weekend forecast?!

[wave251]

i know this is constantly asked, but is there going to be any (decent) wind this weekend...?  i'm starting to think this NE is mythical(!)

[<sailor>]

It blew NE last wed, thur, fri, sat, sun and today. Where were you?

[wave251]

mainly at work....      

i'm sure i read a post from sukhdev that he got out on a 9.8 over the weekend.  that ain't 'decent' wind to me....!

[<Get Real>]

Soli to burst your bubble... You're in the wrong place to windsurf Man    

[<Formula Guy>]

But dont forget, 9.+ on a formula board is storm weather. How much wind do you want?
Dont just look at the website wind readouts, they are not showing the real picture.
Over the weekend, i saw guys out on small boards and sails.

[sukhdev]

just to give wind ranges, 12 goes to about 12 to 15knots comfortably for me. 10.5 goes from about 12knots to 20. 9.3 range on a formula for me 15knots taking it up to mid 20s.  Race sail wind range is way off from wave/free sails; last year on the 2nd day in manamana all the first 5 guys were on 7.x in 27 knots or so and this is for reaching speeds.

Couple of years ago (2?) I remember us hanging on to 9.x for the AWT when the free sailing guys were blasting around on 5.8s.

Couldnt get out on sunday but saturday was good although very gusty. the further out you got the better it was, close to shore it was 12 to 18 but outside the gusts were hitting 20. there were several guys out there on 7.x and 6.x as well.

Pete Tomsett who is now back in Western Oz once said to me he sailed more in Singapore than in Oz; of course that made my jaw drop so i asked how come? His reply was, "the sails are bloody rigged up mate! if its windy you pop down, stick it into the board and off you effing go!"..or words to that effect in his inimitable Australian drawl.

get one big rig, for fun this can be in the 9.x range and one 7.0 or thereabouts. At least one largish board (7x cm width minimum) and you will triple your sailing time. And if you think hulls that size are not fast/fun or turn well, i'd say you haven't sailed any of the modern 7x cm hulls (starboard, exocet or for that matter several other brands).

my alternate monsoon hull has been a 9x liter wave or freestyle board for past few years, last year I used the fish96, this year it will be the evo (if i get time to actually sail). with a 6.x and 5.x you get a suprising number of good days if you are willing to make the trek to kuantan, j'bay or manamana.

its going to be good this weekend, i know for sure, cos i'll be stuck in my KL office all weekend

one last tidbit, january is by far the most consistent month; many years ago we bought a 10 year summary of wind data from the Malaysian met office and that confirmed it.

i'm sure Gedgee will chime in, he's spent as many years as i have staring at monsoon skies (since 82'??..god we are old) though in his case he also examines cow entrails, steaming dung, knife weilding hotel employees (long story), public toilets with internet access, floods...(even longer story)

[b_mouz]

Bobbing around til you reach bedok jetty to get wind during the NE is a common thing to do every yr for PF Sailors. Like for both Sun and Sat, was bobbing on my 6.3 cum 90l board(i think..) all the way out after bedok jetty before I could get any good gust to get me going . The stretch in front of PA makes great for straight line blasting all the way down to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and beyond.....    

Of course, before bobbing our for nothing,there's always a few things we always look out for before going out to try it out.
1. Soft sails going over.
2. Little white caps spotted using rental corner's Binoculars
3. Dark lines.
4. Guinea pig sailors if you're too lazy to go out and try out for yourself.

Of course, a bit of luck would be good too.

[wave251]

OK, guys thanks for giving me the low down.  Now I'm feeling like an idiot for not heading down....  I guess I've played the game of looking on the web and getting skunked in the UK too many times....

Was hoping to get down to East Coast this weekend to check out storage options etc.  Suhkdev, is there any chance of renting some kit?  I need to buy a new board and would like a chance to try one or two of the Starboards and get some advice.  Where do people hang out?  PF?

Thanks
Nick

[sukhdev]

Hi Nick,

we should be able to sort you out, give me a call on the bluefinz number 6542 3154. I won't be down saturday for sure, but may be around sunday so that will be a good time to meet up. We have some boards you could try out at PF.

regards

[<Gedgee Waen>]

Nick,
Yes, luckily these days its more about the kit not the weather.
After a hiatus in UK I returned in 1990 (with an Equipe,Screamer and a huge 7.2 I think) and first word was "Sukhdev has a "custom" short board with a 7.8" Ludicrous.......I immediately ordered a Shredder and 7.8 to do battle at the F2/ XXXX event at Lamppost 150 (is it still there ?)
Obviously, I crashed and burnt but what great days
free XXXX all night, magic BBQ by an outsuide caterer with the unlikely name of "Fishermans Prick" Are they still around ?
So, time goes on and I'm up to 10.5 on kitchen doors and even talking about bigger stuff, adjustable uphauls, strap on down hauls,custom battens and the like.
 Get a pile of the big stuff !!
And dont forget you are in the perfect spot for travel to Perth, Taiwan, Kuantan, Vietnam, Boracay etc.
Good luck
Gedgee
K-21

[wave251]

This is the Tioman Outlook...  Is this good news if I want to go to Bintan on Saturday and try East Coast on Sunday?!!

Saturday 2003/12/13 NE 40-50 km/hr 2.0-3.0 metres. Dangerous to small craft.
Sunday 2003/12/14 NE 40-50 km/hr 2.0-3.0 metres. Dangerous to small craft.

Thanks Suhkdev, will put your number in my phone and try and give you a call.

[wave251]

apologies... Suhkdev = Sukhdev

a bit fat handed on the keyboard today...  TFI Friday...

[<IJ>]

It still a little early for the NE. At the moment its hit and miss, tend to be better late Dec/Jan/Feb. If you go to Mana Mana and the wind does come, they have a range of boards that can be rented. Check the ferry, since often you need to book in advance.  
Sukhdev and Gedgee Waen are right about bigger gear. I think Mr Waen went through an orange stage with his boards before he got to the kitchen door, but that might have been in the sixties.

[<Gedgee Waen>]

Indeed....werent they the loveliest things you ever saw ?
294 and 311 SLE's in deep orange, virtually unused, any sensible offer over S$ 199.99 accepted with relish. One with bag.
And now we have beaten the kit brain washing (go big....) we just need to overcome the weather brain washing.
No need the weather forecast cos we have the big stuff ?? !!!
Gedgee

[<MeNrBoYz>]

Very funny thread  

Mr Nick Wave251, maybe you should know these 3 guy (IJ,Gedgee,Sukdev) are FFOB (fast fat old b**tards) and still probably the fastest guys in this parts. Some great advice there! (hey ok ok you guys are not fat, can I say Big?.