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It was finally a good day to try my new Seatrend Allstar 70. I struggled mightily with it for awhile. The rig, which feels very balanced on the smaller and older Screamer, felt twitchy and out-of-control on the Seatrend. I played with some settings but nothing really helped. Finally I just went out and said I'm going to do this! and did.
The rig always wants to pull me forward, as though the center of effort is too far forward. The problem is I can't move the mast back any further and the fin is very swept back Curtis 15.5 weed fin. Once I get on a plane, it seems okay, but getting there is the trouble. I finally gave in and didn't fight for control when a gust would hit. The board/rig desperately fought to fall off the wind, so I let it. Once up on a plane, and in the straps, I could point wherever I wanted, up down cross. So I guess I just have to fight the I'm gonna fly over the handlebars feeling until I get planing.
The nice thing is that I wouldn't have planed much at all if I didn't have the board, so I'm glad I have it. Once it's going, it's FAST, too, and doesn't want to jump out of the water too much. I did spin out badly a few times, but no wrecks. Getting into the back straps is tough. They are out near the edge and getting there while fighting for rig control going off the wind was hairy scary.
Jibing the board will take some getting used to, too. It just doesn't want to come all the way around. I'm still on the Screamer, though, and need to remember what board I'm jibing. Constant rail pressure is key. It's so floaty (140L) that mistakes are easily erased, though.
I talked to a friend from Montana before I went and he told me it was 52 degrees with snow in the nearby mountains. It felt good to be sailing in 86 degree weather, in trunks and a rash guard and not being cold at all.
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