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THE WATER START...WHEN YOU FALL IN, SWIM TO THE WINDWARD SIDE OF THE BOARD. IF THE SAIL IS ON THAT SIDE YOU NEED TO TUCK THE BOARD UNDER IT SO IT’S DOWN WIND OF THE BOARD AND YOU. THEN YOU'RE IN POSITION. FLOAT THE SAIL TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE BOARD, IT HELPS IF YOU LOWER YOUR BOOM SO IT RESTS NICELY ON THE BACK OF THE BOARD, WHICH WILL HELP TO FLY THE SAIL OR UNSTICK IT FROM THE WATER. REMEMBER NOT TO LET THE BOARD TURN UP OR DOWN WIND. THE WIND NEEDS TO BE ON YOUR BACK AND THE BOARD AND SAIL 90% TO IT. THE SAIL SHOULD AS YOU SWIM THE NOSE OF THE BOARD DOWN WIND, START TO FLY. WITH YOUR FRONT ARM JUST AROUND THE BOOM AREA THROW THE SAIL ACROSS YOUR BODY AND OVER YOUR HEAD LIKE YOU WOULD THROW A JAVELIN. WITH THE BOARD STILL FLOATING DOWN WIND AND THE SAIL NOW FLYING GRAB THE BOOM WITH BOTH HAND AS YOU WOULD IF YOU WERE SAILING. THE MORE THE BOARD TURNS DOWN WIND THE MORE POWER WILL LOAD THE SAIL. PUT YOUR BACK FOOT/HEAL ON THE BOARD AND BEND YOUR KNEE TO BRING THE BOARD UNDER YOU AND SHEET IN. AT THE SAME TIME ROLL FORWARD TO PUT YOUR WEIGHT ON THE BOARD.. SORTED... TOP TIP (1)MAKE YOUR SELF SMALL WHEN STEPPING IN THE BOARD BEND THE KNEES UNTILL THE BOARD IS UNDRENITH YOU ENOUGH TO STAND ON (2) LET THE BOARD POINT DOWN WIND SO YOU SORT OF STEP ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE BOARD THIS WILL HELP..
LINES AND HARNESS… JUST A QUICK TIP FOR THOSE JUST GETTING TO GRIPS WITH THE LINES AND THE HARNESS… USE LONG LINES 26" UP. FAVOR THE FRONT HAND. USE A HIGH HOOK. TRY ALL THIS WITH YOUR TECHNIQUE AND IT WILL HELP. ALSO, ANOTHER TIP IS TO LOWER YOUR BOOM, AND JUST TRY WITH YOUR FRONT FOOT IN THE STRAPS... REMEMBER IF YOU PLANE WITH OUT THE HARNESS, HAVE A QUICK LOOK TO WHERE YOUR HANDS ARE ON THE BOOM.THEN PUT YOUR LINES IN THE MIDDLE OF THEM. A GOOD GUIDE IS, IF YOUR SPINING OUT WHEN YOUR HOOKED IN, YOUR LINES ARE TO FAR FORWARD. IF YOU’RE GETTING THROWN OVER THE FRONT, THEY ARE TOO FAR BACK... REMEMBER THE WIND STRENGTH, ALTERS C/E. (CENTRE OF EFFORT) JUST KEEP TRYING GOOD LUCK.
CARVE GYBE...WHEN GOING INTO THE CARVE GYBE, TREAD LIGHTLY AND GET YOUR DEAD WEIGHT OFF THE BACK OF THE BOARD, (THE SOONER THE BETTER). GO IN WITH AS MUCH SPEED AS YOU CAN SQUEEZE OUT OF THAT LITTLE BABY. GO DEEP IN THE KNEES AND PUSH DOWN ON THE BOOM TO HOLD THE NOSE THROUGH THE TURN, TRUST ME IT WORKS. ONE BETTER TIP IS TO TRY TO REPLACE THE BACK FOOT WITH THE FRONT FOOT WHEN CHANGING FEET, SO AS NOT TO UPSET THE BOARD IN THE TURN. IF THE BOARD TIPS FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN IT’S TURNING YOU’RE SLAMMING ON THE A, B, S. (SLOWING DOWN).
TO TURN THE BOARD UP WIND… THE UP WIND TURN IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST TUNING MOVES YOU WILL LEARN. AND CAN SOMETIMES BE A LITTLE TRICKY WHEN THE SEA IS BUFFETING THE BOARD, YOU’RE GETTING PUSHED OFF THE BOARD WITH THE SAIL, AND GETTING WORN OUT WITH KEEP UP-HAULING AND CLIMBING BACKON. NON PLANING…START THE TURN BY LAYING THE SAIL DOWN TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE BOARD, AND PULL THE BOOM TOWARDS YOUR BACK LEG. AT THE SAME TIME, LEAN YOUR SELF FORWARD AND PUSH WITH YOUR BACK FOOT AGAINST THE FIN. NOW THE TRICK IS TO TURN THE BOARD AS FAR INTO WIND AS YOU CAN. IT’S HARD TO KEEP THAT POSITION WITH THE BOARD TURNING BUT YOU NEED TO T URN THE BOARD ALMOST THREE QUARTERS OF A TURN. THIS WILL PUT YOU IN A BETTER POSITION TO PUT YOUR FRONT FOOT AROUND THE MAST BASE. THEN YOU’RE READY TO STEP OR JUMP ROUND. TWO STEPS IS ALL IT SHOULD TAKE. REMEMBER YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO STAND ON THE NOSE OF THE BOARD FOR A LONG TIME AS YOU WEIGHT ALONG WITH THE SAILS, WILL BOG IT DOWN. REPLACE YOUR FRONT FOOT WITH YOUR BACK FOOT, SHEET IN AND LEAN THE SAIL FORWARD TO DRIVE THE BOARD OFF THE WIND FOR THE REST OF THE TURN, AND SAIL AWAY. TIPS: TRY TO KEEP YOUR WEIGHT OVER THE CENTRE OF THE BOARD WHEN STEPPING, AND TRY TO KEEP THE BOARD MOVING WITH THE FORWARD MOMENTUM. THE BOARD WILL STAY ABOVE THE WATER. TRY TO KEEP THE MAST CLOSE TO YOU.
EARLY PLANING… WHERE DO I START:.. THE KEY TO PLANING AND STARTING TO PLANE IS TO KEEP YOUR WEIGHT OVER THE CENTRE LINE OF THE BOARD AND LOW BEND YOUR KNEES AND PUMP... POINT WITH YOUR FRONT FOOT, AND BEAR AWAY SO YOU’RE ALMOST HEADING DOWN WIND. DON’T HOLD IT FOR LONG; JUST LONG ENOUGH TO GET YOUR SPEED UP. REMEMBER; THE BOARD WILL BECOME TWITCHY WHEN IT’S PLANING, SO TRY NOT TO UPSET IT. IF IT ROCKS FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE YOU’RE TRYING TO GET GOING, YOU’RE PUTTING THE A.B.S. ON (ITS SLOWING YOU DOWN). YOU NEED TO GET YOUR SPEED UP ON THE RUN WHEN THE BOARD RELEASES AND JUMPS UP ON THE PLANE, THEN YOU CAN BRING IT BACK UP WIND AND PUSH WITH YOUR BACK FOOT AGAINST THE FIN. (GOOD TIP: GET A BIGGER FIN). YOUR LEGS WILL THEN BE YOUR SHOCK ABSORBERS AND THEY NEED TO BE SLIGHTLY BENT. "IN REALLY BIG CHOP, I HAVE SMACKED MY CHIN WITH MY KNEES". (TIP: KEEP YOUR TONGUE IN!!). WITH SAY 5.5 METRE SAIL, YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME PRETTY GOOD CLEAN WIND.. SAY A FORCE 4-5 OR BETWEEN 15- 20 MPH. IF THE WIND IS LESS THAN THAT, IT WILL BE A STRUGGLE WHEN YOU’RE PUMPING TO GET IT GOING. PUSH DOWN ON THE BOOM AND TRY TO DRIVE THE POWER THROUGH THE MAST. I ALWAYS PUT MY FRONT FOOT NEAR THE MAST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOARD. YOU DO NEED POWER IN THE SAIL SO AS NOT TO MAKE IT TOO MUCH OF A STRUGGLE. WIND IS THE IMPORTANT FACTOR, THE RIGHT WIND IS BETTER. THINK ABOUT THIS: MY SAILS: 3.7, 4.1, 4.7, 5.3, 6.2, 7.2, 8.5, 9.8 AND 10.7. JUST AN EXAMPLE.. IT’S HARD WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE A SELECTED QUIVER OF SAILS. I’VE BEEN SAILING FOR 14 YEARS, AND I LIKE TO TURN UP AT THE BEACH AND HAVE THE RIGHT SAIL FOR THE WIND. WHAT I’M TRYING TO SAY IS TO PLANE WELL YOU NEED TO HAVE THE RIGHT SAIL, THE RIGHT WIND AND GO FOR IT. DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP, IF YOU CANT GET PLANING IT'S USUALLY BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH WIND. ITS HARD FOR ME TO EXPLAIN THIS BUT I WILL ENDEAVOUR TO RUN THROUGH IT WITH YOU IF YOU E-MAIL ME, TO MAKE THINGS CLEARER, I HOPE.. HOPE THIS HELPS... JUST A BIT...!?
FALLING… FALLING IS A PART OF WINDSURFING. AS YOU PROGRESS, WE GO THROUGH STAGES. STAGE ONE IS FALLING AND LAUGHING. STAGE TWO IS FALLING AND GETTING WEE WEEED OFF. STAGE THREE IS FALLING INTO YOUR EQUIPMENT AND DAMAGING BOTH YOURSELF AND MORE IMPORTANTLY YOUR KIT. USUALLY, WHEN YOU START PLANING AND GOING FASTER THINGS HAPPEN A LOT FASTER, AND WE GET TAKEN BY SURPRISE AND IT’S USUALLY A TRIP OR WE LEAN FORWARD TOO MUCH. YOU MUST LEARN TO FEEL IT BEFORE IT HAPPENS. IN A SPLIT SECOND, TRY TO GET CLEAR FROM YOUR EQUIPMENT. HITTING YOUR HEAD ON WATER IS NOTHING LIKE HITTING YOUR HEAD ON YOUR MAST. I KNOW, IVE DONE IT. IF YOU’RE IN THE HARNESS, AND YOU FEEL YOUR BACK FOOT START TO LIFT; IN A SPLIT SECOND... PULL THE SAIL CLOSE TO YOUR BODY TO UNHOOK IMMEDIATLEY. INSTEAD OF BEING TRAPPED AND SPUN ROUND IN YOUR HARNESS UNDERNEATH YOUR SAIL (POSSIBLY WINDED).. YOU'LL BE THROWN CLEAR FROM THE IMPACT ZONE. JUST A SHORT SWIM BACK AND AWAY YOU GO AGAIN. SAILS TO REPAIR ARE NOT TOO BAD, MASTS ARE A LOT WORSE. BUT TIME OFF THE WATER IS THE KILLER. TRY TO TUCK YOUR ARMS AND LEGS IN IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU’RE GOING TO BE FLUNG ONTO THE SAIL. THIS IS A STAGE THAT YOU WILL ALL COME TO; JUST KEEP THESE POINT IN MIND WHEN YOU’RE FALLING. THE INVESTMENT OF A CRASH HELMET IS A MUST. NEW GUYS STARTING TO GET FASTER AND BUILDING UP SPEED… THERE WILL BE SOME CONTROL PROBLEMS. AND IF THE BOARD STARTS TO WOBBLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE (WE CALL IT TAIL WALKING), BASICALLY, YOUR OVER POWERED AND OUT OF CONTROL. DONT TRY TO HOLD IT, GET THE HELL OUT AND THROW IT CLEAR. (UNTIL YOU MASTER THE ART OF FALLING WITH STYLE)!! WITHOUT GETTING HURT THAT IS! :)
SO PLEASE THINK OF GETTING YOURSELVES HELMETS. THEN REALLY GO FOR IT!!!! I HAVE ONE FOR MY 4.1 SAILS AND DOWN, (AND FOR BIG DAYS).
FOR PEACE OF MIND AS WELL AS SAFETY.
SPIN OUT AND POSSIBLY CURE IN MY OPINION... THE REASONS A SPIN OUT OCCURS:
FIRSTLY... THE BOARD WILL BOUNCE AND WILL LAND ON STRAIGHTENED LEGS AND THE SHOCK CARRIES THROUGH TO THE FIN.
SECONDLY.. THE HARNESS LINES ARE TOO FAR FORWARD. (ONE ARM ACHING AND NOT THE OTHER).
AS YOU GET FASTER IN BOTH STRAPS, THE BOARD BECOMES VERY TWITCHY, AND JUST HANGING ON IS A MEAN FEAT IN ITSELF. ONE VERY IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS TO READ THE WAY AHEAD. ITS LIKE DRIVING FAST DOWN A BUMPY ROAD.. YOU TRY TO FIND THE SMOOTHEST WAY. ALSO, YOU NEED TO LET YOUR LEGS ACT LIKE SHOCK ABSORBERS. IF IT’S GOING BIG AND YOU’RE GOING LIKE THE CLAPPERS, TRY TO RIDE UP THE SWELL AND MAKE YOUR LEGS SOFT ESPECIALLY THE BACK ONE.
SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT NEED TO AVOID A WAVE. WHAT I DO IS I BEND BOTH MY KNEES IN STRAPS TO BEAR THE BOARD AWAY FROM THE NASTY STUFF. IF YOU SEE A PIECE OF CHOP GET READY TO BEND BOTH KNESS TO ABSORB IT, WHEN IT RUNS SMOOTH STRAIGHTEN YOUR BACK LEG AGAIN. IT IS NOW THAT YOU FIND OUT HOW OUT OF SHAPE YOUR LEGS ARE. ON A LONG SPEED RUN MY LEGS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE BURNING AND I FEEL LIKE IM JUST GOING TO COLLAPSE. THE BETTER THE LEGS WORK THE FASTER YOU WILL GO, THERE ARE NO LIMITS... WHEN SAILING UPWIND IN CHOP KEEP YOUR BACK LEG PUSHING AGAINST THE FIN BUT ALWAYS SLIGHTLY BENT, AND DRIVE THE BOARD BY LEANING FORWARD IN YOUR HARNESS. THAT’S THE KILLER. THE BIGGEST KILLER ON THE LEGS IS FLAT OUT DOWN WIND AND BROAD REACHING WITH THE WHOLE OF YOUR BODY WEIGHT ON YOUR SLIGHTLY BENT BACK LEG. TRY TO HOLD THAT.
CATAPULT… WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN WAYS OF DOING THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO IN OUR SPORT, THAT FEEL RIGHT FOR US AT THE TIME. I.E.: FALLING, WATER STARTS AND THE LIKE. BUT THE SET BACKS ARE ALL THE SAME, "THIS HAPPENED THAT HAPPENED"... AND THE LITTLE RING THAT I CALL MY "PUCKER VALVE" (YOU MIGHT KNOW IT AS YOUR "BOTTOM HOLE") TENDS TO GO A LITTLE TIGHT WHEN IT ALL SEEMS TO GO WRONG. BUT IN TRUTH ITS NOT AS BAD AS YOUR MIND THINKS IT IS GOING TO BE (RIGHT)?
TAKE THE CATAPULT... SCARY HUH~?? WELL MAYBE NOT. THE THING IS WHEN YOU FEEL THE RAIL TRIP IN A SECOND, JUST PULL A LITTLE ON THE BOOM, (YOUR GOING ANYWAY SO WHAT THE HELL), AND IT UNHOOKS YOU FROM YOUR SAIL AND GERONIMO.. YOUR FLYING THROUGH THE AIR WITHOUT YOUR KIT, ON YOUR OWN, SO YOUR NOT TRAPPED UNDER YOUR SAIL GASPING FOR AIR TRYING TO UNHOOK AND POOHING YOUR WET SUIT. IF YOU’RE LIKE ME AND YOU WORRY MORE ABOUT YOUR KIT, BECAUSE OF ITS PURE COST..... WELL IT’S JUST A SHORT SWIM BACK TO IT AND AWAY YOU GO AGAIN. TRUST ME; YOU KNOW WHEN IT’S COMING.... :)
RACE THE STARTS ...Here are some useful tips about racing, it can be very daunting looking out at the marker bouy's and not having a clue where you start. What mark is one and further more where the hell the finish is placed, and there can be so many other sailors going in all directions, its hard to see who's winning or are they just warming up? I wll try to run through some basics. The UKWA have a very well run and detailed briefings that they hold proir to racing. (wind permitting of course). They are very important, dont miss them... At the briefing they will show how they are going to set the course out and they will run through your starts and the finish. At that point you look out to sea at the marks and it looks even more daunting. (I will run through these in further detail at the beach when we run them)... So; your heading out to the commity boat, sometimes it can be quite a task just getting to the start line (fitness) they can be (at times) at least 3 miles off the beach up or down wind from where you sail out from... So; you have made it to the start line and there are twenty or so sailors all buzzing around you like flies. (As you look at all the marks, you can make more sense of all that was explained in the briefing). They have a flag and horn start system that helps to let you know the count down for the go... there will be the horn and a red flag up, which means you have 3 mins till the start.. If your looking to get the best start you need to be right by the boat just before they count down for putting the red flag up. At the point of 2 mins till the start, i start to sail away from the start, then around 45 secounds or so later (depending how windy it is) gybe (you really dont want to drop that gybe because your so far away from the boat) and slowly start to sail back towards the boat/start line. The horn will sound again and the red flag will go down, the yellow flag will go up. At the point of 1 min till the start, the yellow flag will go down. At 30 seconds left to go, i forget the watch and i go hell for leather towards the boat with as much speed as i can.. The horn sounds again, and a green flag goes up and your off.. The better the start the better the result (providing you dont fall..) |