Foot straps

Question
Hi,
Thanks for previous answer it was very helpful. I'm gradually trying to get into the footstraps my question is what technique should i follow as i keep flying up into wind when i'm trying to get into the straps? also any hints on harness line positions?
Cheers

Answer
Hey Phil,

Getting into the footstraps is an easy progression. It does take enough wind for you to be planing the board or close to it.

The first step, once powered up, is to move your feet back a little at a time. You want to be going on a beam or broad reach so you have plenty of power in the sail. Slide your back foot back and then the front. Keep doing this in small increments until your back foot is just in front of the back strap and your front foot is just in front of the front strap. Bear off wind just a bit, hang from the boom, and shift your weight to your back foot. Then slide your front foot around the strap and into the strap. Regain any control you may have lost and power up the board a bit more. Now shift your weight slightly to the front foot and slide the back foot into the back strap. Now sheet in and push with your feet evenly. You should feel the board power up more and speed increasing. You are now loading up the fin which creates lift which creates less drag equaling more speed.

Harness lines should be placed equidistant from the balance point of your boom. Once you have rigged your sail, stand it up and hold onto the boom. Grab the boom in about your normal postion. With your back hand grab the boom right in the middle of where your hands are. Slowly let go with the front hand so that the sail is balancing in the wind. You may need to move the back hand forward or backward. Work it until you can fly the sail with one hand. If your harness lines are attached, move them so that each connection point is about a 6-8" to either side of your hand. Now hook in and hang down on the harness a bit to press the mast base into the ground firmly. Now sheet in as though you are trying to sail. If the sail is pulling you forward, move your front line forward about an inch. If you are falling back, move them back a bit. Adjust the lines about an inch or less each time. Once you have them fairly lined up on land, now go out on the water. As you hook in and power up, the sail may pull you forward or you may fall back. Adjust the lines accordingly as mentioned above. You want to have the lines aligning with the center of effort of the sail.

Hooking is an easy trick once you get it figured out. Once you have enough power in the sail, pull the sail towards you and also pull down on the boom, thus swinging the harness line towards the hook. At the same time, swing your hips up towards the sail to get the hook higher. As soon as the line is hooked, drop the hips. This will put the pressure on your hips and allow your arms to relax. Once you are hooked and in control, now work your feet back into the straps. You will be amazed at the power and control you will have one you are hooked in with feet in the straps.

Best of luck,
Windlover