hi all. After coming back from the x-mas holidays with a few good days under my belt windwise I've got a few questions.

I am using my seat harness with a 44 freeride fin, 144 jp freeride and 6.6 koyote sail.90kg. Boom approx. shoulder height
I have not got into the straps yet even though my feet are sometimes on them.

My questions are:
How much would it improve my pointing to get into the straps. when I do get on a plane I only just manage to stay on the same tack but generally end up downwind, even though at times the ride was pretty fast and furious. (20kts wind).

If I aadjust my lines to 1/3 down the boom I generally get a lot of load onto my forearm. To balance that out I try to lean further forward to compensate and from there it is not very long before I walk the pank and run off over the nose of the board. Is the idea to lean out sideways and try to keep the mast straight up?, because if I lean back to much I end up going of the plane and stalling and have to try all over again.Or I start up pointing more and more downwind until I get pulled off the board in that direction. I measured my lines and they are 80cm overall with a one hand gap inbetween. As a remedy I either move the lines 5cm/2in further back or should i try to find longer lines.

And would a different fin, more straight have a big influence on the upwind thing.
I have a cut down JPfin(now about 36cm) which came with the board and works also if the wind is strong enough.

And is there a windsurfing school in Sydney since I'd really like to get a few basics explained and taught.

Thaks for any comments

Thanks Moby, I plan to take you up on your offer. Will be down there probably at 12midday.
So is the general idea to get on the plane and then set the sail and steer the board with the feet only?

Hi Razz

You sound like me when I first started, and all the guys on here were feeding me tips. That was about 2 years ago.

How much would it improve my pointing to get into the straps.

Yes, getting into the straps (and applying the right forces) will get you blasting up wind. That's how the board is designed to work.

If I aadjust my lines to 1/3 down the boom I generally get a lot of load onto my forearm.

You should have even pressure on both arms, and be able to commit all your weight in the harness. If not, then either your sail isn't rigged right, or your harness lines aren't set up. I own a Koyote too. They are a really nice easy to rig sail.

Is the idea to lean out sideways and try to keep the mast straight up?

Not true. I was doing this too when I was first learning, resulting in catapults and loss of power.

..because if I lean back to much I end up going of the plane and stalling

Yes. For a freeride, straps out board, racking back the sail when in the straps is how you blast up wind, but there is a knack. When in the straps, you have to apply the certain forces using your harness, arms, leg/foot etc. This isn't intuitive. I had to be told how to do it. What you eventually want to do is sit in your harness and pull the centre of effort of the sail back and use your rear foot to push the board on the opposite rail (aka trimming it). There are forces going through your harness and through your back leg. Very little force through the front leg and arms. This is very hard to explain in words.

I measured my lines and they are 80cm overall with a one hand gap inbetween.

They are big harness lines. Are you trying to get into the straps by making your harness lines longer ?

As a remedy I either move the lines 5cm/2in further back or should i try to find longer lines

I reckon just give it time. As a few guys here told me: Concentrate on your front straps first. Don't worry about pointing up wind or trimming the board. Just get used to riding in the front straps. The front straps are the easiest to get into.

If you do a search for my name, you'll find some of my newbie questions. I was asking very similar questions. Good luck

J

You have to force yourself to get into those straps.

You wont believe the difference it makes.

Commit 1 whole session to stacking heaps whilst trying to get into the straps.
You will never look back.

Hi moby
didn't make it either so I now regret it. left it too late and at 12.30 dreaded the trip from Katoomba to Botany. Maybe some other time.
cheers to all

thanks gustee
was always a bit intimidated (what with my 48 yrs of age) to go sailing there, and I suppose my lack of skill. But after all these good experiences here on the forum and the encouragment I got to do it I probably will turn up in that corner of the lake next time.