Lately I have found it more comfortable out of the rear strap going upwind and even across the wind.Powered up comfortably not overpowered ( for once) 125ltres + 6.6m sail.
It got me wondering if there is any 'rule' /guide to the distance between the straps for different heights.It feels like the board is a bit too big / wide a stance for me to be comfortable in the straps..I'm 5'6.I sailed with my rear foot pressed against the front of the rear strap unless it got a bit dodgy with chop or wind strength.Previously I would have stayed in the straps but this felt more comfortable and I seemed to go upwind better.
I get in the straps when I'm really powered up or in chop - it was reasonably flat and 15 -18kts wind.
I know you are going to ask how I have the straps set but the board is in it's bag! I think they are as close together as I can get and inboard(?) a bit.

Sounds like the back strap needs to come forward if possible, or the front strap back.
Agree that is a big board for 15 - 18 knots.

I'm sure taller people have their straps wider apart.

Totally agree with Decrepit. Seems too know what he's talking about for an old bloke.

Although when powered up in chop the back foot always goes in the strap.

sboard, place your open hand and finger on the middle of the front strap. Your elbow should rest at the middle of the rear strap, or as close as you can get to it. This is termed your "natural feet space stance"
Getting in and out of rear strap is a whole lot easier if its set like this, or as close as possible to this setting. Not sure but on my Rocket, I cant get them as close as I could as the JP X-Cite ride or the Supersport
Chugging up wind, its easier if you are struggling, to place the rear foot towards the centre line in front of the rear strap, so what you are doing is correct.

mineral1 said...

sboard, place your open hand and finger on the middle of the front strap. Your elbow should rest at the middle of the rear strap, or as close as you can get to it. This is termed your "natural feet space stance"
Getting in and out of rear strap is a whole lot easier if its set like this, or as close as possible to this setting. Not sure but on my Rocket, I cant get them as close as I could as the JP X-Cite ride or the Supersport
Chugging up wind, its easier if you are struggling, to place the rear foot towards the centre line in front of the rear strap, so what you are doing is correct.

Thanks..I'll try this next times its out of the bag ( its on the car at the moment & Ive got the flu so I cant be bothered today.)

If you have a look at the 'What causes this?' thread, it may be that by tuning your gear, you could make the balance between your front and back foot more even and further back.

sboardcrazy said...

terminal said...

If you have a look at the 'What causes this?' thread, it may be that by tuning your gear, you could make the balance between your front and back foot more even and further back.

I have had the mast track right forward as it is getting to the upper range for that board and chop..+ I've raised my boom a little lately (chin height?)

Moving the mastfoot forward does make the board more 'directional' ie. it will track more in a straight line and be harder for the chop to redirect it. Its normal then to have to raise the boom. The downside tends to be more rear foot pressure when sailing.

I would tend to move the mast track to the most rearward comfortable position and have the boom at the maximum height I could use and still be able to unhook easily while slogging. The position of the mast base would change slightly with sail size, as would the fin size.
Bigger fin and you get more back foot pressure, smaller fin and you have to weight the front foot more.

sboardcrazy said...

terminal said...

sboardcrazy said...

terminal said...

If you have a look at the 'What causes this?' thread, it may be that by tuning your gear, you could make the balance between your front and back foot more even and further back.

I have had the mast track right forward as it is getting to the upper range for that board and chop..+ I've raised my boom a little lately (chin height?)

Moving the mastfoot forward does make the board more 'directional' ie. it will track more in a straight line and be harder for the chop to redirect it. Its normal then to have to raise the boom. The downside tends to be more rear foot pressure when sailing.

I would tend to move the mast track to the most rearward comfortable position and have the boom at the maximum height I could use and still be able to unhook easily while slogging. The position of the mast base would change slightly with sail size, as would the fin size.
Bigger fin and you get more back foot pressure, smaller fin and you have to weight the front foot more.

I used to run the track at the rear until a good local sailor had a go on it and said it was scary ( mind you it was at the top of its wind range with a big fin and sail). I then got some info here and started to move it forward ( centre of the track). The last few sails I've had it right forward for the first time and it does handle chop better but I wonder if that's why I have been out of the rear strap. Mind you it could be that I'm fitter at the moment so I can concentrate a bit more on fine tuning my stance ( rather than just surviving..) and that's why I was trying standing up out of the rear strap .

If you move the sail far forward and have a low enough boom, that will shift your stance forward.
It could have been the large fin that was partly responsible for another sailor not liking being overpowered on it. I wouldn't really go by any settings from a sailor who was a different size, as I have always found I had to completely change just about everything on the board if there was a significant difference between us.

Boards do tend to be designed around men of about 175 cm and 80 kg, so it might be the board.
If you move the mast foot too far back it will feel twitchy, but I would suggest just moving it forward enough to calm things down, and use the smallest board, sail and fin you can for the wind.
If its a US box, you can also move the fin back to make the board more directional, and a more swept back fin calms things down too.

Just moved the straps and now only about 2" off recommended..It might be an 'interesting' sail next time as it's the first time I've had outboard front straps..It will be better when I'm really up and going though as I find I usually am trying to get more outboard ( half out of the straps ) anyway.

decrepit said...

Hope it works for you, it's great when you try something different and things are suddenly much better.

Someone advised me to put another 4" of downhaul on my 6.6m sail last session..Wow What a difference! The first time I've been flying along feeling comfortable and nicely balanced for ages!

sboardcrazy said...

decrepit said...

Hope it works for you, it's great when you try something different and things are suddenly much better.

Someone advised me to put another 4" of downhaul on my 6.6m sail last session..Wow What a difference! The first time I've been flying along feeling comfortable and nicely balanced for ages!

Wow, 4 ", you were really underdone. I find even 1 cm difference in DH makes a big difference on my Koncepts.