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Upwind tips needed
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waterflyer



Joined: 15 Aug 2012
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:14 am    Post subject: Upwind tips needed Reply with quote

Hello there!
I am new to windsurfing and i recently learned how to upwind, but i still need some tips.
You can check how i ride here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35rl-L0CcuQ&feature=channel&list=UL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp6eAzd5Uhc&feature=BFa&list=UL35rl-L0CcuQ
You can message me on YouTube or here on topic. Thanks.

-WaterFlyer[/url]
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dllee



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 5328
Location: East Bay

PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 12:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Use your centerboard.
Stand with both your feet near the centerline of the board.
Keep the sail sheeted out about 30 degrees.
Your front foot, when you're up and sailing, should have your toes pushed against the mast track.
Bend you knees, but STAND UP. You are bent over like an ape.
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beaglebuddy



Joined: 10 Feb 2012
Posts: 1120

PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lean the mast and rig to windward not leeward, lean in towards the direction the wind is coming from, pull it in more towards you and lean back.
Nice wetsuit.
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Sailboarder



Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 656

PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 4:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good idea to request feedback from video.

At the start of the first one, you were going too much upwind and not making much progress. It can help you to start across the wind to gain speed. You can then turn upwind and see how it goes. When you aim too high, the speed will drop too much and you then start to move more sideways than forward. You then know you went too far. Some speed is required to achieve flow on the fin, allowing it to give good lateral resistance.

If you don't have a daggerboard, you can also add lateral resistance by pressing on the windward side of the board. On small boards, you can get the rail in the water. I don't know how well it can be done with a large board like yours, I never tried.

Just to let you know (it will not work with your board), raceboards with a daggeboard will also be angled in the water to perform well upwind. In that case, the opposite angle is achieved, with the leeward rail down. The daggerboard help with tilting the board. The long rail will grip well the water, and the daggerboard also lifts the board somewhat, reducing the overall drag.
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DelCarpenter



Joined: 06 Nov 2008
Posts: 499
Location: Cedar Falls, IA

PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

1. Both feet should either be on the center line that goes from bow to stern or on the windward side of the center line. The only exception is when turning or going straight down wind. Your Starboard Start has a wide light blue center section running the entire length of the board. In each video in some sections one foot is wholly across the center section on the leeward side of the board.

2. You seem to skip the "ready position" and get overpowered from sheeting in too soon. Before starting to pull the sail out of the water, straddle the mast with both feet pointed to leeward. After you pull the sail out of the water pull it fully up in the air close to your body with your back hand at the top of the uphaul next to the boom BEFORE you even touch the boom with either hand. Then with your front hand about to cross over the back hand to reach the boom....at that moment the suggestion in "Ten Steps Guide To Windsurfing" is to read "War and Peace"! After the board is perpendicular to the wind again and you are really ready grasp the boom with your front hand very close to the mast, then move the mast forward until it is in line with your front shoulder and then put your back hand on the boom. Don't sheet in with the back hand until you are really ready and sheet in gently.

3. Going upwind on a Starboard Start is much easier if the mast base foot is as far forward in the track as possible. Both feet need to be on the center line or to windward of the center line and lean the mast somewhat toward the stern.

4. In the videos your feet are often too far apart. Bring them more together, no more than shoulder width apart. When the wind is too strong let the back hand slide forward allowing the sail to sheet out to leeward away from you.

I have more comments but not enough time this evening, except to say, you are actually doing well. I am just pointing out some technique issues.
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coachg



Joined: 10 Sep 2000
Posts: 3549

PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 3:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

beaglebuddy wrote:
Lean the mast and rig to windward not leeward
Right on.

There is so much wrong going on but this is your biggest problem. As you uphaul you reach out and grab the boom before the sail is leaning into the wind in what we call the “Balance” position. Your mast is leaning leeward as you grab the boom and immediately sheet in which move the center of effort to the back of the board and sends the nose into the wind. You never get your mast to the leeward balanced position much less even vertical and end up crabbing sideways. The mast needs to be leaning windward & you should be looking through the sail to the front of the board.

Coachg
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waterflyer



Joined: 15 Aug 2012
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Il try to do as you guys say.. But is it better to learn on sea/ocean or on river/lake ? I am kinda scared about the waves in sea/ocean!
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coachg



Joined: 10 Sep 2000
Posts: 3549

PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 10:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lake with flat water so you can spend time learning how to use the sail to steer without having to deal with your balance as much.

Coachg
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bred2shred



Joined: 02 May 2000
Posts: 989
Location: Jersey Shore

PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It was hard to tell for sure from the video, but it looks like your boom is too low. It should be raised to about shoulder height. This will allow you to sail with your legs straight rather than hunched over which will allow you to keep the rig more upright.

Also, use the centerboard/center fin if that board has them. If you don't have a centerboard, you're going to have a real hard time staying upwind.

sm
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whitevan01



Joined: 29 Jun 2007
Posts: 607

PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 12:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

boom higher, as someone else said.
it looks like you are trying to muscle the sail, don't, just relax.

again, to echo other comments, bring mast up to vertical, and lean your body back so that sail holds body up, not the other way around. arms straight, bend knees, back straight, head up in basic sports position.

remember, this is a relaxing sport in light winds, just stand up and have fun.
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