I have a BIC 283, flying a 6.2m NP cross over, its a pretty long board 155 ltrs and everytime I get planning I don't get into the straps just yet - which of course means hanging on for dear life and usually snugging my front foot behind the mast to prevent slipping.
Now this could and probably is a mental thing - but I have it in my mind that the minute (second) I slip my feet into the straps, because I am so far back on the board, the sail angle will make my board head up into the wind....
I know I should just man up and get my feet in there.... but it would help if I could convince my mind that the physics of doing so won't make me go flying into the wind...
How does the physics work here? Will have the sail so far back need to be compensated with more pressure on the front foot to bear away from the wind and prevent me from going into it?
Any thoughts or zen koans to keep my mind silent on my attempts to get into the straps appreciated!
Yes raking the rig back would make the board round up into the wind (sounds like you might be an ex boat sailor?) if you didn't keep plenty of mast foot pressure (mfp) while you were doing it.
To get in the straps you'll need to hang plenty of your weight into the boom to keep mast foot pressure up and therefore keep the nose off the wind. Front foot first and then you can take your time finding the back strap. There's a tendency to feel in danger of catapulting while finding the back strap. Just glance at it once to see the relation of your back foot to the strap then look up and go for it. Your foot will go in every time.
The good news is it isn't hard to learn. Once you've done it a few times you'll be right. You first comfortable planing run in the straps and letting your harness take the power in the rig will melt your brain.
That makes more sense. Could explain the catapults when I move the sail and weight forward to bear away... 
if you end up in high wind its imper-ate that you are in your straps.
Mabe you are in light wind it took us half a season to get the harness and straps right and now its like riding a bike.
Im a believe of front foot first on down wind runs.
may take you a while to be subconsciously accurate with your back foot as in looking down may cause you to catapult etc.
dont worry k dog this attribute will come over time. i think you will find that you require substantial wind for straps.
Recently I was in the same predicament. Only I also imagined snapping my ankles, ending up under the sail, and drowning...or something along those lines.
I got over this hurdle by moving the straps far forward in the beginner position, so I could at least at first get used to the feeling of getting in... I don't know it the 283 has these strap positions?
This gave me confidence to then try moving the straps backwards...first attempt at getting in this position did exactly as you say...at first turning the board into the wind and sinking the tail, until I was in and could sort things out.
Subsequent attempts, I tried putting more weight on the harness, and finally got both feet in the correct position and pretty much in control.
Once you master this you'll wonder how you planed without footstraps, always feeling like a rag doll along for the ride.
Here you go.
They've sexed it up and are calling it "downforce" now.
www.guycribb.com/userfiles/documents/downforce.pdf
Man, I have been on the end of a dinghy or cat tiller almost all my life.
Guy Cribb INtuition is worth a visit.
Downforce will help.
With such a big board, you may be able to learn to get into the straps, in non-planing speeds. Just move your sail as far back as possible in the mast track, Lower the boom abit more than usual. When dredging along apply 90% of your weight into the rig (downforce), and shuffle your light feet into the straps, dont actually displace your weight back into your feet as you'll sink the tail. Front foot first, then slip the backfoot in. Perhaps even try this on the beach?
^thats kinda guy cribb tips, where you learn the footwork first, then naturally do it at speed.
Make sure mast is positioned in correct part of mast track, I think 135cm from back of board is right ballpark (off one of the English pro instructors comments).
Boom at correct height? Should be up around your collarbone sorta area (give or take a bit), this makes you weight the boom naturally, generates better plaining.
Wind - need to be able to plane to get into straps without board turning into the wind, light feet/steps to rear of board, pumping sail, weight along middle of board, foot positioning (front foot forward and pointing to nose of board, rear foot pointing across board).
Feels unnatural until you do it a bit and go fast (as scully and ikw777 said), then you wouldn't want to do anything else after/natural go-fast automated movement.
Remember: Do right things to plane/nearly plane (setting above, body positioning and movements, wind strength, sailing line/settings) -> set front foot in front strap -> keep planing/start plaining -> back foot in rear strap -> then hook into harness and fly! (some others will have slightly different steps order, but that the general idea that works for me)
go for the front strap first.
once you're comfortable
then ease your back foot back into the rear strap.
as said above, keep your boom high. shoulder to chin height.
any lower and you will find it dificult to get your body back on the board.
Hi Kdog
This is my 2nd season. I am fairly new too. Just be careful with certain advice (not here - all good advice here), as it depends on you and the rigging. I believe that the Beginner to Winner DVD I used when I first learnt gave me bad advice on a few aspects. If you can find a mentor, then you will progress a lot quicker and develop less bad habits.
One thing I have learnt is rigging is as important as the sailing techniques, and it was rigging that caught me out a lot of the time when I first learnt (ie: not being able to get in straps, slugging when I should be planing, and bulk catapults). Also, rigging needs to change with the conditions.
Good luck :). Keep us informed of your wins :)
Jay
K Dog,
Everything you need to know is on Guy Cribbs web site, There is a whole section on footstraps. Download them and study them...Everything will soon fall into place.
The one tip I can give you is not to rush getting into the straps, Get the board going at full speed, hook into your harness and get the board under control before you go for the straps. Sink into you harness then put your front foot in, steady the board again. Now sink all your weight into the harness and put your back foot in but don't stab at it as this normally upsets your board trim and can end in a catapult. Having a quick look before you go for the back strap does help but don't stare at it, where you look leads the way in everything to do with windsurfing.
Make sure your straps are screwed into the inner most setting when learning the straps and if the board has a single back strap option, Use it. The single strap make getting into that back strap super easy.
If you slow everything down and keep it smooth you will limit the amount of nose smashing catapults you have, I did say limit
My local windsurfing club was lucky enough to have Guy Cribb supply us with our tips and technique page, It contains direct links to all his articles written for a UK windsurfing mag....Check it out.http://canberrawindsurfers.webs.com/tipsandtechnique.htm
Thanks heaps all. Now the pressure to get it going is on
I have the trictionary book, but it just doesn't have this details level!
Have downloaded all relevant GUY CRIBB pdfs - lunch time reading.
This Sunday - I will make it so
I'm oscar mike!
Some one once told me to put mu foot in the back footstrap stright away when doing a beach start in strong winds. Give it a try.
^ Yes, this works. If completely overpowered you can even get in before you waterstart, and hook in on the way up.
Teach your brain where your straps are in relation to each other.
Make's getting into the rear straps (when your fully planing) so much easier, you will have less chance of rounding up into the wind and coming off the plane.
Do this on land by practicing getting in and out of the straps. It will also save your feet and toes so you won't kick the straps frantically trying to get in them.
Once your is the straps and planing your in the SAFE zone, that's when the fun begins.
Don't look at your feet when you put your feet in the straps.. this will make you look down, which will make you sheet out, which will make you head up
Tilting the rig back and forward makes no difference but sheeting out will make you head up...
Hey Flip4(4)!
Thanks Ginger and Latedropeddy - if the wind is fair tomorrow will be giving this a real good go!
Cheers!
