Re waterstarting hints; I'll add one more to Don's excellent advice.
If you're having trouble clearing the big sail from the water, start
at the sail tip, ie the very end of the mast. Lift that out of the
water with the leading edge into the wind, and then work your way
down the mast to the boom. This works every time to get a big sail
out of the water. However, that's a BIG sail for a 120 litre board;
It's probably a handful in wind over 25k. Definitely get a couple of
smaller sails for higher wind; maybe a 4.7 or 5.0 and a 5.5-6.0. You
will need at least one more mast and probably another boom unless
yours has a very large adjustment range. There's lots of used gear
out there if you get talking to other sailors.

I'll add one more good sailing site to the Grand Beach suggestion. If
the wind's from the south, there's excellent flat-water sailing at
Willow Lagoon south of Gimli. Go to (off HWy 8) Willow Island Road
and turn in; if it's blowing over 25 or 30k you'll usually find a few
of us there. It's a great place to learn to water start.

See you on the water!

Al



--- In Manitoba_Windsurfing_Club@yahoogroups.com, "donthiessen"
<donthiessen@...> wrote:
>
> If you are looking for a sail that will be easier to learn
> waterstarting, probably something between a 5.5 and 6.0 will work.
> As far as the boom/mast buy whatever the sail manufacturer
> recommends. Sails are very dependent on having the right rig for
> proper performance.
>
> For myself I learnt to water start by beach starting first. This
> means that you stand in water the is waist deep or shallower and
put
> your sail into the wind. Put you back foot on the board and then
let
> the wind pick you up out of the water.
>
> Do this a few times and you should have a good idea of how to
> position the board and sail to water start.
>
> If the board isn't long enough to rest your boom on the tail, you
> will need to lift the leading edge of you sail into the wind and
have
> the wind help you lift it out of the water. Personally I find
> waterstarting sails like a 7.3 difficult because they have so much
> surface area it is hard to get them out of the water, but you will
> find a 6.0 much easier.
>
>
>
> --- In Manitoba_Windsurfing_Club@yahoogroups.com, Bradley Snyder
> <snydes2@> wrote:
> >
> > Thank you for the reply and welcoming me to the group.
> >  
> > I have been windsurfing on Clearwater Bay on Lake of the Woods
for
> over 10 years. I started out on a one class with a 7.4 and
purchased
> a 120 L fanatic shark from Boardsports 2 years ago. This kit came
> with a 186-236cm north sails boom, 490cm 2 piece carbon fibre mast
> and a 7.3 sail.
> >  
> > I can sail upwind, tack, gybe but cannot waterstart and the 7.3
is
> very difficult to uphaul on super gusty days. I am wanting to pick
up
> a few smaller sails but I think that I will also need a smaller
mast
> and shorter boom to accomodate a storm sails (6.5 and smaller).
> >  
> > Is this the case? If so any suggestions on what size and type of
> sail/mast/boom (kit) I should be looking at?
> >  
> > I would also welcome any advice on waterstarting. I have a really
> hard time getting my heavy 7.3 out of the water to iniate the
> waterstarting process. Are there any links or any thoughts you have
> if you have a short board that you cannot rest the mast on to clear
> the sail?
> >  
> > Any advice would be appreciated.
> >  
> > Brad Snyder
> >  
> > p.s. If Matt Robinson still gets this email drop me a hello. I
> haven't seen you boys in 15 years! Any gear at Clearwater you want
to
> get rid of?
> >  
> >
> >
> > --- On Sun, 8/10/08, donthiessen <donthiessen@> wrote:
> >
> > From: donthiessen <donthiessen@>
> > Subject: [Manitoba_Windsurfing_Club] Re: Newbie, where to go
> > To: Manitoba_Windsurfing_Club@yahoogroups.com
> > Date: Sunday, August 10, 2008, 7:20 AM
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Unfortunately not very many places left where you can find more
> then 1
> > or 2 sailors. Your best bet is the Grand Beach Lagoon on a day
when
> > it's blowing from the east or South, or the Willow Island Lagoon
> early
> > in the summer.
> >
> > On a day when it's blowing strong from from the north or west
there
> may
> > be people at Patricia Beach or Grand Beach, but it is necessary
> that
> > you be able to water start in order to go on the big lake when
it's
> > realy windy.
> >
> > Check out the link below for a good guide to places to sail near
> > Winnipeg. Please note most of these are kiting sites and not
> suitable
> > for windsurfing.
> >
> > http://www.mts. net/~mhlady2/ windtracker. html
> >
> > --- In Manitoba_Windsurfin g_Club@yahoogrou ps.com, "manson_dave"
> > <manson_dave@ ...> wrote:
> > >
> > > I'm brand new to windsurfing and looking for places to go that
> would
> > be
> > > good for a beginner. Is there a spot where I can find a bunch
of
> > > people windsurfing?
> > >
> >
>