Board Handing in Light Wind

Question
Hi Windlover,

I am having to teach myself to windsurf (no lessons anywhere close and no time to go somewhere for them).

I am a fairly large guy ( 111 kg ) and the winds have been light here on the lake this summer ( 8 - 12 mph on an average ), I had to resort to using my old TIGA board to get started:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2765/p7030029.jpg )

I have it rigged with my new 430 carbon mast and the 2006 6.0 m2 Pursuit sail that I got off eBay ( I had to rebuild the old mast base that fits it, but it works pretty well ).

With this higher volume board, I can uphaul easier than I was able to with the HiFly (it wanted to sink as the board would start to move - I am sure a lot of that was my fault for not moving back sooner and also for using it in light winds while I learn the mechanics and the steps of the dance).

I can start sailing and am getting much better at staying up on the board (lowering the sail into the water if needed rather than fall in), etc.

However I am finding that steering the big board is quite difficult in the lighter winds.

From what I have read and watched on YouTube, if I angle the mast forward the board should turn closer to the wind and if I angle it back to the deck, it should bear off the wind.

However at times the board seems to not respond correctly at all (and at times it seems quite backwards - although I think what is happening then is that I am getting to close to the wind and am ending up catching the light wind on the back of the sail).

Another place where this board seems to fight me is after an uphaul when the wind is a bit higher, I let the board turn until it gets to where I want it to be (so that the wind is at my back), but when I move into the sailing position and sheet in the board is too close to the wind and wanting to round up or turn through the wind before I can bear off.

This board has a deeper draft in the front of the hull while the back end is mostly flat.

There are two mast positions as you can see in this old photo (before I cleaned up the board)

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/5723/p7030033.jpg

I've tried both positions and can't say that one is much better than the other (at least in the lighter winds).

When I am sailing, I am standing with the front foot pointing ahead beside the mast and my rear foot is proably back beside the Tiga writing you see on the centerboard well (and about midway between the well and the rail).

I'm hoping to build my skill and comfort level up on the old board so that I can move back to the HiFly (which has footstraps) by the time I have stronger winds.

It gets easier and I fall in less every time I sail, but at least in these light winds, the old big board seems to make it impossible to practice tacking or jibing.  I have to stop the board, do a foot turn and then setup to sail again (which often enough does end up with my falling in).

I'd love to have one of the modern light weight, high volume boards that seem to make learing easy, but it is just not in my budget at this time.

So any advice or suggestions you can give relative to all this would really be appreciated!

Answer
Hey Charles,

There seems to be a bit of confusion on how to steer the board with the sail.

Mast tilted forward, the board will bear off wind.

Mast tilted back, the board will turn into the wind.

The two mast positions on the board, forward is for light winds, back is for heavier winds.

To prevent rounding up into the wind after uphauling the sail, hold the uphaul rope just under the boom with your back hand, feet on either side of the mast. Adjust the board position so that the board is perpendicular to the wind. Now move the back foot back slightly with the instep centered over the board. Move the front foot back next to the mast, toes forward. Pull the sail across your body and grab the boom with your front hand. Grab the boom with your back hand and sheet in slightly.

At this point you need to be tipping the mast forward and pushing off your forward foot. The wind in the sail will pull the nose off the board offwind with your forward foot helping to push the nose off. When you are moving, tip the mast back up to control your direction.

You seem to be working will on the basic concepts of learning. You don't need all the new modern gear to learn. It is a bit more work on older gear but the concepts are still the same. Not having lessons available, I would recommend that you pick up an instructional video.

Here is a link to the best instructional videos available. Go to videos and look for windsurfing fundamentals.

http://www.peter-hart.com/

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover