Good few hours at lucky bay yesterday, and big ups to the guy who gave me some real good advice on deep water starts nailed em from the on..well 3 outta 5 anyway! i'm having trouble hooking in I seem to be going along ok not quite on the plane but when I hook in I seem to loose the wind and in the drink I go. The sail seems to be quite far away from me and sometimes I think my lines are too long but there dose not seem to be any difference between mine and everyone else is there a rule of thumb? A hot shot mate of mine seems to be able to hook in and plane ok (he has gone back to Qld now) so how come I keep loosing power? Any advice would be gratefully accepted!
I'm just guessing here, but two things could be happening...
- As you hook in you are over-sheeting the sail - easy to do if you are not quite on the plane
- You could also be turning up into the wind which will depower the rig. This can happen if you are not transferring you weight from your arms onto the harness lines - which puts all the weight at the back of the board and into the wind you go.
Try bearing away (pointing slightly off the wind) by bring your mast hand forward and into the wind as you hook in and then fully sheet in once you are fully on the plane
... and your harness lines may be too short causing you to oversheet or rake the rig back too far while hooking in.
Guide for harness line length - with your elbow in the loop of the harness line you should be able to grasp the boom.
Thanks for the tips guys. got out a bit last week but It didn't go so well. I'd be better off at clown school I think!
Don't give up. Sometimes you reach a bit of a hump that takes a while to get over.
Keep trying, and don't be afraid to ask for advice from people who look like they know what they are doing.
Hey I sail at Lucky bay fairly regularly. Come and ask for advice if you want.
I've got a White landcruiser and a blue JP freeride or a yellowish green Starboard flare
Its hard to say what your doing to lose power without seeing your sailing.
Wes
Definately keep trying and asking for advice. There are two skills you need to really start having fun - deep water starts and using your harness. You've aleady nailed the more difficult one!
do not worry about taking two steps back you will get there in the end i have been through the harness line senario too you will eventually find the best spot get to your local library they will have some sort of windsurfing how to learn book in there that will tell you position and length just get time on water
Thanks for the encouragement guys. Feel free to keep the tips coming I drive a blue Holden Adventura with Window Tinting Australia plastered all over it and sail a blue nova board and a 6.2 Tushingham sail. Any on the beach advice would be helpful, I don't like to bug people while they are sailing, but if you have got the time i'll listen
Thanks Again,
Graeme
hey i dont know anyone that windsurfs that doesnt like to help out anyone finding their feet. ive found that its a sport that has very open arms and lots of generosity, and ive only been at it for 3 years. go nuts and ask away!
Don't ask people while they are sailing, they're going too fast! Ask them when they stop for a break. That's the best time.
I sail at Lucky Bay mostly too, feel free to ask me for help. I am one of the few females, with an 85L Sonic and a red Koncept sail most often.
I did it yesterday.... pure effortless planing in the harness, no footstraps though, don't know how i did it but I did it. I shortened my harness lines and lifted my harness up so the hook was about at my solaplex...perfect beach start hooked in pulled with by back hand and pushed with my front foot and somehow everything clicked there was no weight on my arms or shoulders at all and I was flogging it. Was like i was walkin on water....yeah i'm pretty awesome!
