Ok I've been doing this a while now - not regularly enough obviously cos I'm still no bloody good at it!!! I'm in that frustrated zone where I want to do more - go faster for longer without falling-in - but just dont seem to be able to go to that next level!!! Question: should I be trying mastering footstrap use or harness use first. I reckon harness because although I'm fairly strong, at speed, my arms just tire so much & my hands ache which means I'm not concentrating on technique. The few times I've managed to hook-in for more that 10-20secs has been very uplifting & I can see that if I can use the harness properly, I can spend more time out there improving. However, the other angle is to get into the footstraps first. So....which should be my priority? I can get up & plane but I'm almost out of control & nackering myself quickly. I've not even put much time into tacking/gybing yet - but that's another question; which should I learn 1st - most people seem to gybe but the literature seems to focus on tacking 1st. I guess I could pay for some lessons but with $$ in short supply...well, I have to justify it to the boss!! ANY TIPS AT ALL ON THIS &/OR HOOKING-IN WILL BE EAGERLY APPRECIATED!! Ta All! Phil'

See this: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25252

Personally, I went harness first when I learnt... Still think this is the way to go... Then again, not all the boards I learnt on had footstraps

How old is the literature you are reading Does it feature boards over 3.5 m long with centre boards For modern short-boards, I'd suggest learning to gybe first. For old-school long-boards with centre boards (and possibly new ultra wide beginner boards), tacking is probably easier.

quote:

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Originally posted by Gestalt

once i got on shortboards i could already use the harness so all i had to learn was footstraps and then carve gybes. then learnt tacking.

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Me also... Learnt to use footstraps first time I sailed a modern shortboard...

All good stuff - plenty of food for thought there. Ta.

I'm waiting for me mate from Caloundra to ring me back to see if he's free for a sail this arvo. Might do some reading in the meantime.

Keep 'em coming.

Btw: I'm not a spring-chicken at 42yrs but sailing makes me feel like a teenager again (....except probably alot more tired!) And I'm fitter & healthier now than all thro my 30's!! I only thought about this sport when I was about 38-39; mid-life crisis thing maybe? I still fancy the missus & couldn't afford a flash sportscar so windsurfing woz it!!!! A good choice I reckon.

Just gotta master this harness thing.

Cheers, P.

Gemax, just sent.

Mineral