Just wondering if anyone has advice for my first attempt at a downwind beachboy board. Length, rocker, thickness, width, etc. Any tips would be great as I’m going into this blind. I plan on using it for Hawaii Kai runs and what ever else I can get into.
Thanks in advance!
What is the concept behind a downwind board and what do you do if it turns offshore, just pack your passport ?
For that matter, if it is onshore how do you get off the beach ?
Enquiring minds etc
?
perhaps consider your depth of understanding about
points of sail and the range of performance in hull design.
lightweight
broad reach efficiency
and as for adverse conditions dr.stewart,
dont put up a spinaker
just close haul and dont pinch too high.
in time the highest form downwind boards will go displacement hull
see VELZY designs to start off
then check the joe Barx
follow the leader for a safe guess.
anything rad you will be under training pressure to prove,
for fun dividend
wear big sail shorts-add battens to your
birdwells.
and big blade paddle will give you wind resistance
when resting to sip electrolytes
before commitment to theoretical absolutes
the contemporary down wind craft will depend on your comfort zone
I.E.
surfing windsurfing dory sailing backrounds
if you are surfin board guy the craft
will best be surfy more flat and down raily
sailbord guy more slalommy concave thickasaurus
dory guy more bow roll bottom boaty release tail.
if you wanna just surf
the down wind specializing
will impede the wave riding
advantages like paddling back out
and carving wave face turns.
down wind down swell
design refinements
can be specialized to a fault.
…ambrose…
roy the venues for paddle racing
lay down as well as stand up
are not triangle cources
but mostly off the wind
to capture long glides
following winds and seas.
in Hawaii nei the summer races from
hawaii kai to waikiki
from sunset to waimea
or hookipa to kanaha
are anticipated with the same excitement
as the first big swells from the northern pacific
in the fall.The summer tradewinds
are regular and predictable
the exhileration from a 3-7mile
down wind paddle riding 4-6’ windswell
is
a wellcome relief from working in the tropical heat
and the company of flying fish and seabirds are truly uplifting.
surely you can allow yourself an alternative dream.
winds at hookipa
are often approaching 30 knots
and more in the summer.
down wind is an alternate venue.
Thanks for the explination Ambrose! I wasn’t sure of a down wind SUP board either?!
Now it makes sense.
Sounds like fun. I used to own a 16’ Hobie and would sail out to the two mile bouy in Monterey then turn around and surf the swell back to Del Monte Beach on a reach with my brother or wife hanging out on the trapeeze! wahoooooo!!!
Les