Where Are My Fries? Windsurf Rental Tips

We’ve all been there. You’ve left the drive-through window at the local fast food joint, made your way through rush hour traffic, found a parking space, walked to the house, settled into your favorite couch, turned on the TV to watch Monday Night Football, opened the brown bag to eat a tasty burger and fries – but wait... where are the fries?

Welcome to the world of take-out service. A world where if you don’t check your order before leaving the store, ultimately, you only have yourself to blame.

So how does that apply to windsurfing? How can you possible mess up a windsurfing rental? Board, fin, sail, mast, boom, mast extension, mast base. All set, right? Well, maybe... and maybe not. Let’s take a closer look.

Board - First, inspect the board. Is it in good shape? What is the condition of the non-skid surface? If the non-skid is worn, you may not want to use the board, especially if you don’t use booties. Slipping off a board during a high speed jibe is no fun – and can really hurt.

Footstraps - Ensure that the footstraps are in good condition and are secured properly. A loose strap can blow out at the worst of times, leading to a good crash and possible injury - a premature end to your windsurfing vacation. Once in possession of the board, don’t be afraid to adjust the location of the straps, if necessary. If you are going to sail that thing for several days, you may as well be comfortable, right?

Fin - Is the fin the correct size for your board and sail? Is the fin smooth and void of any defects or dings? If it’s not the correct size and in good shape, your sailing experience will be compromised.

Sail - Does the sail look like it’s in good shape? Are there any tears in the luff sleeve or holes in the main panels? If so, note it down on your rental contract. Any holes in monofilm or X-Ply should be patched to reduce the possibility of additional damage. Are any of the battens broken? Finally, remember to ensure that you have a batten tensioning tool on-hand. If you cannot tension your battens, you cannot tune your sail properly.

Mast - I encourage you to demand the proper mast for the sail you are renting. Any deviation from the suggested mast may have an adverse effect on how well the sail works. Also, be sure to make sure that the mast provided is the correct length for the sail. If the mast shows obvious signs of damage (such as a chink or ding), you may want to consider using something else ;-)

Boom - Check to see that the boom is the right length. You don’t want to use a boom that is set to the maximum extension if you can avoid it. You also don’t want to be using a boom that is longer than suggested by the sail maker. Check your inhaul and outhaul lines to ensure they are not frayed or damaged. Finally, check all cleats to ensure that they are not worn.

Extension - Yet again, make sure you have the right extension for the job. It’s no good walking out of the rental shop with a 400cm mast and a 30cm mast extension, if the sail has a 435cm luff sleeve. Check the downhaul line to make sure that it is not frayed. Finally, check the downhaul cleat for wear.

Universal - Check this piece carefully. If you see any splits or cracks in the tendon joint, don’t take that piece out on the water, unless you enjoy swimming your broken rig back to the beach. Check to see if the emergency cord is in-place and not worn.

Roof Racks – If the gear does not arrive at your destination in good shape, then your day on the water will not be so wonderful! Therefore, if you are using a roof rack to transport your rig, ensure that everything is properly fastened – and that the straps are not worn or torn.

In closing, the reasons for renting gear on your windsurf vacation are many. Expensive baggage surcharges, not having the right gear for the location, damage during transportation, theft, are all good reasons to consider renting. Furthermore, most rental facilities offer quality equipment and expert advice. You’ll probably have no problems with your gear – but if there is an issue, my suggestion is to catch it at the store – and not at the beach or on the water.

So there you have it. Remember, if you order fries, don’t forget the ketchup!

Oh, by the way – all of these tips also apply to your own gear. Fix it now before it breaks later!

Happy sailing.

Which Mast Should I Use?

Answer: The right one.

Two weeks ago, our neighbor (a visitor from the mainland) rented a modern wave sail from a local windsurf shop. The dealer supplied him with a mast that was not specified for use with this sail. While the MCS rating of the mast was numerically the same as what is recommended by the sailmaker, was this indeed the correct mast for the job at hand?

Our friend was happily sailing around, thinking “life is good”. I was also on the water, using an identical sail with the correct mast – and for some strange reason, I was much faster than he was, on every point of sail.

The following day, it so happened that the designer of that very sail showed up at my place. Hey, Maui is a small island! He saw my neighbor’s rig and asked him if he’d like to try the sail with the proper mast. At first, he was uncertain... but upon hearing that he was in fact talking to the guy who designed the sail, decided that this might be a fun thing to try.

The designer first sent him off to do a few runs – to remind himself of how his rig felt with the rental mast. He returned to the beach, all smiles – yep it felt really nice. How could this get any better?

The designer then re-rigged the sail, this time using the proper mast.

We then went out and sailed together. What I immediately observed was that he was sailing faster – and looked more comfortable with the rig. He was not getting lifted at his heels when a gust would hit – and it also appeared as though he was popping onto the plane easier.

When we returned to the beach – he was pleased at how much better the sail felt. Apparently, the sail had more power, it was more stable, it was faster, it was more compliant and forgiving...

Now bear in mind that with the “wrong” mast, the sail looked pretty good. Most sailors would have said that “this is a properly rigged sail”.

But with the right mast, it felt so much better. Curious, eh?

The point is, if you use a mast that is different to the one used when the sail was designed, you are taking a gamble on how the rig is going to feel and work. It will be pure luck if it works as well as intended by the designer. Even if it says MCS whatever – and matches with the numbers on your sail, you are still shooting in the dark to a greater or lesser extent.

I’m a big proponent of testing, experimenting – and not being a slave to any trend. But in the case of modern masts and sails, to all of you beginners and intermediate sailors, try using your sail with the mast that is suggested by the sail maker. You may be amazed at how it feels and works. If you enjoy testing sails and masts to see if you can make the sail feel better than the designer intended, go for it. But at least take the time to discover the baseline reference point – and get an understanding for what the designer wanted the rig to feel like.

Yes, this gear is expensive – and sometimes a cheap used (incompatible) mast may seem like a good deal. But if you “reduce it to the ridiculous”, and figure how much that new mast will end up costing per session, ask yourself if having the best experience on the water is worth paying a few extra pennies for, especially if it helps make you a better sailor.

And to any windsurf shop that does not rent matching sails and masts, I say this. Get serious, will you? You are doing your customers no favors by renting the wrong masts. Stop being so cheap – and if you are going to do it, do it right!

Have an awesome day on the water :-)

Extreme what?

Should windsurfing be considered an "extreme" sport? Many who don't sail say "no". Curious answer, me thinks. Sure - lake sailing in 5 knots is not "extreme", although it can be extremely fun!  However, while windsurfing on Maui over the course of the past twenty years, I've been the recipient of a sprained ankle, torn ligaments, cracked ribs, shredded hands and feet, an injured meniscus - and an impact with a boom so severe that I blacked out shortly after struggling back to the beach. Now bear in mind, I'm not even a radical sailor. I don't sail Hookipa. I don't loop. I don't race. So what's it like for those sailors who really go for it??? And what's your story? Reply below!

What would you change?

Question of the day:  If you could change one thing in the sport of windsurfing, what would it be?

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