Windsurfing Magazine

kristin
2008-04-02 12:52:28 | 849 views | 0 Comments

“Simple,” that is, if you are familiar with each step on land before you hit water. The best thing to do is to take your fin off your board and practice all steps on the beach first.

Step 1: Kneeling Position
Once you get your board to the water, wade it out so the centerboard no longer hits the bottom. This should be no deeper than waist depth. Your mast should be pointing toward 6 o'clock, with your board perpendicular to that, running 3 and 9. Place both hands on the board and push down to pull yourself up and into a kneeling position, with a knee on each side of the mast, and over the centerline of the board. Grab the end of the uphaul, (the thick rope or webbing which attaches from the front of the boom to the bottom of the mast) for stability, but don't stand up yet. Try to maintain the mast perpendicular to the board the whole time you are in the kneeling position. This can be done by pulling on the uphaul.

Step 2: Uphauling
Uphauling, or raising the sail out of the water, is a big trouble spot for beginners, but it doesn't need to be. As long as you keep the mast perpendicular to the board, the uphauling position should be fairly stable. First, you need to stand up on the board, so using the uphaul for stability, stand up and put your feet where your knees had been, on either side of the mast and over centerline. Stand with your knees bent, and back and arms straight.

To uphaul, pull on the uphaul line, hand over hand, and slowly raise the rig. Let your body weight do the work rather than your strength. Continue pulling the sail out of the water until you reach the mast. Grab the mast with both hands just below the booms and be sure not to pull in the mast close to your body. Keep the sail over but not touching the water. This is the neutral position.

Step 3: The Neutral Position
This is the position you will do your maneuvers from. In the neutral position, your back will be pointed at 12 o'clock, and your sail at 6 o'clock as long as you maintain the sail perpendicular to the board. Keep your arms comfortably extended, knees flexed, back straight and body leaning back to counter balance the weight of the rig. Have a foot on each side of the mast, right along the centerline of the width of the board. If you get confused at any time while learning, get yourself back to the neutral position and re-evaluate.

From this position you can turn the board. Swinging the mast toward the nose of the board will turn the nose downwind, and leaning the mast toward the tail of the board swings the nose upwind.

Step 4: Ready Position
From the neutral position, let go with your back hand. Step back with your back foot and place it on the centerline. Place your front foot beside or just behind the mast base, pointed toward the nose of the board. Maintain the sail perpendicular with the rail of the board.

Step 5: Set Position
From the ready position with your front hand on the mast, pull the mast across the centerline and into the wind, until you look through the sail window. The bottom edge of the sail should be perpendicular to the board. Your upper body and shoulders should be parallel to the booms. From here, gently place your back hand on the boom directly in front of you, but don't pull in yet. Set your front hand on the boom 6 inches behind the mast. Your hands should be about shoulder-width apart, and the sail still perpendicular to the board.

Step 6: Sailing Position
Slowly rotate your upper body aand rig so your front shoulder turns toward the nose of the board. This will fill the sail, so be prepared for some pull. Have your front leg straight, your arms comfortably extended, but not locked out, your back straight and your head up. Pull in just a touch with your back hand. You are now sailing! If you start to feel like the sail is going to pull you over, simply let go with your back hand and get back to the set position (Step 5). If you feel like you can handle more speed, pull in a little more with your back hand. Go for it!