Need advice on shopping for a board

[jingebritsen]

With several hundreds of miles of experience behind any sailor, the sequential approach to getting into the straps and harness may vary based upon lots of variables. The problem is beginners in short boarding or getting into the waves both have problems with hooking before strapping.

Beginnners in both venues get pulled over the front. Why? Gusts spank the newbies that don realise the importnce of MFP. Newbie wavers get stalled by incoming white waters, then slammed. By asking folks to try doing the straps first, they may use that technique throughout their WS experience when conditions get less than ideal or very challenging. Capice?

Seen accomplished flat water guys get spanked hard when all they ever knew was harness first and got into surf. Same ones get more catapults in gusty stormy stuff. Simple really.

[acctx]

[windsurfer_nut]

[swchandler]

Totally unreal, looking at isobars lengthly post, the attention required just looking and shifting though his post is at best an onerous test of one's spirit.

Realistically speaking, it's really not that difficult. Still though, I have to admit that I believe that's it about figuring things out for one's self. It's about feeling it, and making things happen.

I think most of us understand that time on the water is the secret.

Is isobars going to practically map your plan and strategies for success in the future?

[jp5]

For your weight 125L is a big board and as such would work well in light winds. Use a bigger fin with the 7.5 and a smaller one with the 5.5 and you have a good all-round board. If the price is right, buy it.

If you get pitched alot then get one of those deviator things.

[mrgybe]

[wooot]

Mast Foot Pressure... trying to direct the sails force through the mast foot to drive the board forward.

Actually force fom you too. mostly through hanging (forward and downward) off the harness lines... to help keep the board flat when getting planing, and also extemely important when overpowered to help keep the nose down and prevent the dreaded wheelie.

Although... if you get a little to far foward.... well I dont even like to think about, let alone experience the Ol' fully powered, hooked in, harness line slam.

[mrgybe]

[jingebritsen]

I've seen various stages of beginners that get stuck under a glass ceiling over the years because of hooking in before getting in the straps in heavier conditions. As soon as I tell them to get in the front strap first, they resume advancing thru their skill sets. Yes, one can often first learn to hook in when winds are mellow without planing. But that sets the stage for lots to get slammed on heavier dayz.

Count how many boards over the years you've seen with smashed noses. Lots of those could have been prevented, had people used front foot first technique. Shoot, an accomplished friend of mine was complaining about near slams and a couple of real ones in some heavy gorge conditions of late. I asked him whether he was going back to surf sailing basics of hooking in last during the heaviest parts of those days. He said no.

mrgybe, you can doubt it, or you can validate it. Next time conditions are strong and rangy, try hooking in after your front foot is in. Then go across the street and do the same in the ocean. On lighter/steadier days, all bets can be off. I choose to stick to hooking after my front foot is in to keep my early planing and control optimal.

[mrgybe]