Getting up on Low Vol. Boards

[carl]

Mike,
When youre still in the water and feet are in the straps (or rear strap) is the board up on its windward rail? (There is no way I can do this if the board is flat on the water, maybe I got wierdo feet).

[PatrickDietz00]

When was the last time you needed a 4.0 on LIS?? christ, that happens once a year and when it does the water temp is 37 degrees and the air is 5 degrees.

[PSS74]

Pat, you are right, High winds are a rarity on the sound. Im usually yearning for Formula gear and a 10m sail. My biggest is an 8.5. When I started I couldnt understand how a 175lb person could plane with a 4.0. However last fall
we had quite a few 25+ days, I even went out on my 151ltr and my 5.4 in 35 gusts....I was worked and the board felt like a laser sailboat. But for those rare days (read NorEasters and storms) I want a much smaller board. Off to Cabarete tomorrow. Ill post my findings next week. Thanks everyone for all the advice.

[isobars]

Im wearing a 25-pound flotation PFD plus an inflated Goretex bag dry suit, standing on my head, facing away from my board, with my knees and back forming a half-circle so my feet cme right down onto the deck.



ACKSUALLY, the board is rolled a bit, the tail is down a bit, and my knee is WAY bent to get that foot at least partly in its strap. If that combo doesnt quite cut it, I roll my strapped foot forward as required for comfort. The strapped foot doesnt need to be firmly in the strap, merely engaged enough to control the board.

On the very rare occasions I start with both feet in their straps, theres so much freaking wind it doesnt matter that the board may be way up on its rail and the tail is way down, cause the instant I expose any sail to the wind Im planing or catapulting. Then once really accustomed to waterstarting boards this size, I may just leave both feet in their straps during a crash or while relaxing in the water during a brief lull, then pop back upright when the wind resumes seconds later. Once you get used to it, it really is just literally a pop to go from neck-deep to standing upright, so having that back foot in its strap is a very useful control element.

Mike \m/