Just an update to this thread.
I am now in my both footstraps, blasting at 20 knots wind. Bearing off is a bit scary so still polishing for faster, wider angles. Pointing upwind is good at reasonable angle & speed, i think I can takeover kiters now
. Chicken jibe is also getting better now especially on flat water, carve jibe always half way through, then either gets off plane or sail drops into water. Tack is faster, more confident. Still can't nail waterstart
And hopefully in near the future I can sail 3-4 hours without once falling into water.
Anyway. Just a story I'd like to share..
Being a beginner in this sport, starting basically on my own, I kinda see why this sport is very far from reach for the local guys. Promised with free lessons and all, I purchased my gear for $3000. Rubbish quality and if you ask me I'd rather go all the way to Sg and get better gear for a little bit more. But oh well, the lessons sounds like it could be worth it.
Yeah right. I was left for the next 2 months on my own, spent uphauling most of the time, basically without knowing what I'm doing wrong and nobody to comment. There is no single windsurfer out and it's very hard to just read then imagine what to do, than actually seeing it on your own.
After a while, an old local veteran turned up & happened to be very nice and helpful. Enough said, with demonstrations and a few chats, I think I've learned more in a day than what I've learned for the rest of that 2 months "lesson".
With only a few weeks under good instructions, flat water and NE wind, I got better. But just when things start to get better, there comes a new hurdle. The seller now refused to give the sail that I've already paid for. He wanted me to instead to take the rubbish 6.5 that is only good for the dustbin, which he insisted to use in the first place "for learning". Funny thing is, I suspected that the sail is not even his, because someone mentioned it "looks just like his old sail". . Incorrect mast length resulting with under-downhaul & crap trimming, extension don't fit well, boom is real shitty, harness lines almost killed me because rubber tubing is rotten to dust (somehow got stuck under the sail in the water with harness tied to the lines), and a few more things I'm just too tired to mention about. Add to that, because I was really careful with the sail, I don't think I used it anywhere to make it anymore rubbish!
All I can do was somehow tried to beg for my promised sail nicely, which I have already friggin paid for. The result? Now I'm asked to fork out another $1000 for the sail. What did i get? Well, starts with the boom. The grips are mostly gone, boom head looks like it has another 2-3 weeks of session before it'll crack in half - really worn out, extension has K-21 label on it (obviously not his), no mast foot ( instead of the mentioning of the word SET before purchase, cost $S90 for new one), and the sail? Well let's just say if I were to fix it professionally I'd better off buying a new one.
Conclusion i get from this, coupled with the fact that the sport itself is already very unpopular, windsurfing in Malaysia & especially Kuantan is very far from becoming a favorite sport because of the lack of dedicated instructors, rubbish second hand gear, and most of the time you'll be sailing alone unless you're in a club like in Penang or KL. I think it is almost impossible for any average person to hold up with all the sh!t he'll have to go through, let alone attracted to it. Thank god I am now on a new ground, with some new friends who just happen to get back to windsurfing, one of it because they see me on the water. I hope things will really start to get better from here.
Please pardon me for the long post; just felt that I had to get this off my chest before I start my day. I don't mean to humiliate anyone, or exaggerate anything. I think you would understand my frustration if you were to be in my place. All in all I believe there will be no progress unless you’re willing to push your limits. Thanks for reading.
