intermediate windsurfing ??

Question
I am an indermediate w/s. I sail in the Gorge in most conditions. I am 6'2" 220 lbs and I use sail 4.7 to 5.8 sails in 18 to 35+ conditions. I am completing the transition from a 'floater' to a 'sinker'. Once on plane I am able to sail effectively; using harness and straps. These runs are stable, fast, and consistent.

If the wind will lift me 80% of my waterstarts work. The problem is making the transition from lift and initial move and getting on plane. The winds have been lighter then usual. I am experiencing weight too far forward and actually diving the nose; and weight too far back and rounding up into a stall. The foot positions for these is not noticable different.

To date the techniques are maintaining mast foot pressure to keep the nose downwind and hanging more weight in the booms (which seems to help both). My question is: Are these sufficient to address these issues or are there additional areas to add?

Thanks, Dan  

Answer
Hey Dan,

Thanks for the question. I also sail the Gorge regularly.

My first question would be; Are you using both feet to waterstart or just the back foot?

When using both feet, you need more wind. This method works great when conditions are powered to overpowered. For your size, I imagine you need a little extra to get you out of the water. I'm about your size but a few pounds lighter and I rarely use both feet unless I'm totally powered.

When using just the back foot, you can get the board to go downwind easier because you can pull the board closer to your body. This method also allows the sail to get higher into the wind before you try getting your whole body on the board. In lighter winds or lulls, I kick my front foot to help get the board going. This moves my body closer to the board and gets the sail more straight up. Then I quickly pull my front leg out and onto the board. This technique will help keep the board going downwind for a few reasons.
1) Back foot is under your body instead of pushing the tail away and forceing the nose upwind.
2) Keeping front arm straight will push the sail forward which helps keep the nose off wind.
3) Dragging the front foot/leg allows you to twist your body to help keep the back foot under you.

I think this method will help you with your foot postioning that you mention during lighter wind waterstarts. One of the reasons a sail nose dives is that the wind is pushing on the sail and you are hanging on the boom, which both conspire to push the nose down. Granted, getting up on just the back foot tends to sink the tail sometimes but, hanging on the boom and leaning forward with your body, evens out the weight. When you bring your front foot onto the board, try to place it just in front of the front footstrap and a bit towards the center of the board. This will help even the weight until you get planning.

In lighter winds or lulls, once you are up, you can help the board get planning by pumping the sail or pumping the board. Pumping the board is a bit harder to master but much more effective. Basically it is using the feet to push more power against the fin, causing a small amount of lift to start happening, thus helping to get on a plane. Keep your feet fairly close together. Back foot centered over centerline of board, front foot fairly close to center. Start pushing directly away from you with short, quick movements. It doesn't take alot of movement, just a lot of quick, short moves. You will actually feel the board pick up speed and then all of a sudden you will feel it planning. Keep up the pumping until things smooth out and you are cruising. Using small pumps of the sail will help the foot pumping. Pull on the sail when you push with the feet. Remember not to do too much or you will cause spin out.

Hope this will help you out. Feel free to send more ?'s if I wasn't very clear. For some great info on a windsurfing forum, try iwindsurf.com. I answer a lot of questions there also. Lots of good info to be found there.

Keep on sailing,
Windlover