Steps to position board and sail while in the water

LakeSurf · Joined: 01 Jul 2015 Posts: 81

Say I wipe out and I need to get my board in the other direction and/or my sail facing downwind so I can uphaul. What are the proper steps (or easiest way) to do so?

coachg · Joined: 10 Sep 2000 Posts: 3550

I assume you mean uphauling?

As you start to uphaul the rig drag it toward the back of your board. Don't pick the sail all the way up, especially if it is windy. Keep facing the rig by moving your feet as the board turns into the wind and keep your feet fairly close together. When the rig reaches the back of the board raise it slightly more & drag it across the tail. Once your rig is across the tail you will be dragging it towards the front. As the nose of your board starts to point to your new heading start to widen your feet & pull the rig higher out of the water as you finish your uphaul.

Coachg

U2U2U2 · Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 1:21 pm Post subject:

Rent a video

LakeSurf · Joined: 01 Jul 2015 Posts: 81

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

Where do you windsurf?
Perhaps someone reading your posts would wander over and give you a few tips.
Or, perhaps, someone reading your posts have sailed there before, and give you further tips.

LakeSurf · Joined: 01 Jul 2015 Posts: 81

ctuna · Joined: 27 Jun 1995 Posts: 1126 Location: Santa Cruz Ca

Better start working on your waterstarting
because when it gets really windy uphauling gets next
to impossible and is a very inefficient way to get up.
Especially in the chop and chaos associated with high winds.

But if you are in low winds and you don't want re position the
sail while you are in the water . If the sail is say upwind and
you want to get it downwind raise it out of the water a little
with your uphaul and let the wind spin the board around till the
sail is downwind in the classic uphaul position.

Also the shorter the board the more the nose will have the tendency
to turn up into wind when you are pulling the sail up.

Awalkspoiled · Joined: 21 Sep 2013 Posts: 44

In strong winds you always want to be pulling the mast toward the wind. That way, the wind can get under the sail and help you lift it. If you are in position to do so (any position except mast directly to windward of the board. If you’re in that position, see below), SWEEP the mast toward the wind pretty forcefully, keeping it pretty low. You’re not trying to uphaul at this point, just trying to get the leading edge of the sail about a foot or two above the water. As soon as the mast is two feet above the water, use the uphaul to LOWER IT BACK DOWN a foot or so. If you do this smoothly the wind will pop the whole boom up so that the sail is hovering almost horizontal a couple of feet above the water. Now lift it up smoothly just enough so that the clew is clear of the water and wait, facing square to the mast and holding the uphaul about halfway up - the wind will turn you to a squared-up position with the board at 90° to the wind and the sail weathervaning. Now uphaul quickly the rest of the way, slide the mast toward the bow with your front hand as you sheet in with your back hand and bear away to build up speed. All of this is done smoothly but decisively - no sudden jerks.

If you’re in the really awkward position mentioned above with mast dead upwind and in (or under) the water, it may be wisest to hop off and swim the board around until it’s pointing into or away from the wind and the mast is at 90° with the clew pointing downwind. Then use the technique I’ve outlined above.

U2U2U2 · Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 9:26 am Post subject:

If videos are confusing, so then the written word, this to me,, maybe my learning is different , as everyone curve is different.

I would suggest a way to drive the 400 mi from home to Hatteras, for a few days.

Understood family obligations... A priority

Cheers

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935