Windsurfing at Newton Bay (Porthcawl, South Wales)

Finally got the new North Ice 2010 rig out for a great blast at Newton Bay.

Rigged the 5.7 with my Starboard Kombat 97l, as it did not feel that windy on the beach.  First time I have sailed Newton so should have taken the locals advice and gone smaller.  There is a wind shadow for the first 100 yards and then it kicks in.  5.0 would have been better but cranked some more downhaul and outhaul on the 5.7 and could just about hold on in the 35mph + gusts.  Thoroughly pleased with the North gear it feels so much more controllable than the Tushingham Storms I am used to.  When catching the waves back in it is fantastic, it just goes light in you hands when you need it as you carve back in.

It was a busy day at Newton with 30 sailors out – might go down as the ‘best ever’ session so far, still need to work out those carve gybes though as it is a hard workout water-starting all the time.

 

North Ice 2010 Arrives

Just as the cold Northerly winds hit the UK, my new North Ice sails finally arrive.

I had to wait for a delivery from Austria, Nik Baker is the distributor in UK http://www.k66.org.uk/ , I ordered mine from Robin Hood Watersports http://www.roho.co.uk/ , who provided an excellent service.

I have not used them on the water yet, but rigged one up in the garden to try out the VTS (visual trim system), anything that takes the guesswork out of rigging has got to be welcome.  The following picture is the complete North Rig out of the box with Silver series boom and RDM mast plus Power XT RDM extension.  (Notice the colourful sheets underneath because I did not want to get the rig wet / dirty – sad I know!)

 

The ratchet handle on the Power XT RDM extension makes down hauling a breeze:

Now the VTS system, Just keep tensioning the downhaul until the sail becomes loose to the chosen mark (min for less wind or max for when its windier):

Setting the boom height, there is a guide to tell you the boom length for the height:

Now pick the clew position (min for less wind, or max for when its windier):

Finally, there is even a guide to position the harness lines:

Simples … can’t wait for warmer South Westerly’s to give them a try!

 

Read an early review here:

http://purewindsurfing.blogspot.com/2009/11/2010-northsails-ice-review.html

North Ice 2010

Christmas will come early this year, just put my order in for some new North Ice windsurf sails.

Hope they come soon to enjoy the particularly windy weather that is hitting the South Wales at the moment.

Update, they have arrived:

http://steveuk71.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/north-ice-2010-arrives/

 

or read an early review here:

http://purewindsurfing.blogspot.com/2009/11/2010-northsails-ice-review.html