43 posts
Hi I tried a lot of fronthand off sailing yesterday and it worked (had to sink down hard in the harness), but compared to taking off my backhand the sail felt really unstable and nervous.
I had to tweak and change my hip position a lot because the sail was changing position very often and not staying in one spot like it does when i take my backhand off.
Is this behavior normal when you take the fronthand off?
I experimented a bit with my harnessline position (I might have to experiment a bit more though), but it didn't seem to help to make the sail behave more stable.
Anyone recognize this and/or has some tips for more stable front hand off sailing?
WA
23711 posts
If sailing a bit upwind it can be hard to take front hand off.
You should be able to take either hand off and be pretty comfy for a few seconds unless it is really gusty or choppy
Take both hands off briefly when planing on a reach, if the sail falls backwards the lines are too far back. If the sail sheets out, feels like it will backwind, and falls forwards and to windward they are too far forward.
It is easier to do the back hand off and move them forward til the sail doesn't want to fall back anymore.
You may only need to move them an inch
SA
4187 posts
becareful otherwise you'll end up with "front teeth off"
NSW
8354 posts
Guy Cribb says that you shouldn't be able to take your front hand off when the lines are set up like he does them.I think he sets them up further back?
!/3 rd along the boom from the front.
WA
6415 posts
Great practice drill for learning to power up your harness.Good too for learning to control the board by foot steering especially in the chop.Find taking front hand oiff boom way easier than backhand,but taking two hands off near impossible for me.
