Forums > Windsurfing Foiling

Lighter wind pumping?

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Created by excav8ter > 9 months ago, 3 May 2020
excav8ter
573 posts
3 May 2020 8:17PM
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Good morning all. When I get out in lighter wind and need to pump a bit to get up on foil, i find i can do it easier on Port tack than i can on Starboard tack, i assume that a lot of people have a "strong side". My issue has been that when I pump the sail, my board tends to "round up" into the wind, even though I am trying to bear off wind a bit.
While I was out yesterday, I rigged up and hit the water with a 6.0 Sailworks flyer and the i84 front wing. The wind was enough that I rarely needed to pump at all, but when I did the usual happened, I round up. Towards the end of the session the wind dropped even more, i quickly slipped my i99 wing on and went back out. As I began to try and pump, I again rounded up. As I recovered from nearly falling to windward, my rearward hand slipped back towards the end of the boom. I recovered immediately tried to pump again and found that with my rear hand further back, the board did not round up on me, and I was able to get on foil a bit easier. Did I accidentally figure out what everyone else already knows?

segler
WA, 1656 posts
3 May 2020 8:39PM
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Here's my guess. By moving your back hand further back, you are keeping the sail sheeted in, which increases the mast base pressure (MBP).

Increased MBP keeps the nose down and off the wind, thus preventing rounding up. This applies also for fin sailing, especially while waterstarting.

Instructors will tell you that increasing the MBP is pretty much the solution to most windsurfing ills. Sheet in, young man.

LeeD
3939 posts
4 May 2020 12:36AM
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+1, my back hand is behind my adj out adjuster when pumping, then slides forward when up on foil after hooking in.

excav8ter
573 posts
4 May 2020 12:43AM
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Select to expand quote
segler said..
Here's my guess. By moving your back hand further back, you are keeping the sail sheeted in, which increases the mast base pressure (MBP).

Increased MBP keeps the nose down and off the wind, thus preventing rounding up. This applies also for fin sailing, especially while waterstarting.

Instructors will tell you that increasing the MBP is pretty much the solution to most windsurfing ills. Sheet in, young man.


Good to know!

Do you sheet out when getting too powered up, or sheet in to keep the pressure on the nose?

Grantmac
2317 posts
4 May 2020 1:20AM
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Hands back gets the rig forward and upright. In really light wind oversheeting is the bigger problem.

MagicRide
688 posts
4 May 2020 2:11AM
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I have found when I'm on foil nicely powered and then a gust comes that is too much to handle when sheeted in, I sheet out and lean forward a tad to compensate for sheeting out to keep my flight hight where I want it. This adjustment works perfect for me. So when I past the gust I sheet back in and resume my normal position again. I have not tried not sheeting out and riding the gust out. Not sure I want to try that route or I'm not ready to try that route.

Grantmac
2317 posts
4 May 2020 2:37AM
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MagicRide said..
I have found when I'm on foil nicely powered and then a gust comes that is too much to handle when sheeted in, I sheet out and lean forward a tad to compensate for sheeting out to keep my flight hight where I want it. This adjustment works perfect for me. So when I past the gust I sheet back in and resume my normal position again. I have not tried not sheeting out and riding the gust out. Not sure I want to try that route or I'm not ready to try that route.


Push the mast forward like the control column in an aircraft. Your foot pressure will naturally follow but in a much more subtle way compared to directly weighting the feet.

MagicRide
688 posts
4 May 2020 2:48AM
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Grantmac said..

MagicRide said..
I have found when I'm on foil nicely powered and then a gust comes that is too much to handle when sheeted in, I sheet out and lean forward a tad to compensate for sheeting out to keep my flight hight where I want it. This adjustment works perfect for me. So when I past the gust I sheet back in and resume my normal position again. I have not tried not sheeting out and riding the gust out. Not sure I want to try that route or I'm not ready to try that route.



Push the mast forward like the control column in an aircraft. Your foot pressure will naturally follow but in a much more subtle way compared to directly weighting the feet.


I like it, makes great sense! I will try that. This foiling business is turning me into a darn kid. I just can't wait to go again! Haa!

WhiteofHeart
783 posts
4 May 2020 3:53AM
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Grantmac said..
Hands back gets the rig forward and upright. In really light wind oversheeting is the bigger problem.



This. Back hand back puts the rig upright. Huge point of getting on the plane in general, so very nice you figured it out ;).

martyj4
533 posts
4 May 2020 7:59AM
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I think what happens is when the back hand goes back on the boom, the sail moves forward relative to you and the board. This will tend to drag your body weight forwards, putting more pressure on your front foot, and tending to steer the nose of the board off the wind. Having your hand further forwards on the boom means the sail sits more to the back of the board, loading your back leg more and turning the board into the wind.

excav8ter
573 posts
4 May 2020 8:46AM
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martyj4 said..
I think what happens is when the back hand goes back on the boom, the sail moves forward relative to you and the board. This will tend to drag your body weight forwards, putting more pressure on your front foot, and tending to steer the nose of the board off the wind. Having your hand further forwards on the boom means the sail sits more to the back of the board, loading your back leg more and turning the board into the wind.


Well that makes perfect sense. Going to put all these thoughts and tips to use.

Thank you!

stehsegler
WA, 3542 posts
4 May 2020 10:16AM
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As they say a picture says more then a thousand words so I threw together a short clip with different techniques.

CYVRWoody
133 posts
5 May 2020 7:36AM
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Long video on footstraps 32 minutes.

Heel vs Toes. 2 minutes.
Check out the diagram at 16:48. Small picture of foil pump toes vs heels.

?t=1407

thedoor
2469 posts
5 May 2020 1:29PM
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Select to expand quote
VCRWoody said..
Long video on footstraps 32 minutes.

Heel vs Toes. 2 minutes.
Check out the diagram at 16:48. Small picture of foil pump toes vs heels.
?t=1407


Sick as

Faff
VIC, 1370 posts
5 May 2020 7:12PM
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stehsegler said..
As they say a picture says more then a thousand words so I threw together a short clip with different techniques.


Great video, thanks! What kind of setup is at 1:30? How (non)windy was it?



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"Lighter wind pumping?" started by excav8ter