in. Jeff sailed 100 yds ahead of me and then came back 3 or 4 times. Very frustrating. I did get some of this back once we were out in the open by sailing around him a few times, but at least he was planing!. It will have to be pretty ideal before I go cruising without my trusty Equipe again. I had to wonder how I would have liked this trip on a Prodigy. I would want the full on race version with adjustable mast track and straps set in the aft and outboard positions. I think he would have still killed me, and I him in the same places, but there would have been less difference. Now, I have to also figure out if that is a good thing, or a bad thing.

Jack (Sarasota)

I knew you were a surfer dood, dude... Check out the wave that Svein is riding in the bottom corner of this page...nice off the lip...he even loops it on the vid clip... http://www.surfingsports.com/starboard_go_2002.asp I've ridden a few small waves into shore on the GO 170...and even did a bottom turn /top turn until it got too shallow...tandem surfing is getting pretty big...maybe tandem wavesailing? hmmm...maybe I need to work on a 50cm WARDOG wave fin...

WARDOG

Your stylin Jack, here is another pic:
http://www.rrdboards.com/Navigation/windsurf.htm

This guy is dry, sans harness on an a hefty swell. The board is only 8'11' but 37' wide with 210L. Notice his track off the crumble and he is eyeing the peak getting ready to take the beast frontside as it curls. Hippo does ballet. See the rubber tip protector?

OK, It might take a bit to get the loop down though!