Any advice for a beginner?

[b_mouz]

True, sailing's pretty fun n expensive, I think i spent quite a fair bit on the ropes buying stuff like kevlar, spectra ropes or stuff like that. But things started to get a bit ugly among friends due to the competitive nature of the sport. Didn't like the scene so I split and jumped to windsurfing where it offers a bit more freedom, rather than being stuck go around triangles or M&Ms, heh heh... Frankly speaking, I kinda miss racing, might just join a race just for the fun of it.

Like Thye said, although he's in the competitive scene, all of us just wanna enjoy the sport out of passion

[girlgirl]

Hello everyone! I'm new here!! 

I've read the advice you have given to wannabe beginners. I'm looking to learn windsurfing too!

However, I haven't touched the water for years - the last time I went swimming was 7 years ago!  I've been into other kinds of sports since then, both indoor and outdoor, martial arts etc. Thinking of getting used to water again before picking up windsurfing - and I've never done water sports!!  But I feel that windsurfing is a good place to start off with 

I would like to ask abt the follow up courses available after the level one course as I doubt I would be able to be stable enough to begin practising on my own - coz none of my friends are interested in windsurfing 

Thanks in advance and I'm certainly looking forward to getting into this wonderful sport!!

[Windward]

Dear girl girl,

After the basic windsurfing course, you can do either of the following:

1) Rent the club equipments and practice on your own
2) Seek advice from other experience sailors (esp. on the weekends) and they will be most willingly to guide you
3) Join the level one clinic (http://www.windsurfing-factor.os3.sg/)

In either case, the most important thing is to have more water time.

Best regards and enjoy the fun!

[Pauly75ts]

Hi! there, GirlGirl,

It's great that you're showing interest in windsurfing.

At the moment, PA Water Ventures is the only place where the old salts of windsurfing in Singapore hangs out, you'll see them around the water edge, under the trees, looking out to sea and watching the winds blowing.

Windsurfing is easy to learn, you'll be able to do it within an hour, with proper coaching in the Level 1 course.

There's no need to do an advanced course until you can handle the basics, which is to stay upright on the board.

Your body needs to condition itself to the sport of windsurfing, as it's different from the other sailing discipline of dinghy to keelboating.

It's the only sailing discipline where you have to use every muscle group and joints in your body, to handle the physics of sailing on a board.

Many people gave up windsurfing when they can't enjoy themselves due to their inability to harness the conditions because they're not flexible enough to change their stance and position on the board.

It's always time in the water, with correct basic board control that's more important, and to do that, you'll have to hold on to the rig with a sail.

I'm sure your instructors of your Level 1 course will keep an eye on you, and will give you lots of advice even after you've completed your course.

Back in the 1980's, we do things differently and most of the time, many of us learn to windsurf through trial and errors by ourselves with tips from the more experienced windsurfers.


Earlier this year, I told my daughter, Audrey, what she can do in the 2 months after she switched from dinghy sailing, is my 10 months when I started.  She's only 14.

My advice to you is take up windsurfing, understand the correct basics of board handling & rig control then enjoy yourself out in the water.

Regards

Paul Yong
charterboatsg.com

[P.J.]

Just come to PA, make some new friends and they love windsurfing.

[girlgirl]

Thanks for all the replies! I will most probably take the level one course in dec, after my exams end in nov! Hope to see everyone at PA soon 

[m3l]

Now this maybe alil early.. But dont just stop at beginner lvl.. Head onto competitive lvl.. It helps you improve in leaps and bounds.. Have fun !

Smile

[girlgirl]

Haha thanks! I intend to go as far as I can!  Coz by reading this forum it's not hard to see that windsurfing is a fun and cool sport that is very addictive! 

[blackhawk81]

Yup.. It's so addictive that you may suffer from "withdrawal symptons" when the wind blows.. 

See you on the water soon !!

[girlgirl]

Hello everyone again! My mom reckons it'd be good for me to relearn swimming again before taking up windsurfing? Coz she's a little worried as all mothers do  By the way, for the course at PA, must I go down personally to hand in the forms and money?

[Meng]

Hello everyone again! My mom reckons it'd be good for me to relearn swimming again before taking up windsurfing? Coz she's a little worried as all mothers do  By the way, for the course at PA, must I go down personally to hand in the forms and money?

i think u have to go down personally.

u can always wear a life vest when u go windsurfing however, my mum is still worried and watching over me whenever i go out sailing....


do take the course asap as monsoon season is coming late next month, this is the best time to learn when the condition is tame and mild for beginners

[PlaneSailin]

Windsurfing is easy to learn, you'll be able to do it within an hour, with proper coaching in the Level 1 course.

Well, slap me silly with a wavesail, 1 hour?

 

I must have been suffering from a learning disorder...

 

[m3l]

Dont worry bout the swimming part.. You wanna be on the board as long as possible and not swimming in the ocean.. Just make sure you have the proper PFD and someones informed of your whereabouts you should be fine.. Otherwise in any case as your instructors will tell you hug your board should your rig get seperated..

[Pauly75ts]

"suffering from a learning disorder..."

Hi! there, PlaneSailin,

Like you, I, too suffer from a learning disorder.

It took me 2 years to win a novice race at the East Coast Sailing Centre, without proper coaching.

My daughter, Audrey, won her 1st windsurfing race. overseas, at the Thailand Nationals in Pattaya, for 'Junior Girls' less than 2 months after she started windsurfing.

Though I was apprehensive on letting her go to Pattaya, knowing the conditions is too extreme for her to handle, I relented when my wife, Lynda, went with her.

Many have asked Audrey how she could just abandon her Optimist dinghy sailing with the National squad, and do so well in windsurfing.

Her current coach, TC Chua told anyone who asked, it's in the blood.

My interest in windsurfing was generated by the old boys, like Kelly Chan, Jason Lim, Ramlee Salleh, Simon Boey & friends, Vincent Sibert & family, Logan & May, TC Chua who encouraged me to get my 1st board, F2 Lightning Race.

Special mention, Dol Rani, who tried to coach me, 4 times a week, when he's not working as the pioneer train operator at SMRT.

Even now, my skipper on the 'SY Rising Tide', Ricky Low, the stories he tell when windsurfing at Lancelin, Perth.

I'm privileged to be able to meet everyone who are windsurfing in Singapore.

Now, I've to think about getting back on the board, and race Audrey, she thinks she can beat me to the windward mark.

May the winds whistle past your ears when you're out at sea.

Regards

Paul Yong
charterboatsg.com

[girlgirl]

I was just wondering..is it really really unadvisable to start learning in the midst of the monsoon season? Coz I was wandering around the other forums and saw that the season might come early this year.