The new Windsurfer LT Reviewed in detail

THE ALL NEW WINDSURFER LT - AN INITIAL REVIEW AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS BY JUST AN AVERAGE WINDSURFER - not a champion, not a novice, just a lover of this sport of windsurfing who is just as happy cruising round in 5 knots as I am at 20 knots as long as I'm getting out there!
Hey Windsurfers,
I picked up my new Windsurfer LT today from Windgenuity along with a new blue sail (my old one design sail is a little crinkly and starting to de laminate - I figured I should show off this terrific new windsurfer in the best possible light!
The guys at Windgenuity we also wrapped about this board and very helpful. Had a quick peek inside the box but decided I had better get it home before unwrapping. Some of their guys have ridden the prototype and seemed as excited as me for the future of the sport. A longboard revolution is what the sport needs and will be what brings more punters back and new starters encouraged by the ability to sail in sub 10 knot breezes, on cheap but reliable equipment where they can enjoy a warm sunny days sailing rather than being sand blasted, cold and miserable after being blown away and needing rescue after their first tentative steps into the sport.
Today was Such a beautiful day so grabbed a quick swim at Collaroy Beach and a chat with the boys at Wind Surf N snow on Anzac Parade. Sam was happy for me and relayed positive comments from prototype testers so more positive reinforcement!
Dave from Lake Mac also picked up a board today so watch out around the Swansea area with two new Windsurfers on the water.
Arrived back at Lake Macquarie to see not a puff of wind. How cruel is that, a new board sail and a dead calm.
Just as well as it took quite a while to unpack it. Very well wrapped in cardboard and bubble wrap then a layer of plastic.
Behold! It is a thing of beauty. I really must get this thing on the water. Better take a few more photos...
Had a good look over the board for blemishes or faults, nothing found! It really looks schmick and better in person. Such a high gloss finish on the deck (for and aft and rails) and a fantastic looking non slip deck which with absorb some of the inevitable punishment my heavyweight feet will dish out.
After getting organised and finding that my board bag from my Superlight fits the new Wally LT - my fears of damaging this beauty have been allayed. I have the new custom bag ordered for a June Delivery.
Reloaded the board on the ute, grabbed my old one design mast (new two piece mast and old Prolimit Assault 160-220 boom etc on order) and gear and off the Swansea Channel. Still no wind and getting late. Decided to set up on Coon Island (nice grassy rigging area), had to let a few friends know about my score. Still no wind!
Decided to rig up the sail anyway to check it out, fading light but news of a southerly coming through was relayed via Johnsy at Windgenuity and Lyndon Bauer from Gosford Windsurfers Club.
As I was about to give up, I felt a few gusts from the South, 20knots at Norah Head! It's after sunset, I'm all rigged up, have taken photos, checked out seabreeze, bragged about having the first production LT (00001) and suffering from a severe lack of sailing over the past week.
Still trying to get over the disappointment of missing out on a ride of a Starboard Gemini Tandem last week - canned at the last minute due to another dead calm.
Ok so here goes, for Christ's sake Al, don't ding this board before you at least get it in the water! Watch those fence posts, couldn't deal with the heartbreak of tearing a virgin sail. I've tensioned up the sail expecting the wind to continue building, currently 5-10 knots with a few stronger gusts.
Tide is running in and in the same direction as wind, it's now dark, a bystander - After casually checking me out works up the courage to warn me of the risks of sailing in the dark, and he utters those ominous words: " I'm not going to read about you tomorrow am I?" Nah, no worries mate all good!
Immediately I took off with confidence, I'd changed my harness lines as last set I had were too short. They were now perfect and happy with my decision as I effortlessly slipped into the harness lines and cruising across the channel.
I decided to go out without booties to get a feel for the non slip. I wasn't disappointed. Great grip and it feels sturdy - I didn't feel a need for foot straps whilst sailing.
With the centreboard down most of the time, no issues with stubbing my toes on the centreboard, the fabric cover is only over the rear half of centreboard slot and perhaps I'd prefer to see it cover more but no issues with it and it works well for pushing down the centreboard.
The board and rig seem well matched and balanced, I was thinking maybe a little underpowered but my fault as I had tensioned up the down haul and outhaul pretty well expecting some 20knot gusts to kick in.
I thought I'd beat my way against the tide up towards the bridge to get a good feel.
As I neared the other side (near Little Pelican) I decided to see how it gybed- stepped back, leaned sail, foot on outside rail and around she went very quickly! Fantastic! This board is responsive and it didn't loose too much speed in the process.
I weigh close to 107kg and had the mast set in centre of track. No sign of the front end submarining when beating up wind (or on any point of sailing for that matter) however, I made a mental note to try it a little further back next time in lighter winds.
I did feel a little board flex transmission from front end flex when going against the tide and into small wind waves but nothing like the old original Wally.
In fact I have only ridden a one design (old Wally actually) a few times over the past few years as I've been sailing an old Mistral Superlight Competition which has a lot more volume than the Wally and easier for me. This new LT handles itself a lot like the Superlight but with a wider body and the twin conclaves up front vs the Superlight rounded bow it is easier to ride and still seems to get along quite well.
Tacking was a cinch with plenty of volume around the mast and very forgiving.
As the wind started filling in to a fairly constant 15 knots or so, the board started to really pick up and plane on all points! Planing whilst beating up wind, across the wind, broad reaching and even straight down wind. Fantastic! I haven't ridden a board so well composed when pointed straight down wind, the width definitely helps here. I found myself standing a little further back as it accelerated and that helped even more once planing.
I did some experimenting with the centreboard and it was quite happy with the board right down on all points and no worries with losing stability when going down wind or any point of sailing. I can envisage this board and rig will be at ease with the wind up around 20 - 25 knots.
Back to shore After reluctantly deciding an hour and a half is enough for the day (well night actually).
Unclipped the sail and gingerly carry to the grassy area, back for the board, so easy to carry at reported 15kg. I haven't weighed it yet but it seems about right and well balanced when carrying either by holding the centreboard knob or at front of centreboard well.
The centreboard is a very simple setup with just one pivot point fixed guide. Easy to put in and pull out, when sailing, pushing the centreboard down using the fabric cover made it easy to start the process with a light to medium lift using toe at the knob to continue the process.
I did notice that the centreboard retracted back just a little a few times when sailing (from the fully down position) and that this may have occurred when gybing or tacking- will pay a little closer attention when Day time sailing. It does kinda just fall in when installing it on dry land but seems fairly firm in retracted position to 3/4 down - no doubt due to the rubber lips below deck in well.
Anyway, hope this gives you an idea about how good this board is. A step in the right direction certainly and in my opinion a vast improvement to the one design and maybe even a distinct improvement to the Superlight!
A step in the right direction is a bit of an understatement in hindsight. The Cobra Website has a press release indicating that the board was designed by Bruce Whylie, a former Lake Macquarie World Champion Windsurfer, Mistral sailor, Sailworks co owner and current Production Manager at Cobra - manufacturer of probably 90% of all Sailboard and SUP brands INTERNATIONALLY. With the additional expertise, input and contributions from many skilled sailors and industry legends and feedback from prototype testing, I'm sure these guys have produced a good allrounder Windsurfer useful in a very wide range of conditions. The fact that this board also carries some Cobra branding shows they are proud of this product and one can assume they have incorporated the best possible balance between durability and weight minimization.
I think they have accomplished something special here!
Need more time on water and do a few swaps between other boards (Original Wally and Superlight using the same rig) for comparison.
My recommendation is however, do yourself a favor and order one this week!
Cheers, Al Haynes. Current rides: WINDSURFER LT - 229L Original Windsurfer - 200L -good for freestyle moves now perhaps? Mistral Competition Club -258L Mistral Competition Superlight x 2 - 258L (1 has to go!) F2 Lightning - 250L Starboard GO 170 - 170L BIC TECHNO 283 - 152L
Former Windsurfing Instructor early 80's Former shortboard 100L backyard manufacturer and surf sailer early 80's Former Wally surf sailer and wave jumper back in the day when there wasn't anything else!


Old and the new! The new Superlight!


Great to see that logo on a new board again!



About to go sailing after sunset
New sail to match. Stoked!


Out of the box - fantastic finish.



Can't wipe that smile off my face, and that's BEFORE I took it out for a sail! GRINNING FROM EAR TO EAR NOW!!!


The daggerboard - simple but very functional




Power box fin


12' tall!




Well wrapped



No. 1. Proudly made by Cobra

Good review Al. Glad someone scored that southerly last night. If you bring it over to Marmong on Saturday youre welcome to see how it goes on a race course.

I am not allowed to order one. Maybe for my birthday.

Trap for "Old Wally Sailors". It has a vent screw!!

Bah, bah!!!! come on Man!! another whole bunch of problem's.
Another thread???

That's a good point. Would be good to know that.

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wally sailor said..
That is a bummer, why not put a gortex plug in the board?

Hopefully the blow moulded foam means it didn't take on water, but it wasn't for very long anyway.
Easy to do when we've never had to worry about it.

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40knots said..
I am not allowed to order one. Maybe for my birthday.

Haha my birthday was a few weeks ago, the missus needed reminding so I got my revenge

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Dag said..
Trap for "Old Wally Sailors". It has a vent screw!!

Dag, are you kidding??? All Your new boards have em. Ooopps!!! Thought i was the only one to give the blank a little saltwater sip. Turns out not much gets inhaled. Easily removed with a little sunbake session.

Yeah it was one of those "kick your own arse if ya could" moment's.
It's just because I was in Wally mode. I wounder if some others will be in the same frame of mind.
Wally Sailor - I'm a bit worried about those plug's. There's some concerning talk about them on another thread.
Anyway just the once should be enough to teach me a lesson, and I don't think that core is supposed to soak up water.

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wally sailor said..
I'm looking forward to the new board being less tippy and more buoyant.

You're gunna love it for that, but so much more as far as technique go's. The more I sailed it, I got faster and faster as I match sailed with Pete.
It felt like I was becoming one with the board. Sound's corny, but both Pete and I were feeling the same way and trying to put it into words.
Pete did say early into the session that he noticed some similar characteristics to the early Mistral One Design, but at that stage we were still feeling them out. I started out with the mast base at about quarter way from aft, but I was sailing too forward on the board. I moved it to Half way and it was so balanced to sail with my feet at the centerboard and the perfect amount of weather helm pointing high to windward (with no nose dive's). On a broad reach she really motor's, and comfortably even with a little bit of centerboard down depending on condition's. It really grows on you this one. It ended up being one of the most memorable day's sailing, and I can't wait to get out on it as much as possible over the next few weeks. I feel sorry for you guy's who have to wait.

Akim, you really are being extremely childish about this. I'm ashamed that I once thought you were a decent person. The Techno class is probably embarrassed by you.

By the way, if you think all Wally sailors are "tightarses" you should see what some of us spend on our sailing. It's also ridiculous to promote Technos for being cheap and then insult those who sail other cheap boards.

Give it over and stop being negative.

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Chris 249 said..
Akim, you really are being extremely childish about this. I'm ashamed that I once thought you were a decent person. The Techno class is probably embarrassed by you.

By the way, if you think all Wally sailors are "tightarses" you should see what some of us spend on our sailing. It's also ridiculous to promote Technos for being cheap and then insult those who sail other cheap boards.

Give it over and stop being negative.

Where is your sense of humour?

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John340 said..

Chris 249 said..
Akim, you really are being extremely childish about this. I'm ashamed that I once thought you were a decent person. The Techno class is probably embarrassed by you.

By the way, if you think all Wally sailors are "tightarses" you should see what some of us spend on our sailing. It's also ridiculous to promote Technos for being cheap and then insult those who sail other cheap boards.

Give it over and stop being negative.

Where is your sense of humour?

If it was funny the first time - and it wasn't when 360 started slinging **** years ago - then it's long past that now.

Yeah, I was wondering that too.
Hey Alby, I'm a bit peeved that you got #001
Lucky bugger!

Ally,

what is the tail fin like ? - same as the old red one or bit stiffer ?

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KA360 said..

windsufering said..
Making windsurfing great again !

I have 4 other boards and 7 sails, some bought new and some secondhand. I competed from 1982-1989 on wally one designs, funboards, slalom and speed events. My favorite events were on the wallies. Even back then I remember friends that didn't sail these boards saying "One design equals one speed, slow". For me it was never about speed but more about tactics, reading the wind, Olympic courses and the community. I'm looking forward to getting the new board and so far 13 have been ordered in Perth so I'm looking forward to racing next summer. By the way, I will still sail the other boards a lot too especially when I feel the need for speed :)

I wonder if they will make the same board without the centreboard. Could be a good muck around light wind freestyle board.