Rental Information

Whitecap Windsurfing, Inc.

Chuck Hardin <> 706-860-0639 <> cell:706-373-6518 <> fax: 706-860-1011

5090 Fairington Dr. Evans, Ga 30809 (near Augusta)

Although renting is not a primary business, Whitecap does have a limited amount of windsurfing equipment available to rent.

Most boards are beginner-type from my teaching fleet and are available to rent only when not in use for a class, although I do have one or two high-performance, low volume boards, also. Complete sail rigs, which can be rented with or without a board, range from trainer types in the 3.5 to 4.0 sizes to higher performance types up to the 6.5 range. I do not have sails >7.0. Rigs include an epoxy mast and aluminum boom. Carbon masts may be available at additional rental cost.

Renters must meet the following basic criteria:

1.) You must have taken a formal beginner's lesson from Whitecap Windsurfing or I must be personally aware that you have previous windsurfing experience.

2.) When renting the more fragile, composite-type boards, you must leave a $150 cash or check damage deposit; high performance sails from the '00 and '01 years rented without board, a $75 deposit. (Deposit may be waived upon my discretion.)

3.) You must sign liability and damage coverage agreement and accept responsibility by signature for equipment failure from any cause while in active use during your rental period. Renter's financial responsibility for board and sail damage varies according to type rented. See "Types of Boards/Sail Rigs" below.

4.) You must acknowledge by signature agreement to abide by the Windsurfer's Safty Code included in the rental agreement.

5.) Renter picks up equipment at Whitecap location at 5090 Fairington Dr., Evans, Ga and returns it to same.

6) You must be at least 21 years old.

Types of beginner or "first" Boards

1.) HiFly "Primo" -- very big, very floaty, very stable training board with centerboard. Durable and difficult to damage. Somwhat heavy out of the water and cumbersome to cartop by oneself.

2.) F2 "Discovery 190" -- high volume, very wide and stable; with centerboard and comfortable rubber deck; comparitively lightweight; quick to plane and can be fast. Suitable for beginners to advanced intermediate looking for a light-air planning machine without giving up upwind ability in light air.

3.) Mistral "Prodigy" -- a unique,VERY high volume board. 255 liter, but still an early-planing race board for which Mistral has set up an entire race class. Wide and stable. Excellent choice for heavyweights.

Rates -- boards

HiFly "Primo" --- for single day w/ complete sail rig...$40. Each additional day of actual use...$25.

.........................--- for board only, single day...$30. Additional days...$15.

F2 "Discovery 190" --- for single day w/ complete sail rig....$70. Ea additional day actual use...$35.

.........................--- for board only, single day...$55. Additional days...$30

Mistral "Prodigy" --- for single day w/ complete sail rig....$75. Ea. additional day actual use...$35

..........................----for board only, single day...$60. Additional days....$35

Rates -- sail rigs (rented independently from board) w/ epoxy mast and aluminum boom ---

.......HiFly trainer rigs...$20/day; $10 ea additional day.

.......Higher performance sails, pre 1999 models....$20; $10 ea. additional day.

.......High performance sails, '00 and '01 models...$30/ day; $15 ea. additional day.

.Carbon masts (if available)....lightweight 55% carbon or above, with complete board/rig rental--$15 additional per day. With sail rig only rental --$20 additional per day

 

Guidelines for Handling Rental Equipment

Keep in mind that most damage to windsurfing gear occurs out of the water. Only people experienced and trained in the sport should handle this equipment -- in or out of the water. Boards and sails are surprisingly resilient in the water but quite fragile on land. Treat the board like a very large egg. I'm serious; set it down or adjust it's position on the ground with utmost care. Also, sails can easily be punctured by branches, fence posts, signs, etc.

1.) Never, ever let anyone inexperienced in the sport handle, cartop, or use this windsurfing gear. YOU are responsible for what may happen. Only the person whose name appears on the rental form is allowed to use the rented gear; violation of this rule may lead to the forfeit of your damage deposit and/or additional charges.

2.) Never, ever sail alone and always follow the Windsurfer's Safety Code. If you have a critical equipment failure while in active use, helpful assistance may be the only thing preventing complete loss of gear.

3.) Stay out of ocean surf. Tumbling or swamping this equipment in ocean beach waves -- even small ones -- is very damaging to sails and fins. No open ocean sailing unless you have been given specific permission to do so.

4.) Never rig or de-rig sails on pavement or sand. Grass is best; pinestraw is OK, but remove sticks and pinecones from the area so as not to score the sail.

5.) Never drag or scrape the board on the ground. This includes the beach. If there are signs of the board having been dragged, damage charges may be retained by Whitecap from your deposit. If you get in position where you have to transpport the gear a long distance, separate the board from the sail and carry them independently, i.e, make two trips.

6.) Remove board carefully, especially in high winds, from vehicle. More boards are damaged while being unloaded from vehicles than any other way.

7.) Do not leave equipment in direct sunlight for more than an hour at a time when it is not in use.. UV radiation is windsurfing equipment's silent enemy. For boards, this rule may be impossible to follow while traveling, but do not leave board on top of parked car to bake in the sun. Sails can safely remained rigged for even days at a time, but you should never leave rigged sails exposed to direct sunlight any longer than possible.

8.) Do not leave board to bake inside a closed car parked in the sun. The intense heat will build up internal pressure and cause the board's skin to bubble, warp and/or delaminate.

9.) Do not park gear on beach or shoreline exposed to high winds while unattended. NEVER allow a board or sail to vibrate or wobble on the sand while parked unused in the wind.

10.) Always sail with the protective pads (boom brah and mast base pad) provided with your rig.

11.) Take care of the fin. Do not allow fin to scrape bottom while sailing. Be aware of fin depth in shallow water and possible rocks and such just below the water's surface. Board (without rig attached) may be safely set on ground (out of the wind) resting on the point of the fin, but never put weight (children, dogs, other gear, etc.) on a board in this position.

12.) Never roll up sail with sand on it. When ready to de-rig, rinse the rigged sail completely in water to remove any sand and carry to grassy or pinestraw area.

13.) It is perfectly OK to roll up and bag a wet sail.

14.) Before de-rigging and putting up gear to return, rinse away all sand, clay, and mud from boom, inside of mast bottom, extension, and U-joint.

15.) When strapping board to car top, make sure strap clamps are not on the board's edge. If the clamp is not integrally padded, use a cloth to pad the clamp from the board.