Susan and I got a chance to take out our brand new 2009 Starboard Gemini Sunday evening at the "Shack" in Alameda. We had been hopeful of potentially getting the board up on a plane together, but by the time we got our sails ready and the board down to the water, the wind had backed off. We were looking forward to a tandem ride just the same, and the weather was gorgeous. The sun was setting over San Francisco, and the water was warm and mellow. A small crowd had gathered just to observe the launching of this veritable ginormous boat.
The Shack is an ideal place to keep this tandem Starboard windsurf board. It is quite heavy, and quite large. If you live on the water then it works great. I am not sure how anyone would get it on top of a car, although Jonathan managed to transport it to Alameda on the top of our Jetta. It takes 2 people to move it around, and carrying it around is not a frivolous task. The board has 370 liters of volume, is 12 feet long (367 cm), and weighs about 50 lbs. The fin comes up to my mid section (a.k.a. rear end) and is over 2 1/2 feet long (70cm) , so we turned the board on its' side in order to bring it down to water's edge.
We used mechanical universal joints so we didn't have to turn the board on it's side to put the sails on. They proved to be quite useful later when taking the sails off in the water.
We executed our double launch procedure with relative ease. I managed not to chop Susan in half despite her precarious position in between the two sails. 
We had to schlepp the rig out a bit due to the low tide and absolutely ginormous fin. Once we got out far enough to clear the fin, we climbed onto the board and both started to uphaul. The board was EXTREMELY stable and even if we were hoola dancing on the deck, we would not have fallen in. I guess that is what you get when you have 370 liters of volume!!! 
We got into a rythym quickly and easily. I ended up giving Susan a stance and fast tack lesson, and it was an ideal platform for teaching. I could stand right next to her (sail right next to her I mean), watch her sailing technique, and give her feedback and watch her make small adjustments. This is incredible teaching tool and I can't wait to schedule some lessons on the Gemini.
Susan and I chatted the whole time, and it was really nice experiencing windsurfing with a companion. We swapped positions while on the board (easy due to how stable it is) by setting our sails in the water and crawling alongside eachother to swicth between the front and back positions. Theoretically the more experienced rider goes in back, but we had fun trying it on the front and back. Tacking is a bit of a challenge as the front sailor needs to really duck when the back person flips their sail to the other side of the board. Susan pulled that off with ease and I don't have a single bruise from the experience (nor does she, thank God!). We wished we had brought along some wine and cheese so we could stop for a picnic while sailing. That will have to wait til next time.
The sunset proved to be an ideal setting for our first Gemini ride. I can't wait to get back on! Come rent it anytime for the ultimate social windsurfing experience, or schedule a lesson and have your instructor right next to you while you learn to plane and go really fast! By the way, the speed record on the Gemini is 29 knots (33 mph)! And if you think 2 people can have 2x as much fun, check out this Mistral clip from Europe where 9 people get on a tandem board and pull a waterskiier behind them!
Here is what Starboard has to say about the Gemini on their website:
A wide-style tandem board changes everything about the windsurfing experience.
For advanced windsurfers: the Gemini reveals more performance and brings more fun than you can imagine. Guaranteed to make you laugh and enjoy the most unique ride of your life, the Gemini also unlocks amazing speed and power that will see you overtake the solo windsurfers on the water. For the most social windsurfers out there, the Gemini is the ultimate date.
For beginners: feel the rush of planing and experience the basics of high-performance windsurfing from the first minute onboard. Simply get in the front with a smaller sail, and partner yourself with an experienced sailor in the back.
For schools and centers: the Gemini is a wide, stable shape that offers a platform for both the coach and the learner to sail together. The beginner can also learn solo sailing with the coach sitting on the board. As a tool, it's a must and a fantastic way to start windsurfing.
Summary:
The World's only widestyle tandem board
For advanced windsurfers and for social windsurfers
For schools, centers and beginners
The current Gemini World Speed Record: 29.2 knots
Bye for now,
Jane
We got into a rythym quickly and easily. I ended up giving Susan a stance and fast tack lesson, and it was an ideal platform for teaching. I could stand right next to her (sail right next to her I mean), watch her sailing technique, and give her feedback and watch her make small adjustments. This is incredible teaching tool and I can't wait to schedule some lessons on the Gemini.
Susan and I chatted the whole time, and it was really nice experiencing windsurfing with a companion. We swapped positions while on the board (easy due to how stable it is) by setting our sails in the water and crawling alongside eachother to swicth between the front and back positions. Theoretically the more experienced rider goes in back, but we had fun trying it on the front and back. Tacking is a bit of a challenge as the front sailor needs to really duck when the back person flips their sail to the other side of the board. Susan pulled that off with ease and I don't have a single bruise from the experience (nor does she, thank God!). We wished we had brought along some wine and cheese so we could stop for a picnic while sailing. That will have to wait til next time.
The sunset proved to be an ideal setting for our first Gemini ride. I can't wait to get back on! Come rent it anytime for the ultimate social windsurfing experience, or schedule a lesson and have your instructor right next to you while you learn to plane and go really fast! By the way, the speed record on the Gemini is 29 knots (33 mph)! And if you think 2 people can have 2x as much fun, check out this Mistral clip from Europe where 9 people get on a tandem board and pull a waterskiier behind them!