How do I stop from heading up when not planning

[PowSlayer]

Whenever i'm not planning, my board always seems to want to head up, almost regardless of what i do with the sail. I feel like i'm really fighting the rig and board to bare away to get on a plane and my early planning is suffering as a result. It feels like there's a lot of drag and just doesn't seem balanced.

Even crazier is the problem seems to get worse as the session goes on.

I've had this occurring on multiple board/sail combos. I've tried adjusting downhaul, mast foot position, etc and nothing seems to help.

Any ideas out there? Help is much appreciated.

[gvogelsang]

IF you are not planing, you need to keep the sail sheeted in and a bit forward to avoid not heading up.

the fact that this happens more when you are tired indicates that you might not be keeping the sail sheeted in.

You probably also need to move your feet farther forward. Trying to get back into the straps too early can also cause the board to round up. Once the board starts to plane, then you can move your feet back at that moment.

[kmf]

When you are not on a plane, you need to steer the board using sail steering techniques. Remember the non-planing long board? Mast forward nose goes downwind, mast back nose goes upwind. More than likely you are pulling the mast behind the center of lateral resistance of the board trying to sheet in, thus the nose comes upwind.

KMF

[cgoudie1]

Greetings Mr. Mountains and Water, I see this is your 1st post.

I must ask a question before you get any more recommendations.
This is a short board, right? I mean a board without a dagger or center board.

-Craig

[PeconicPuffin]

As others have said: You need to get your rig forward and keep it sheeted in. It's not your gear. You also may need to stand closer to the mast. In days of old a cardinal rule was to never have your front foot in front of the mast, but you may find on modern gear that your front foot needs to be right up against it, maybe event against it in front.

It's not how your gear is set up.

[PowSlayer]

Thanks for the tips. i'll try the recommendations for keeping the sail sheeted in more and the mast farther forward.

yes, this is happening on short boards, recently i've been feeling it the most on my 90l board, but i have noticed it on my 78l board also. I've been really struggling to jibe when not planing, i typically can't get the nose beyond broad reach, hopefully this helps that too.

[westender]

KMF said it. Sail it like a long board. Rig back = round up. I see many good sailors stand in their favorite/comfortable spot on the board waiting for the wind to solve their problems.

[ctuna]

[PowSlayer]

By the way what size board , what wind conditions, what size sail.
How much time have you spent on a big board in non planning conditions
can you do a pivot jibe in non planning conditions for example.[/quote]

Most of the time I'm on a 90l board, i typically use this for 4.7, 5.2, 5.8. I have had the issue with all sails, it's typically most noticeable when the wind is at marginal planning strength. If i'm fully powered i can pretty easily foot steer off the wind and away i go. Same thing if i over rotate a jibe, rarely an issue to bear away and get going immediately, but if i'm under-powered i struggle to keep the nose pointing down, off the wind.

I haven't spent much time on long boards in recent years, i know it will go a long way to improve my short boarding. My long board jibes certainly could be better, but i never had much trouble steering in general the board, sailing clew first, backwinded, etc.

I cannot pivot jibe my short boards. This is something i am committed to learn so that i feel more comfortable wave sailing and turning around on the inside.

I have no issues steering when i'm planning, always room for improvement, but bigger fish to fry.

[ctuna]

When you get into the marginal planning area
you have to be able to read the wind ahead of you
and use whatever tricks you can to keep planning.
For instance if are in a powered spot and can see
a hole ahead you want to maximize your speed while you
still have power and head
downwind to coast through to the next powered spot and or use a bit of chop to help surf the board through the dead spot.
(and maybe pump like mad to squeeze through )
If you are using a real sinker that must have power all the time
don't expect it to plane through holes .
Then if your area has dead and powered spots don't go into the
dead spots, unless you have a board that you can stand and slog on .
Usually people learn on a big board and once they can pivot jibe and maybe
and tack and uphaul they don't bother to learn all the other skills that
can be more easily learned on a long board.

So many variables if you could put up a video these questions
could be answered more easily.
At 90 liters a board could be a sinker or floater depending on your weight
for me at 220 lbs anything under a 100 liters is a sinker but for some body
who is 150 or under it's a big boat.
Are you on a modern wider board ?
How old are your sails?
How big are the fins?