OK, I have my new board and rig and I'm all set to hit the water as soon as possible. There's only one problem: I've never windsurfed before and have no idea when it's "safe" to go out. But my stuff is burning holes in my retinas while it sits collecting dust in my house! When should I expect to be able to get on the water? I'm getting a 4/3 wetsuit. Will I need booties and gloves too? Sorry to keep peppering everybody with these questions, but I'd love to get windsurfer with you guys soon and not kill myself from hypothermia in the process!
Andrew
More newbie questions!
Moderator: MK
-
aransavage
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2002 2:10 pm
- Location: Hopkins, MN
Well, if you do go out early in the year, it's definitely a good idea to have a friend around. Even someone on shore to call 911 if you get in trouble. 
That, plus keep in mind the often repeated adage, "dress for the swim in, not the sail out."
With the above said, you're probably good to go pretty soon without the gloves and booties, depending on the outside air temp. You'll want it to be AT LEAST 50 degrees out when you go, and I'd wait until May 1st. The water is warming pretty quickly with all the nice weather we're having.
You might get a little cold out there, but the only other thing you can really do is try. If it's too cold, don't push yourself! Safety first - seriously.
-Coach
That, plus keep in mind the often repeated adage, "dress for the swim in, not the sail out."
With the above said, you're probably good to go pretty soon without the gloves and booties, depending on the outside air temp. You'll want it to be AT LEAST 50 degrees out when you go, and I'd wait until May 1st. The water is warming pretty quickly with all the nice weather we're having.
You might get a little cold out there, but the only other thing you can really do is try. If it's too cold, don't push yourself! Safety first - seriously.
-Coach
Maybe this is really obvious, but I don't know how "new" you are.
Pick a beach to launch from so that you start out sailing at an angle INTO the wind to get going (an on-shore location). Then if all else fails you'll get blown back to a shore that's fairly close.
If an on-shore location isn't available, a side-shore one would be the next best choice. Most beginners start out with either a port or starboard reach working OK fairly soon, but the other side is *@(*@#% for a few more sessions... so a side-shore wind may still get you stuck out there.
Where do you live/sail? WBL, Waconia, Calhoun are good places to sail with the crew around here. Keep checking this chat. Wherever you show up, the crew around here will keep an eye on you. They're all good guys.
The best time to grab someone for Q & A is to look for someone coming off the water. On arriving with good wind, most of us are a little psycho about getting on the water ASAP. A few quick checks with each other on wind strength, etc, and we're gone. Not that we don't want to be generous at the beginning too... but I don't know how to say it... Welcome to wind addiction.
Pick a beach to launch from so that you start out sailing at an angle INTO the wind to get going (an on-shore location). Then if all else fails you'll get blown back to a shore that's fairly close.
If an on-shore location isn't available, a side-shore one would be the next best choice. Most beginners start out with either a port or starboard reach working OK fairly soon, but the other side is *@(*@#% for a few more sessions... so a side-shore wind may still get you stuck out there.
Where do you live/sail? WBL, Waconia, Calhoun are good places to sail with the crew around here. Keep checking this chat. Wherever you show up, the crew around here will keep an eye on you. They're all good guys.
The best time to grab someone for Q & A is to look for someone coming off the water. On arriving with good wind, most of us are a little psycho about getting on the water ASAP. A few quick checks with each other on wind strength, etc, and we're gone. Not that we don't want to be generous at the beginning too... but I don't know how to say it... Welcome to wind addiction.