Transporting a windsurf long board

Question
QUESTION: Hi windlover! I would like to ask on how i can transport my  windsurf using my suv, it has a cross bar roof rack but the board is about 12ft or more and is too long, whats the best  and safest way to strap it or tie it down on my  my roofrack?  What type of strap or tie down can i use? Is there a way to tie it down? Thank you very much!!

ANSWER: Hey Frederick,

There are nylon straps with camlock buckles that are designed for holding down sports equipment to car racks. Very easy to use. Facing the side of the car, hold the cam buckle in your left hand and in front of the rack bar. Toss the strap over the board, loop it under the rack bar and back over the board. Loop it under the rack bar and feed it into the camlock. Slide the camlock up to the side of the board and pull the looseness out of the strap. Slide the camlock back up to just touching the side of the board and pull the strap really tight. Loop the strap under the rack bar and tie a half hitch around the straps holding the board. Camlocks usually won't slip but the half hitch prevents it from slipping. Loop the excess strap around the rack bar and tie it off.

To prevent the strap from vibrating on the board, when you go over the board (both times), put one full twist on the strap.

As for the length of the board on your rack, take a small diameter rope and tie a line to the nose of the board and your front bumper. It doesn't have to be real tight, just snug enough to keep the nose from lifting in the wind when driving. You can also tie one on the back through a footstrap. Again, snug is enough.

Here are a couple links to the same product. Chinook has pics, Windance doesn't. Windance is a couple of $'s cheaper.

http://www.chinooksailing.com/products/product_info.php?products_id=149

http://www.windance.com/chinook-wrap-straps-12ft-pr-pr-226.html

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi windlover! I would like to ask another question in transporting my windsurf longboard via roofrack on my suv, where should i put the tail of the board with the fin? I know its
Supposed to be upside down with the fin up, but should the fin be infront part of the suv or in the rear
Part? Because i read on the net that the rear part of the board with the fin should be in the front
Area of the car to prevent lift..... Is it true? Thank you very much!!!

Answer
Hey Fredrick,

You will find 10 different answers from 10 different people on how to transport a board. I once read an article where an engineer sailor tried all different variations and check gas mileage and drag on the vehicle. Results showed that the differences were almost insignificant. I've always went with nose first, fin up. If you are tying off the nose and tail to your bumpers, it won't really matter what end you have forward.

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover