planing-footstraps

Question
I am 240lbs, I have been windsurfing a long time, I sail a Starboard Go 170 liters, in 15-25 winds I'll use a 5.9 or 6.7 sail. I can plane but I can't get into the footstraps. When I try to get back the board slows and drops off a plane. What can I do?? I want to get into the footstraps! I was thinking about trying a smaller board, maybe 130 l. would that help. I sail on lake Erie so when there is wind there is waves.


Answer
Hey Al,

My guess is that when you start trying to move back to the footstraps, you are tilting the sail back and allowing the board to start turning upwind. This will slow the board down as the sail starts losing power. It is a fairly normal event when learning to get into the footstraps.

Here are some tips that should help you out.
Once you get on a plane and are hooked into the harness, sheet in a bit and bear offwind to get more speed up. Then start hanging in your harness to lessen the weight on your feet. Move your feet back so that your feet are just in front of both straps. Slightly shift your weight to your back foot and then slide your front foot back and into the front strap. Straighten your front leg and sheet in slightly to gain more speed. Now weight into your harness and shift your weight slightly to the front foot. Move the back foot into the strap and then center your weight on both feet. Straighten your legs a bit and power up the fin to increase your speed. Once you are planning smoothly with both feet in the straps, you can now direct the board where you want to using your feet.

As for going to a smaller board, planning in the straps should be a technique you should get comfortable with before going to a smaller board.

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover