much easyer to water start, it gives you a bit more time to lift the sail because the boom ends arent sinking
GusTee, What is important is that you don't use too much strength and more a rotation / counter-balance force.
You start by holding your up-haul not too high, straight arms and legs and use your weight (by balancing out - behind you), it's slow but there is some action, sail and mast moving into direction and may be emptying of water slowly, it should come up slowly, make sure you don't keep pulling backward or you'll fall back with the sail on top of you.
I am not very strong and can do it.
But you'll love the water-start as it is so much easier.
Longwinded - I see your point, although i can't see any damage anywhere on the gear, I don't want to either.
Last time I was out I've followed the advice and it's definately worked better. I just need to be more patient with it, bring it up slowly, that way the rig has time to rotate downwind and water in the luff sleeve drains out.
I broke my uphaul last season and am raring to get a spare even though am proficient in waterstarting..nothing beats pulling the sail across the board in swelly conditions unless you've got fingers of steel..uphauling is an art you have to be patient and let water spill out and not do it hastily or else all your energy is wasted on that bit alone..regards
