Hi Guys,

I'm chasing some more advice on my slow progression from novice to being able to go fast enough to hurt myself.

I've now been out on my harness about a dozen times and am getting a better feel for it. I'm still messing with boom height and harness line position and am still getting thrown over the nose - just not quite as regularly.

I've started creeping to the back of my board and am guessing I'm not far off trying to get my feet into my foot straps. My problem is I don't know how to start? Which foot and when?

Cheers,
Murph

The big secret I found was not to try going for the straps until comming onto the plane. Moving back on the board prior to that will sink the tail. Basically slip the front foot in as you come on the plane and as you are moving back to compensate for coming onto the plane with the mast/boom. (and as rightly said above, don't look at your feet)

Once you are on the plane and powering up then worry about the back foot. In light conditions, where you are just planing, a lot of people keep the back foot out and a little forward anyway.

Support yourself on the harness the whole time and be as smooth as possible.

I can still remember the feeling of shear terror the first time I got on the plane. I felt like I was going a zillion miles an hour with no steering.

Crash Landing has got it! I've only been in the straps for a few weeks now, but I wish I got into them earlier. Practice skipping in and out of them for a bit, You'll be feeling much more in control being in the straps, have fun!

Hi Gents,

Am planning to have a go today so will report on my progress.

I am currently sailing with my front foot a fair bit forward of the straps which is why I haven't had a go of them yet - it seems like a long back!

Nebbian, in answer to your question, I've have been planing - whilst pointing slightly downwind. It feels like I'm doing 40kts, but then someone flies past me and puts it all back in perspective. And yes - many of these have ended in violent throws over the nose of my board. Luckily I invested in a mast deviator and have so far only managed to ding the front of my board (as opposed to smashing it completely off!)

You bring up an interesting point. I have noticed that as I move back and settle my weight into my harness I tend to bear up into the wind. I had thought that maybe I was raking my mast back as I moved back and was actually steering myself up there, but I've notice that most other guys seem to be raked right back when going fast. My recent thought is that this has something to with steering the board with my feet? Am I on the right track here or completely losing it?

Thanks also to all who posted on learning to water start. With enough wind I'm now pulling these of with relative ease, and the difference they have made to my time on the water has been incredible.

After I get into the straps I guess the next thing I'll have to learn is how to turn!

Cheers,
Murph

Nebbian,

I went out yesterday but the wind never came up as predicted. I got my front foot in but sank the tail and looked kind of stupid sailing around with the nose of my board sticking in the air!

Thanks for the advice on the MCL. I've done my ACL before and have no desire to do anything like it again. I'll certainly be a bit more cautious now than I would have been otherwise.

Cheers,
Murph

quote:

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Originally posted by undertacker

Hey,
am I the only one who`s getting in with the back foot first?
I have my back foot in pretty much 24-7 while im windsurfing.

u.t.

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nope, i find i now do it alot too. Infact I often sail off the plane with both feet in the straps. It is something i've unconciously started doing over the last 12 months and suddenly just realised i was doing it. Whenever i see a gust coming i just hang back off the lines and slip the board onto the plane and the feet are ready to go. I think it's because i'm sailing a board with with alot more volume than i used to use. Everything used to be 70 - 85 litres-ish and now i'm using something that's nearly 100 litres