The cover of Dupont Magazine, JulyAugust 1971 issue. The photo is of Bruce Matlack windsurfing off the Malibu Pier in Southern California. The caption on the cover says “Windsurfing: No Waves
Planing on a short board. Short-board windsurfing is always in high winds. The higher the winds, the smaller the sail—making it easier to handle the sail. A short-board windsurfer usually carried a “quiver” of several sails, along with several boards. Short-board windsurfing required the ability to water-start. Photo by Steve Morrell.
ume of these first long boards was about 190 liters compared to the 220-240 liters—or more—that are necessary to make it practical for a 175-plus pound individual. Many had their first experience on one of these low-volume long boards or an inferior clone—say, at a Club Med or another resort. Most of the early resort instruction went something like this: “Hey, Mon... when you d’ere are finished, jest bring ‘er back here to da beach...Just don’t you worry, mon, it’s easy!” And off you went—perhaps downwind forever, or—if you were lucky—captured by the reef of the next island. Perhaps your first try was on a Bic/Dufour Wing board, coated with a slick mixture of sweat and sun tan oil from a previous guest’s bout with getting smacked about. This board had an impossible bottom shaped like a cigar and little non-slip on the deck. To make matters worse, the deck was pitched at the wrong angle to stand on. Add to this the ego of the typical male, who would watch someone with skills sail off on a Windsurfer, and secretly say to himself, “I can do that. I don’t need lessons!” Whoa! Very bad ingredients all the way around. So, if you weighed in at 180 pounds in the mid ’80s at the height of the sport’s development, there were two big
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REACH SAILORS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH — MARCH SPECIAL PRICING — Ad must be placed by March 31 and you must mention this special Text ad up to 30 words – $15 for 3 months Text and photo ad - $30 for 3 months FREE Boating Gear ads for all items under $200 (941) 795-8704 editor@southwindsmagazine.com Place online at: www.southwindsmagazine.com/classifieds 44 May 2009
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roadblocks in the way of you having any success. One, is that the long boards of that time, like the Windsurfer, were too small in volume to carry your weight easily, and two, everyone was telling you that you needed a “hip,“ even smaller board if you really were to get hooked into the sport, because long boards were phasing out. If you were like most, you just said, “I don’t have time for this!”—and walked away thinking it was too hard, too confusing and too time-consuming (and too ego-bruising). Over the years, this short-board, high-wind sport evolved into high-tech boards, high-tech, light gear, and the sails went from Dacron to space age, lightweight materials like Mylar. Everything got lighter and faster—and more expensive. Windsurfing Today Fast-forward to 2009. Windsurfing is indeed back, and so are long boards! The short boards are still out there, along with a whole group of windsurfers who love and follow that part of the high-wind and wave-riding side of windsurfing. No doubt about it. That part of the sport is exciting, thrilling and fun. But for those who won’t go that route, the new long boards are a whole new world compared to the old long boards—and they, too, are exciting, thrilling and fun. You might be a grown-up adult who enjoys sailing, perhaps with a family. Maybe you tried windsurfing years ago in one of the scenarios above. Maybe you would like to give windsurfing another chance. Today, with the changes that have come about, it really makes sense. One of the new boards that might fulfill your needs is the Exocet Kona One. It’s a long board having sufficient float volume for someone up to 250 pounds, and it has a step bottom that becomes a shorter board the moment it gets up onto a plane. It has all the important goodies like foot straps, a fully retractable centerboard and a userfriendly, foam, non-slip deck. No longer do you have to look at having a trailer to haul around an expensive quiver of sails and boards for all conditions. THIS is the board for www.southwindsmagazine.com