Longboard Windsurfing

Mistral Malibu tech info

06 Oct 2008 05:57

by RAF (Posted 06 Oct 2008 05:57)

Sorry for the cross posting. [iwindsurf.com]

Last weekend I bought my first long board. It's a Mistral Malibu LCS. It's labeled as made in "W. Germany". The sailor that sold it to me says it dates to 1985???

Admittedly, the purpose was for my wife to do paddle surf when I'm not in the water with my formula.
However, I'm very curious to ride this long board. I'm fascinated by the way they glide at speed as well as the power of the big sails.

How is this board for slalom race on lakes?
How does this board differs from the Equipe?
What sail size ?

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Upwind sail trimming technique

04 Oct 2008 22:46

by gavmc23 (Posted 04 Oct 2008 22:46)

Love the articles on the website regarding upwind pointing technique. has been very helpful!
But would really appreciate some pointers for sail trimming up wind. I.e. Amount of trim, rake back of mast, angle of mast etc.

Thanks.

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sail for a longboard that works...Ezzy Zephyr

04 Oct 2008 01:24

by rickp (Posted 04 Oct 2008 01:24)

Thanks for posting this James.
Been wondering how the Zephyr would do as a replacement for my aging Neil Pryde Shock 7.0,
and think you've convinced me that it would do nicely.
Cheers, rickp

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New specifications of the Phantom Race 380

04 Oct 2008 01:18

by rickp (Posted 04 Oct 2008 01:18)

I'd love to see a 25 lb (11.34 kg) Phantom 320.
That would make me seriously consider replacing my Phoenix 320.
Love the Phoenix, but earlier planning with adjustable mast track might be compelling.
Cheers, rickp

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Barracouta Sails

03 Oct 2008 18:20

by Ian (Posted 03 Oct 2008 18:20)

I could certainly be interested in a 10.5

Look forward to reading the up-coming report

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Fin Size for 195L Longboard

03 Oct 2008 07:22

by rickp (Posted 03 Oct 2008 07:22)

First post here - great forum.
For what it's worth, I've been sailing my Phoenix 320 since 2001 using a 46cm MFC fin with 7.0 and 8.5 cambered sails - works like a champ. At 160lb I'm a bit lighter than the original poster, so thinking that the bigger fin on a bigger board with a bigger rider might work out okay. What was the problem?
Regards, rickp

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Kona 11'5 wavesailing solo, again and again

02 Oct 2008 19:48

by John I (Posted 02 Oct 2008 19:48)

Thanks for the encouragement. Just had another surprise session in nearly perfect conditions at my home break near Titusville, FL yesterday. Swells were head high to slightly more. Wind was side shore SE at 9-14 mph. I used the Kona 11'5 and 7.5 sail.

Had to share the break with about 40-50 surfers. We all had a great time. My wave count was off the chart. Cheers.

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Formula One Design concept

02 Oct 2008 10:14

by fran4065 (Posted 02 Oct 2008 10:14)

Jeffd wrote:
... Why isn't there a longboard bid?
I see only Exocet with the Kona to be able to make a longboard bid.
In the Starboard forum, some figures has been given showing that the longboard racers are the largest population around the world, but they are mostly using raceboards built more than ten years ago.
Two reason for that: the new boards Exocet warp 380 and Starboard Phantom 380 are very difficult to obtain, and seems to be heavier than the old boards! and finaly not realy more competitive.
Another problem is the cost of these new boards, because of the daggerboard system, and because of the little production.
I hope the new Mistral will be a more performant and light board (they have the know how).
This is what the raceboarders are waiting to buy thousands of boards to renew the fleet.
If this happens, we may hope to see a longboard bid in the future.

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Upwind footstraps - large single strap or 2 individual strap

27 Sep 2008 20:03

by yagon (Posted 27 Sep 2008 20:03)

Looking around my local club, most sailors are using 2 individual straps on each side for the upwind positions.

However, there are a couple of good sailors that use a single large strap in that position, presumably with both feet in the same strap.

What are the pros & cons of each of these strap options?

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Dry boom grips

27 Sep 2008 18:26

by yagon (Posted 27 Sep 2008 18:26)

I've found that as I sail, the grip on my boom becomes dry and becomes harder to hold onto.

The only solution I've found is to dip my hands into the water to wet them. This works for a while, but is not a long term solution. One can only do this while powered up.

Does anyone esle have any advice on this problem?

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Sticky daggerboard

27 Sep 2008 18:24

by yagon (Posted 27 Sep 2008 18:24)

I tried the silicon spray today - what a revelation!

The daggerboard moves with silky smoothness. I won't ever sail without spraying the daggerboard again.

Thanks for the advice.

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Waterstart vs uphaul

27 Sep 2008 11:01

by ignacio (Posted 27 Sep 2008 11:01)

Hi.

If the wind is strong enough I allways waterstart my 9 mts sail.

It`s really hard for me to uphaul such sail size as I weigth 65 Kg.

Just put the boom over the board to clear the water out and the trick is done.

Ignacio

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Long board video full speed

26 Sep 2008 21:27

by yagon (Posted 26 Sep 2008 21:27)

Very nice clip. The basic thrill of going fast hasn't changed over the years.

Longboards are very, very under-rated in terms of speed and thrills. The longboard does it all.

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WINDSURFER@ boom

26 Sep 2008 11:14

by rustbucket (Posted 26 Sep 2008 11:14)

please mike

love to see that adjustable mast base

never heard of it but what a great idea

it must be an old design...surely no one doing them now.

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World Longboard population

24 Sep 2008 20:50

by rustbucket (Posted 24 Sep 2008 20:50)

hopefully soon, you will NOT be asking ..."how many in your club.." to gain your numbers

hopefully it will get like the days before clubs...people just cruizing on them because they can..

sometimes I think there is too much emphasis on club racing...for longboards

In some ways this can scare off newcomers to longboards....believe it or not!

but I guess you gotta start counting somewhere....eh...hee hee.

[yes I do realise non club people will be ni on impossible to estimate...but making another point]

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Lot´s of Juniors starts on Kona ONE with the new rigs!

23 Sep 2008 18:30

by Joachim Larsson (Posted 23 Sep 2008 18:30)

Check this Video from Junior Championship i Sweden.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuDsyM7hLKE

BR
Joachim more here http://www.konanordic.com/News.aspx?nId ... 6385&nPi=0

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identification of mistral longboard

23 Sep 2008 14:02

by (Posted 23 Sep 2008 14:02)

This is a Mistral Equipe 1989 it is the same as a Mistral One Design but carbon ( LCS Light Carbon System ) If you look at the deck of the board under the boom head it is written Equipe.

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mast track ripped from board -any fix ideas?

22 Sep 2008 09:11

by steve (Posted 22 Sep 2008 09:11)

Marine Tex, great thanks, although looking at the price it appears to cost more than the value of the board.

yesterday (when i broke the board) was the first time on a longboard since I learnt on one 2 years ago (since which I've been shortboarding) and the first time I had one fully plane & carve.
Even though the Port Melbourne sea was rough and others were out on 80-110L mostly wave boards and 5-ish sails I could still cut through the chop and control a 6.6m sail which was great, and I could hike-out until my bum hit the waves, although turns were trickier and I think I need to close off the empty daggerboard slot. All the fighting to keep control was gone and the whole experience was much more relaxing and much less tiring than usual as it was all more stable & balanced, something I think maybe I lost sight off in the rush onto a shortboard and if I can get a fix I'll certainly be back out on the longboard.

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Mark rounding technique - daggerboard or mast track first

21 Sep 2008 11:03

by yagon (Posted 21 Sep 2008 11:03)

In the last couple of weeks (racing in strong gusty winds), I've had somewhat of a revelation in terms of top mark roundings in strong winds.

Previously, I was attempting to move the daggerboard forward and the mast track back before getting onto the plane. However, after a few words of advice from Chris T, I now use the following technique:

1. When rounding the top mark, I bear away slightly and then pull up the daggerboard.
2. Once the daggerboard is up, you will bear away easily and generate speed.
3. Once at speed, pull the mast track back, with the aid of a low apparent wind.
4. Then it is easy to get into the back footstraps.

I've found that this technique is by far the fastest and easiest in strong winds - low apparent wind is the key.

On a separate but related point, I've found that when sailing in gusty winds and small waves (eg DAC), it is not necessary to bring the mast all the way to the back of the track to have competitive speed downwind.

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Any other dissapointed Phantom owners?

19 Sep 2008 20:56

by (Posted 19 Sep 2008 20:56)

[quote="Del Carpenter"]I am curious, is your board is the 320 or the 380 Phantom Race?[/quote]
I have 380, serialnumber 007, and had those difficult problems too, but one skillfull guy, fixed the whole daggersystem incl. box, and now its working splendidly. Its going upright angle better than F2, Cat, or Equipe II. I use 52 cm fin, and have that 85 cm daggerboard.

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Design longboard/raceboard

15 Sep 2008 23:05

by John I (Posted 15 Sep 2008 23:05)

Plenty of forward vee in the Konas. Carries back thru the tail on Mahalo and the One. Vee smooths the ride. Good luck.

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Custom longboard manufacturer

09 Sep 2008 07:02

by yagon (Posted 09 Sep 2008 07:02)

I like the idea of getting a custom raceboard, but you wouldn't be able to legally race it in the raceboard class. It would also probably have a lower resale value.

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virgin blue & windsurfers

07 Sep 2008 12:49

by retro (Posted 07 Sep 2008 12:49)

hi

Is virgin blue still good for travelling with a windsurfer, now that they have changed their baggage polcy?

Pat

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Have a look at this.......OLD OLD board

05 Sep 2008 21:37

by pierrec45 (Posted 05 Sep 2008 21:37)

Mind you the other things around don't look much better

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longboard tacking difficulties

05 Sep 2008 06:57

by pierrec45 (Posted 05 Sep 2008 06:57)

I agree with the guy who agrees with me

If your clew length is short for the lenght of the board (which is long I understand), then the center of effort is close to the mast and not at the back.

Anyhow, try the extreme far back on the track, see what happens. Make sure enough wind to carry the momentum. Sink the leeward rail with the toes as you turn.

'luck.

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Newbie here

04 Sep 2008 23:51

by SteveT (Posted 04 Sep 2008 23:51)

old_school_Bruce wrote:

Welcome. You are not the only yank here. The things you mentioned brought back memories ... sailing in the Meyers Rum District Championship in 1981. I still have and use my original windsurf sail (I still have the teak booms, but don't sail them), and have replaced the board recently. I still just have a great time sailing this old classic. Some day I will try monofilm, and probably never use my dacron again, but till then. Was down in Hatteras this past weekend, and enjoyed some decent winds ~10mph Saturday ... sunday was better, but I had to leave for home that day. I still owe the board some pictures ... now that my board is repaired, I think I should get some pics posted.

Bruce

Hey thanks.

I loved sailing the OBX. I usually sailed out of Canadian Hole.

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Dufour Wing

04 Sep 2008 03:56

by SteveT (Posted 04 Sep 2008 03:56)

I had an original Dufour wing with the black plastic trim and the pinhead sail with the funny logo. That board was good to windward from recollection, but would have been better with a longer skeg and rigid dagger board. That plastic dagger board flexed a lot. The one thing that sucked were the rectangular tubed aluminum booms. They were a noodle and left you with the worst blisters. The BIC version had oval tubes and the grip was a bit better.

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Board 360 for racing protet

01 Sep 2008 04:00

by fran4065 (Posted 01 Sep 2008 04:00)

Maybe not so funny if done with a 9.5m2...

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Absolute top freestyle by some frenchman.

29 Aug 2008 09:01

by pierrec45 (Posted 29 Aug 2008 09:01)

Have a look guys, absolutely great freestyle by Marc Larrigue from France on a Kona One.

http://www.kona-windsurfing.com/forum/read.asp?ID=475

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Race Sails

27 Aug 2008 19:11

by matth (Posted 27 Aug 2008 19:11)

Thanks for that Rob,

Yeah we are planning to do some racing.

I weigh about 84kgs, and my wife is around 66kgs. We are both looking at a new sail!

Matt

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