Tampa Bay Windsurfing
Locations, Resources & Community
Wind Foiling – My Path
Over the past couple of years I’ve been having an personal discussion regarding Wind Foiling. Maybe you have as well.
To summarize:
- Is Foiling something I’m actually interested in
- Do I really want to be a beginner again – I just learned to Windsurf
- Wind or Wing Foiling
- What type of equipment i.e. beginner or something more advanced
- Once I purchase equipment will I put the time in
- Does the Tampa Bay Area have enough decent foiling locations
One at a time:
- Yes – More light wind options are a good thing and everyone knows we have plenty of light wind days in Tampa Bay.
- No – This was tough but enough of my friends were making the move so what the hell
- Wind for me – Winging is great but I’m more of a cruiser vs. wave and after many discussions (see Location, Location, Location) I decided Wind Foiling was the best option for me and is a great option for Tampa Bay
- I went for more intermediate/advanced. This made learning tougher but now I’m past the beginner stage and I’m very happy with my Starboard Freeride setup. I did upgrade with a new fuselage and foils and that really helped. (Talk to Britt about this possible option.)
- No was the initial answer. Back to #2 I just struggled with going back to the basics all over again but Bonaire turned out to be really great as four days on foils in light wind helped me to really improve and gain confidence in my foiling.
- Yes it does! See Locations Foil page
March 2023
Windy season will be over in weeks and Summer is just around the corner and for the first time in the past six years I’m looking forward to Summer Windsurfing, i.e. Wind Foiling. I need to work on my Foil Jibes and falling in warmer water will be more to my liking.
Also we now have a great group of experienced Wind Foilers and I’m looking forward to exploring new options in Tampa Bay and the Gulf as part of this group.
Here is the best part:
Now when I look at the Wind Forecast I see options every week to sail! Winds 9 – 11 no problem I’m heading out to Wind Foil! (Still looking for the 18 – 20+ as I do love my Starboard Carves!)
Wind Foiling – A Smooth Gait
While taking riding lessons in Nashville years ago I was introduced to the Tennessee Walking Horse. The manager of the stables told me that this horse is breed with a smooth gait and is therefore popular with older gentlemen who prefer a more dignified and comfortable riding option.
As an older gentleman 😄 I have to agree that a Smooth Gait is a very nice option. I’m not sure about the dignified aspect but it is more comfortable to fly over the rougher chop vs. always bouncing around and I’m hearing from many of my gentlemen friends that they also enjoy this pleasant aspect of Wind Foiling.
As with all aspects of windsurfing it does take a bit of practice but once you begin to master level flight, Wind Foiling is actually a very nice sailing option. You can cover long distances without too much effort in light winds and this is something I really enjoy. We have lovely vistas in the Tampa Bay area and I’m looking forward to light wind afternoon sailing in the Gulf this summer.
Group sailing options – One of my goals this year is to develop group outings for foilers. Sailing on Tampa Bay, along the Gulf coast, etc. Maybe we can call them Fox Hunts, no foxes or hunting but a great way to enjoy an outing with friends. I guess we will need Red Jackets 😎.
FYI – I’m not giving up fin sailing but Wind Foiling does add a very nice option to my windsurfing bag of tricks.
Bonaire update
I had the pleasure of visiting Bonaire for my third time in January. Great to travel with friends and enjoy this little treasure of an island. We always stay on the leeward side of the island which is the more popular side of the island and allows for great snorkeling and scuba options which are the number one reason folks visit Bonaire.
On the windsurfing front all the shops on Lac Bay are in full operational mode after Covid and well stocked with equipment. Check out the Unofficial Guide to Windsurfing on Bonaire for a great tour of the Gear shops and restaurants on Lac Bay.
Unfortunately for Tony, Ryan and myself the winds averaged 11knots everyday! We made a valiant effort to fin sail but the shops have pretty limited options for light wind windsurfing (average winds in the winter are 20+ Knots) so after one frustrating day I made the jump to Wind Foiling which happily is now an option with a couple of shops providing equipment. I posted a video a few weeks ago on my experience Wind Foiling on Bonaire. It turned out to be a great three or four days foiling practice which I really needed and will lead into my next post on my Wind Foiling adventures in 2023.
Year Six!
As 2022 comes to an end and we head into Windy Season here in Florida this will be my sixth windy season and I’m really looking forward to spending as much time on the water as possible. I’ve updated my equipment this year and I now think it is a much better setup for my skills, goals and conditions for the Tampa Bay area.
New Fin Boards – I added two new Starboard Carves (109 & 129) to replace my Gecko 133. I purchased these at the end of last windy season and I was still adjusting to them when the summer months limited the options for Fin sailing. Recently we’ve been having a few decent fin days and though not enough wind to take out the 109 I’m really enjoying the capabilities of the 129. Faster, more maneuverable in the chop and as the name implies they Carve through a jibe very nicely. I’ve already completed a few carve jibes and I can’t what for a truly windy day to take these boards onto the water and really see what they can do! (One of those days when you collapse long before the wind dies down.)
Wind foiling – As with the new Carves I’ve updated my Foiling setup with new sails Severne 8/7/6 Foil Glides and the new Starboard Evolution Super Flyer setup which work quite well with my Freeride Foil board. I now have an 1100, 1300, 1500cm front wing and 500/330 stabilizer fins. The 1500 with the 330 setup has really been a big help. Much greater stability and it doesn’t accelerate away from me like the 1100 which is a bit too fast for this beginner.
The summer provided limited days for foiling but I’ve been trying to get on the water as much as possible to become more comfortable foiling. (I’ve not tested this option with my Fanatic Falcon which supports a fin or foil but I hope to very soon.)
My key this summer has been to get comfortable and stable 50cm above the water. Different setup then fin sailing but I’ve been receiving great input from our community of experienced foilers and I’m almost there! You need to be stable and up in the air to learn to foil jibe otherwise the rail bites the water and you go swimming. I’m actually pretty confident that I will be foil jibing very soon. (More on this in my next post.)
Back to Bonaire in 2023 – This will be my third trip to Bonaire and since my last visit in 2020 foiling is now an option at Lac Bay and JibeCity has all my equipment in stock. Of course it is fun to try out new stuff as well which is one of the great options at all the shops. On our last trip I was just getting comfortable in the harness but unfortunately that year the wind didn’t cooperate which is pretty rare for Bonaire. Now with foiling, sailing should be a great option on light wind days.
So many options this year and I know it is going to be a great Windy Season! The challenge will be fin or foil. So many choices!
Location, Location, Location
This isn’t a post on real estate but it is related to the question that so many of us in the windsurfing community are asking, Fin or Foil. Last year I posted “Questions that lead to unexpected results” about my questions regarding Wind foiling and Wing foiling and after a few months of reflection I’ve come to some new conclusions.
The fundamental questions haven’t changed. As a recreational windsurfer what is the best way to manage your time on the water, the cost of equipment and instruction and very importantly personal enjoyment. Here in Florida we are coming to the end of our windy season (October – April) and this season I have had some great days on the water which have put into sharp focus for me the importance of my location.
In SW Florida (Tampa Bay area) we have some of the best windsurfing locations for every possible wind direction in the US. Some of my favorites are flat water, long run locations with shallow water. For the most part they are either to shallow for foiling or provide only limited options.* We have great foiling options as well, hell we have the Gulf of Mexico but I love these flat/shallow water locations for freeride windsurfing!
I’ve now been in the sport for five years and in the last year or so my windsurfing enjoyment has rapidly increased as my skill level continues to improve. I work with Andy Brandt (https://www.abkboardsports.com/) during his winter visits to our area and this year I decided to put Wind Foiling on hold for the most part and focus on my fin skills, specifically the Carve jibe but also my sail handling and general skills. My focus is “lock in my freeride skills before moving onto something new” and in doing this I’ve been reminded how much I love my local flatwater spots.
Bottom line: In SW Florida we have great locations for both fin and foil sailing and my plan is to enjoy both as the seasons, winds and my skill level dictate. Summer will be here soon enough and I’m looking forward to focusing on my foiling skills this summer but in the short term, my new Starboard Carve 119 arrives this week and I can’t wait to check out the Auto-Jibe option!
For more on this discussion check out Peter Hart’s recent article in the April 2022 edition of Windsurf, The Paradox of Choice. As always Peter does a good job stating some of the challenges that we face when considering so many incredible options for spending time on the water.
* Favorite locations
Hawaii – Maui
I recently had the good fortune to spend time in Maui and check out the windsurfing and winging locations and also meet some great windsurfers.
I’m not really sure I should be writing a post about Maui as there are so many folks that have far greater knowledge about windsurfing options on Maui then I do. Therefore I’m going to keep this one short and simple.
FYI – Seeking local knowledge/expertise is really a must do. Maui is an incredible windsurfing location and well worth a visit but I strongly recommend connecting with the locals before heading out on the water. My first day on the water a local coming in from sailing past the reef told me that the waves were above his 370 mast. I can’t contemplate conditions like that.
• Local experts/World Champion!
Matt Pritchard – https://pritchardwindsurfing.com/pw2020/
Matt is a World Champion Windsurfer. He has great equipment for rent and provides options for on the water instruction and on-sight expertise. He is a great guy and a great resource for all things windsurfing and foiling in Maui. I had hoped to spend time with him on the water but unfortunately the wind decided to take a vacation during my visit so my sailing time was very limited. He also teaches Winging.
• Great surf shops on the north shore with rental and instruction options.
• Talk to the locals. There are some incredible local windsurfers that can be great help regarding current conditions and options. Best place for me to chat with locals was at Kanaha Beach Park.
• The North shore of Maui is incredible, of course the world famous Ho’okipa, but also Spreckelsville and Kanaha Beach Park and on the South side Kīhei . Flat water options at the Port via Ho’aloha Park. Very popular for Wing foiling instruction. My sailing was focused on Kanaha inside the reef. I did check out Kīhei but was warned by a friendly local it isn’t safe to sail alone as you might end up somewhere in the Pacific if something goes wrong!
• Wing foiling is incredibly popular in Maui and it was amazing to watch the local experts! A couple of world champions explained to me that the popularity of Winging was due to gusty conditions and fantastic surf/wave riding options. If I get back to Maui I will be signing up for Winging lessons!
Questions that lead to unexpected results
I’m writing this post from beautiful Maui. This is my second visit to Maui but my first time as a Windsurfer. My next blog post will be a “beginners perspective” on what I learned about windsurfing in Maui but this post is continuation of my previous post on fin vs. foil and what can happen when you ask questions with the assumption that you know the answers.
As posted previously I recently purchased a Starboard Freeride Wind foil setup with the goal to foil over chop/waves and enjoy long range cruising (Time on the Water). I’m not planning to give up fin windsurfing but that does appear to be a trend amongst windsurfers I’ve chatted with but that is for another post.
Back to Maui – Before my trip I hooked up with Matt Pritchard to rent equipment but more importantly I wanted to have an experts guidance while in Maui. I chose to sail on a fin and headed first to Kanaha State Park. (More on this in the next blog post.).
After sailing at Kanaha I decided to check out a flat water location at the Port (Ho’aloha Park) and sail with and photograph a friend learning to Wing foil. While taking photos I see Robbie Naish sail up to the beach on a Wing foil. I’m not bashful so I introduced myself to Robbie and his friend Julia. Robbie was testing new wings and he took the time to chat with me about windsurfing and wing foiling.
As we chatted I asked him Wing vs. Wind foiling? Without a pause he states, 100% Wing Foiling. My wife who was also at the beach said my mouth just dropped open in horror (LOL). So like anyone who has just spend $3k + on a Wind foil setup knowing it was the right thing to do, I followed up with questions. What about this and what about that, nope he answered each question with why Wing foiling was the best option. Finally I asked the question I knew was a sure bet for Wind Foiling, what about long range cruising? Robbie, who reminded me how much he loves windsurfing (I guess the horror on my face was obvious) said when he next sails from Maui to Oahu he would choose the Wing Foil setup right there on the beach!
You might say, well this is just one person’s opinion but this is Robbie Naish!
If you know me you know I’ve been dismissive of Wing foiling. I had closed my mind and was 100% focused on Wind foiling as the best option for me. I felt that I could bring my 5+ years of windsurfing experience to Wind foiling and it would be a relatively quick transition. Well my mind has changed and not just because of my conversation with Robbie but also watching Wing foilers flying across these lovely Hawaiian waters clearly demonstrating the full range of options with a Wing foil. It was impressive to watch.
One additional point, my wife who like most spouses doesn’t see the need for one more piece of windsurfing equipment that I simply must have 😁 thinks I need to try and if need be buy Wing foiling equipment. I think Robbie won her over to!
Foiling is still my next big adventure but I’ve had my mind blown by the best in our sport and I’m looking forward to taking a lesson on Wing Foiling with Jonathan at North Beach if he is willing to put up with me.
FYI – Matt Pritchard (Multiple world champion Windsurfer) also agrees with Robbie!
Will I take to Wing Foiling and sell my Wind Foiling equipment. I don’t know the answer to that question but I will tell you that my mind is open to the possibility.
Summer Time blues
A disappointing summer to say the least for the water sports community and Tampa Bay and SW Florida but now it is time to move forward and focus on renewal and the all the pleasures and challenges of windsurfing.
In May I purchased my new foil setup (Starboard Free Ride, foil etc.) and I was excited to take advantage of the light winds of summer to develop new skills. Well it didn’t work out as planned but now I have something to look forward to with the beginning of the 2021/22 windy season.
Over the next few weeks I will be writing about what I perceive is a very important transition in our sport from fin to foiling, my trip to Maui (I’m writing this from a lanai overlooking Kapalua Bay) and new technologies coming to market that I believe will have a major impact, both positive and negative on water sports.
In a few minutes I’m heading to the north shore of Maui to meet Matt Pritchard (http://www.pritchardwindsurfing.com/) to pick up equipment and learn more about the windsurfing options on this beautiful island. I’m a bit apprehensive as I’m not a wave windsurfer and this is the US mecca for wave windsurfing so working with Matt I believe is a good first step. Wish me luck and more very soon now that we finally have some wind.
Carve Jibe – Putting it all together
A Beginners Perspective
This is the third in my series on what I believe to be three important break through skills in my windsurfing adventure.
- Beach Start – Break on through!
- Harness Lines – Commit!
- The Carve Jibe
Once I gained competency using the harness lines, (actually way before that) I wanted to start jibing with speed (down wind turns). As I mentioned in a previous post Let Go! on Instructional YouTube videos it can be made to look easy but for an intermediate windsurfer the multiple steps required to complete this maneuver can be quite daunting.
The good news is as with the other two steps, competency gained in the Carve Jibe will help you to develop a range of skills that you will be able to apply to even more advanced skills, i.e. Duck Jibes, 360s, fast tacks, backwind sailing etc. and the confidence to take on even more skills. (The skills I’ve developed while learning to Carve Jibe are a big confidence boast as I take on Wind Foiling.)
My goal though is much simpler, I want to keep up with my windsurfing buddies when we are free ride blasting and of course the ability to turn with speed makes windsurfing more fun. Need to turn, OK! Not a lot of thought, just go and that is very freeing as I enjoy blasting around Tampa Bay.
Practice: On the water I jibe as often as possible when the conditions are right until sometimes I’m simply worn out. The shallow waters of Tampa Bay make practicing much easier. When I fall I can jump right back on and go without having to always water start. I find an open spot clear of the other windsurfers and kiters and put the board onto a plane and run a couple hundred meters or so and jibe again and again. Each time I’m trying to improve on the technique(s) I’m working on and it is good to practice on both a starboard and port run.
Preparation is the key to a successful jibe but once in the turn you have to commit to the carve while preparing to execute the foot work and sail flip required to complete the turn. This is where so many of us allow the board to level off, slow down and you come off plane. This is now a non-planning jibe and that is OK because the goal is to complete the turn but that isn’t my end goal but I don’t get discouraged I just try again. Remember this is going to take some serious practice.
I’ve been working on the Carve Jibe for over a year now and my goal has been to take it one step at a time. Unfortunately I’ve recently been informed that my preparation is a bit off and that has been negatively effecting my progress. No need to go into boring details but work with an expert to critique your jibes and your progress should be quicker.
I’m now actually planning out of about a third of my jibes and tweaking the little details to successfully complete more of my jibes to provide the speed to get right back on plane on the new tack. One challenge is still choppy conditions and being prepared for all the variables associated with turning in chop, when to turn, where to turn and managing the extra movements in the board as you carve. More to learn but what is new.
The Carve Jibe is by far the most complex maneuver I’ve tried to master but all the work is really paying off across all aspects of my windsurfing and that is why the Carve Jibe is number three on my list of Break Through elements in my windsurfing adventure.
Remember to look around before you turn as I might be right behind you but if clear … throw the board into a carve jibe and enjoy the ride!
Commit!
Beginners Perspective – Harness Lines
This is my second post on what I consider to be three critical break through skills needed to advance and expand my windsurfing range.
Once I gained proficiency with basic windsurfing/sailing skills including as discussed in my first break through post the Beach Start the next big step was understanding how to effectively use harness lines. It looks kind of easy, simply hook in and lean back, but I’m afraid not!
Harness lines open up so many options, most importantly the ability to bring a board onto plane and transition from sailing to windsurfing. As with all three break through skills as you learn to effectively engage your harness lines you will learn far more than simply committing to your harness lines and these new skills will carry you to a new level of challenges and most importantly FUN!
Purchasing the right Harness! So many skills needed but it all begins with the right harness and for that you really need to try on and possibly test a number of harnesses. I use an ION waist harness. This is my third harness – 1st was a Dakine, good but I wanted more back support as I progressed. My 2nd was an ION which broke after a few months and my 3rd is a newer ION harness which is very comfortable and really supports my lower back and really makes it much easier to sail in gusty conditions.
Commit! As a beginner we sail by controlling the boom and sail via our hands and arm strength to counter balance the power of the sail and move the board in a straight line but as the wind and your speed increase you don’t have the strength in your arms or hands to manage the power generated by the sail. Harness lines engage the big muscles in your legs, hips and back as well as your weight to manage the power of the sail but you have to commit and that for me and I believe for most beginners is the tricky part.
My first two years in the sport, I primarily used a long board i.e. Kona One. Long boards are very forgiving but also limit your speed and the types of conditions you will probably encounter. (Long boards in choppy conditions aren’t a great deal of fun due to the size and weight of the board.) Long boards are a great platform to learn to use harness lines but these skills don’t exactly transition to a short board. Short boards are far less forgiving and demand greater skills from the sailor. For me the challenge was the increased speed and chop. You want to go faster and have more control but this requires more wind which means chop in most locations and you must, must commit to the harness lines and really limit the use of your hands and arms!
If you are learning to use your harness lines and you find that as your speed and the chop increase you are bouncing out of your harness lines it is due to one simple reason, you aren’t committing to the harness lines!
How do I learn to commit? Time on the water of course but one great resource you can use is to setup a simulator. Last year I was really struggling with my board position and committing to my harness lines when I came across GetWindsurfing‘s simulator videos on YouTube. Phil demonstrates how easy it is to setup a simulator so I gave it a try and oh my was that an eye opening experience. I had it all screwed up!
The simulator made it very clear that I wasn’t using my harness lines correctly, wrong position, too long, etc. but just as importantly after finding a better balanced position I could now hang off the boom via the harness lines and be in a correct windsurfing position. For the first time I could feel what it was like to really commit to the harness lines and let go of the boom. You can feel the mast pressure, test different positions, all while staying committed to your harness lines. That is really hard to do on the water but a simulator provides great feedback and your standing still! Seriously if you are learning to use harness lines or bouncing out of your harness lines setup a simulator. It is easy and really helpful. Thanks Phil and Danielle!
One year later: Now I’ve become comfortable using harness lines and it has become second nature to hook in and use the harness lines to connect with the boom, sail, mast and board. It has to all be in sync but getting to that point requires that one must learn to limit your use of your hands and arms and commit to the harness lines and that is hard, at least it was for me!
I’m now free to test myself in harder and faster conditions. Climbing upwind is so much easier and my time on the water is much more enjoyable due to the fact that I have greater control with much less effort.
What I’ve learned is there is no universal setup. You are always making adjustments depending on conditions, sail size, board and also how you feel that day. It is amazing what a couple of centimeters forward or backwards of the harness lines can do for your setup. I don’t really adjust the length of my harness lines but instead prefer to move the boom up and down for different conditions.
Time on the water of course but don’t be afraid to tweak your setup and try new positions. Setup a simulator and hang from the boom via your harness and let go! You will be amazed how it feels! Good luck and see you on the water!