I've been on a few clinics now. They improved my ability very quickly.
For those of you who have done a few, let's share some tips. I'll go first.
Pop the first Batten above the boom up before you water start. It's way lighter this way.
Next time wear a condom and you shouldn't need these drugs.......oops sorry, thinking of a different clinic 
Select to expand quoteYuppy said..
I've been on a few clinics now. They improved my ability very quickly.
For those of you who have done a few, let's share some tips. I'll go first.
Pop the first Batten above the boom up before you water start. It's way lighter this way.
Yuppy, i don't understand the first batten pop. I've only heard popping a batten is when someone has had a batten failure.
Please explain!
My tip i leant is that you down haul as per the measurements on the sail i.e. mast length + extension. Then, you fine tune the boom height and outhaul. "do not touch the down haul" that is a set point. The sail behaves as it should
Plus i leant how to point upwind when the wind turns to ****e. While everyone is "doing a down winder" i'm (now) returning to my launch zone. Thanks Guy 
Not from a clinic, but I was just browsing the UK Windsurf magazine and Peter Hart SPOKE to me directly about my gybes:
From a technique perspective the
biggest mistake peo- ple make in a
gusty venue is to use the gust to go
fast and use the lull to turn round.
Guilty as charged in the local gusty conditions. The temptation is to punch through the shifting wind but that of course is wobble city.
Select to expand quotevpar said..
Yuppy, i don't understand the first batten pop. I've only heard popping a batten is when someone has had a batten failure.
Please explain!
What he means is get the sail to achieve it's aerofoil shape so that it flies easily above you, only really applicable in lighter winds, as in strong winds it's not a problem as the sail achieves this on its own as the clew clears the water. (Either batten would work, ie. below boom too.)Gybe tips could span 100 pages. I find people don't bend their knees, stand upright therefore weighting the tail, and the rest is a fail no matter what you do 
Hey Yuppy. Hope you are getting out in the waves heaps after Torquay wave clinic!
I really like the tip from Cribby to use your front hand as the hand break/accelerator! Push hand and boom forward to accelerate, back is the break or slow. Works for waves to slow down then speed up onto the wave, blasting to keep yourself on the verge of catapult to go faster etc. Also helped me be able to be out in stronger winds without sh&tting myself, as you know how to slow down when needed.
The Maui clinic sounds great though. Still dreaming of Maui.
Not from a clinic, but from a guru to a beginner...
1. Bare off to get your front foot in the strap.
2. Head up wind and close the gap to get your back foot in.
Helped me a lot, but doesn't prevent stubbing your toes 
"Back hand back!". Move the back hand further back down the boom when gybing, bottom turning or clew first water starting. The extra amount of control is unbelievable.
Select to expand quotelao shi said..
ARSE!
GROWLER!
OOOH! AAAAH!
To add to Marks post, "wide stance when" completing gybe, and stay low (knees bent) To often foot change, stance is narrow, this then places the body in a more upright position, so any undue force from boom pulls you over
He missed the OOOH AAAAH on the last course, I was waiting for it but it didn't get a run
Select to expand quotevpar said..Yuppy said..
I've been on a few clinics now. They improved my ability very quickly.
For those of you who have done a few, let's share some tips. I'll go first.
Pop the first Batten above the boom up before you water start. It's way lighter this way.
Yuppy, i don't understand the first batten pop. I've only heard popping a batten is when someone has had a batten failure.
Please explain!
Vpar
Get the sail in the water start position, put your hand on the underside of the batten (the first one above the boom) and push up until the batten pops to the top side. This allows the wind to get under the sail.
Next tip.
When your balance is wobbly over the whitewash or after a water start, pull down on the boom to get mast foot pressure.
This is done by either hanging down with straight arms and bent knees OR staying upright and pulling the boom down hard (guy crib's growler)
Best tips I've received and that look obvious but for an unknown reason, when I wave sail, I tend to not look at the peak of the wave on bottom turning, sometime way more ahead, result so I miss the sweet spot!
Changed from 20" to 28" harness lines today after a local lad told me when in large swell & strong wind 40kts+ , you have more ease in sheeting out dumping power while still in the lines, worked a treat too. Have used short lines a long time, he told me 34-36" is most common here.
Select to expand quotewildrover said..
Changed from 20" to 28" harness lines today after a local lad told me when in large swell & strong wind 40kts+ , you have more ease in sheeting out dumping power while still in the lines, worked a treat too. Have used short lines a long time, he told me 34-36" is most common here.
Good man!!! I only sail 30" harness lines for several years now. Even 28 feels too short now.
This reminds me of and old saying:
"Free advice is worth about what you pay for it!"
Not that I am saying there ain't some gems here.....
