Hi Everyone,
Thanks for reading - some quick background, I started windsurfing over summer, with lessons from my yacht club. Now I have a Windsurfer LT and starboard carve 151. I'm quite comfortable with the Windsurfer in 5-15kt winds, can sail upwind and tack without looking like an idiot. Still a long way to go on the starboard, but making progress.
I currently sail approx once a week at the local reservoir, but I'm picky with conditions as I'm usually alone.
My question for you all:
I'd like to progress to using a harness to get more time on the water, currently I can comfortably sail for an hour in light wind.
What are the key skills I need to work on to get harness ready?
I can't get to a shop to try any on till after lockdown ends, so I've got some time to work on stuff!
Many thanks in advance!
Cheers,
Simon
HI Simon
Good question.
I sail and LT and lots of other boards. Personally I find the harness lines that most people use wayyyy to short.
Maybe get some ling adjustable race lines that you can use on the different boards, or make a set up old school (I'l post a photo).
Harness use is best in consistent wind. Use the hook down (90% of people do). Start learning on a steady broad reach in 10 ish knots.
If you feel the wind getting gusty unhook from the lines so it doesn't catch you off guard.
Set them up on the beach and get a feel for it before you go on the water to get the length and position correct.
Set the lines up maybe 5cm inside of where your hands naturally hold the boom on a typical point of sail.
Clarence
Once you've adjusted the lines on boom to inside your hands on balance point of sail. Check the length. Palm of hand on boom between lines.Harness lines should go around the back of elbow. This will give a comfy starting point.
As your skills build you will FEEL what's comfortable n balanced for your setup. Adjust as required.
sub- planing you need to lower the boom otherwise the lines will keep you too close to the rig. The other thing you will learn quickly is to keep your front leg straight and foot pointing forward, so any gust will increase your speed instead of catapulting you.
I had problems getting in the straps when I started and found that with a seat harness it was easier to just sit on the harness to get that acceleration.
practise catapulting! Most advice is to not let go of the boom, that way there's a good chance you won't get hit by the rig doing it's own thing.
I get most catapults going slowly, weight forward and gust hits. There's too much drag on the board to accelerate with the gust. In full planning mode, weight is back, most of the board out of the water, so little drag. Unless it's huge gust that lifts you out of the water, you just go faster.
So if you're in the harness, it's good to get back in the straps as soon as there's enough wind.
Wow, thanks everyone for the advice!
I'm sensing a few catapults in my future, but looking forward to putting this all into practice.
The harness line advice will be crucial - and thanks for your footwork tips too.
Cheers!
Simon
And on harness limes and catapults, it'd probably best to set the lines a forward of the centre of effort. That way when a gust hits, it will sheet the sail out. Whatever you don't set the behind the centre of effort. Once you get planning, things may change, as setting harness lines forward, increases back hand pressure which puts more load on the fin, which can lead to spin out problems.
You can practice harness use on shore with a buddy (preferably someone who can use the harness). Put your board (or an old board) down ins and or on a lawn, and have your buddy pull on the other side of the sail to simulate the wind. You can then practice hooking in and out, and holding the sail with your body through the harness instead of your arms. The hook in and out should just be a small movement with your hips.
Next, your buddy can simulate gusts by pulling harder suddenly. You can practice dealing with gusts by sheeting out (pull with front arm, push with back arm .. or rotate your upper body). You can also practice holding the sail steady in a gust by using body tension and pushing through your toes. Do this a bunch of times on shore on both tacks, until the reaction becomes automatic, and it reduce the number of catapults you'll have on the water.
It is a tricky transition. You really want the straps too. Harness without straps takes some technique to deal with ever changing winds.
Best advise is small sail, big board, forward straps. The big board will glide and plane more easily. Use a smaller fin to match sail size.
You could try rear foot in first for straps, straps end catapults quickly. Watch for gusts when taking your weight off of your back foot if going front foot first.
All that said, you should be able to hook in and out with ease at nearly all speeds. I would start with a waist harness first as they require a bit more finesse to master than a seat that may hide certain flaws.
