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Post: #1
Topic :  10.5
Author :  Greg Cockerill    Date : 12/29/2009 5:44:08 AM 

Guys, I have just picked up the 10.5 kona and Im stoked. Have only been able to sail it twice but WOW how good is it really.

Went out on the lake the other week for some light wind practice and the board was super stable and at times you almost forget you were on a sailboard (just easy to sail really). Then had it out at Wellington Point on Sunday, just awesome I dont think I have ever sailed so fast. The only thing I would like if it perhaps had a bigger fin as I found when water starting the board tended to go sideways.

The other thing I noticed, after stepping down from an RRD Longrider is that it changes the way you sail, the harness lines as they were set were always perfect for the RRD but I had to bring them back a good two inches. I thought this may affect me planning ability, but dam the thing just took off. So I guess it did affect my planning but for the better. I dont know what you guys did when building this thing but please keep doing it. BTW a big wrap to your WA dealer in getting it across the country for me in super quick time and a big wrap to Scotty at Wetspot, who brought the board over for me and worked with your dealer in the West. Overall it is the best Christmas present to me I have ever had.
Post:  #2
Author :  NC   Date :  12/31/2009 4:22:20 AM 

Hey Greg,

Sounds good. I am up in Sydney and have had a Kona One for a couple of years. Also found the guys in WA good to deal with. Love the One, it's a "keeper", but am interested in getting the 10'5 for some waves - I've used the One a couple of times in small surf but would prefer something more surf-oriented.

Do you mind a couple of questions...

What sails are you using?

Did you get the TT?

How heavy are you?

How is it upwind, say compared to using the Longrider with its centreboard up? (I can sail to a couple of breaks a couple of k's from my launch but need some upwind capability to get there, or to get home.)

If you can, how does it compare generally to a short board around 115 litres/65 cm wide, for speed and jibing?

Thanks muchly in advance.
Post:  #3
Author :  John I   Date :  12/31/2009 7:38:08 PM 

Raise your boom, bit by bit, also. You may find the trim of the board will improve even more. 10'5 for big waves side off winds. Upwind is part sailor and board. I can upwind nearly as well with my 11'5 as a Kona One sailor can off a plane and just as well on one.

Follow the sail size guide on the specifications and you will not go wrong.

Post:  #4
Author :  Greg Cockerill   Date :  1/3/2010 11:36:17 PM 

Thanks John have raised the boom quite a bit and found that the nature of the board did change a lot but still sideslipping on water starting. Really would love a bigger fin, just a tad to offset that first little bit. Now as to the questions I am 85kg, I got the normal build and to be honest I find it heaps light anyway although the TT will probably be the next board. Upwind, it is not as good as the Longrider, however, its still a heap better than shortboards and I was out yesterday at Sanctuary Point in almost nil wind (light wind practice is the stuff that makes heavy wind sailing better) and I could point lots higher than my mates on there boards. My main sail (and I use it all the time) is an Ezzy Zephyr (specifically made for longboards) slightly longer boom but heaps of adjustment available on it.

Speed lets see, I was at Wellington Point in QLD the other day sailing an Easterly and clocked up 30knots (according to the GPS on the arm of the bloke I was next to) to be honest Im good in a straight line crap at going around corners though and Im probably not the best to ask about Jibing. I will say that even is sub planning winds the 10.5 is really nippy and when tacking just turns on a dime, so when I get the carve jibe thing working I can comment better.

Post:  #5
Author :  NC   Date :  1/4/2010 1:37:25 AM 

Thanks very much Greg. Sounds like that board is a lot of fun. 30 knots is no mean feat!
Post:  #6
Author :  Greg Cockerill   Date :  1/4/2010 6:08:55 AM 

was flying I know that but the sudden stop hurt a little bit lol
Post:  #7
Author :  John I   Date :  1/4/2010 2:16:26 PM 

Side slipping on water starts, hmmm. Are you putting both feet up on the board to do so? In the lightest of winds, esp with following currents, I must use the back foot only water start. The front leg acts like a temporary extra keel that way. No side slips. No desires for a larger fin either....

Kona SUP with a sail may need a larger fin, since the 11'5 fin is the std one......
Post:  #8
Author :  jac56   Date :  1/4/2010 2:44:51 PM 

Hi Greg!
I wouldn't like to steer this thread in a wrong direction, but could you please make a comparison to the Longrider-especially in the waves?
RRD was 75% less expensive so I've chosen it. Can't say I regret it-didn't have much chance to sail it yet.
Thank you in advance1
Jac
Post:  #9
Author :  John I   Date :  1/4/2010 2:57:43 PM 

I've sailed the RRD in the surf. It does better than the Kona One, but not nearly as good as the 11'5 or 10'5. Remove the dagger and stuff the slot with a temporary foam filler. Pool noodles are cheap, and easy to cut. The dagger slot gasket is very flimsy on the RRD, but the hull is pretty good at getting the most out of an otherwise untenable day. Experiment with a slightly smaller fin with rake for better wave turns.
Post:  #10
Author :  joachim Larsson   Date :  1/4/2010 8:02:56 PM 

We have sail lots of the 10.5" here in Sweden and really much in vintertime and thats perfect if you not will go in to the water. The 10.5" are a really fast board I have saild both TT and STD and the TT are much harder under the feet and litle faster, but more expensive. 10.5" are so fun in waveraiding.

Hello from the winter in Sweden -15 degree celsius
Joachim
Post:  #11
Author :  John I   Date :  1/4/2010 11:35:53 PM 

In the name of Star Trek, that's Vulcan Cold, Joachim! Creative swearing is another hobby of mine..... Can be pretty punny, but usually not. Cheers.
Post:  #12
Author :  Greg Cockerill   Date :  1/5/2010 6:42:59 AM 

I think John has pretty well summed up the differences between the two, I own both and will never get rid of the RRD as a fastish freeride board where I sail mostly (inland on a gusty lake) it is without peer, however, when the extra bouyancy of salt water comes into play then the RRD can become a little bouncy under foot when moving along. The 10.5 is a great board and it has added another dimension to my sailing, has made my tacks better and the ability it has to plane even when it shouldnt is great. I dont think we got any of the TT finishes in Oz this year. I think the extra expense of the 10.5 was worth it for me. I actually wish that I did get the 11.5 first rather than the RRD (cause then I would have a bigger fin lol). John I do waterstart with only my back foot on the board just seems to round up when i go into transistion, maybe it is just a technique issue. I still think that the slightly bigger fin would be great in the fresh water stuff I usually sail in though to get up on the plane quicker.

Post:  #13
Author :  jac56   Date :  1/5/2010 12:48:06 PM 

Thank you guys, I appreciate your comments.
Kona One and RRD-I bougth them for sailing on a gusty lake like you, but last year I've discovered pleasure of sailing on the waves-at sea, -it is a completely different windsurfing and that is where I would like to sail in future.
That was my concern how my boards will behave there.
regards, Jac
Post:  #14
Author :  Greg Cockerill   Date :  1/8/2010 8:31:56 AM 

None of the long boards will do what a 76 lt twinser will do but as a long board surfer we dont want our stuff doing the same things. Flow and beauty in movement is the go here. Btw learning to sail in gusty inland waters actually adds to you sailing when you get back into salt and constant winds. The shop that I use is constantly trying to get me to go shorter wider but I have sailed those boards and for me they just do nothing for me. Give me some length, we hope to have some pics soon doing some really small wave sailing at a river mouth that is knee high most of the time but we can sail it on the longboards and have a ball.
Post:  #15
Author :  John I   Date :  1/8/2010 12:46:36 PM 

Pull your back foot underneath your butt when water starting. That and keep your arms straight, and push down on the boom. No rounding up that way.
Post:  #16
Author :  Greg Cockerill   Date :  1/8/2010 4:19:27 PM 

John thanks lol I went to order a custom fin today and the shop owner told me exactly the same thing, technique mate not equipment was his call and he was right. Anyway tomorrow is teaching a girlfriend to sail day in the morning and then waterstarting all afternoon. parctice practice practice
Post:  #17
Author :  mat coburn   Date :  1/11/2010 8:40:34 AM 

Greg, Ive had the 10.5 shipped from WA to Victoria a couple of years ago..It truly a magnificient board to ride in waves. When we get winds on the Mornington Peninsula, its around 15 to 20 knots SW. In the wave zone, the wind is alot weaker and short board riders are left floundering in the break. The kona suits the local conditions here, but nobody sells the range of Konas here.On a recent trip to Gerroh NSW, the crew on the beach thought the kona was some kind of EVO, as it was so easy to turn and move about on the wall. Have you got the 30 cm fin?
Post:  #18
Author :  mat coburn   Date :  1/11/2010 8:49:34 AM 

Greg, where did you buy it from?
Post:  #19
Author :  James bradshaw   Date :  1/11/2010 9:43:19 AM 

He would have got it from Stuart bell I think
Post:  #20
Author :  Greg Cockerill   Date :  1/24/2010 2:02:48 PM 

I got it from John over in the west, God did I happen to mention what a great board it is. Also thanks to the guys in the West for getting it here so quickly so I could enjoy the summer in Canberra (winter is bloody cold).

Greg

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