i'm having trouble getting into my straps. I've read back foot and then front. I can get my back foot in but have to leave my front foot close to the mast. If I don't I find it really hard to keep the board pointing downwind. Even with the back foot in I had to lift my back heel to take all pressure off the windward side of the board.

What am I doing wrong? Could it be mast foot placement? I have mine way back. Until today I didn't realise how much weight ditribution affected direction when planing. I feel uncomfortable and am sure I look b****y uncomfortable!

Any help would be appreciated.

maybe practising getting into the front footstraps first then harness then backstraps would be better than the other way around..by the time you get your foot on the backstraps your board slows down cuz pressure at the tail plus the raking back of the sail and boom I presume stalls the board..by doing the opposite you build enough speed first with your front foot pushing the board downwind then when all are in the straps you should be at planing speed easier enough to point upwind without slowing downmy opinion..regards

If you put your back foot in first, the only advantage is that you are less likely to get catapulted when getting the other foot in. You do have to keep your weight off the back foot and take your weight on the boom and down into the mastfoot when getting your front foot in.

Getting your front foot in first is the better way as it is less unsettling to the board but the downside is that it is more likely to result in a catapult.
You need to try to keep the sail powered as you get your front foot in, as that stops the board slowing, but dont get overpowered. You then have both feet close together, which can be a bit scary, but necessary to keep the board planing properly.
You then try to get a smooth piece of water to get the back foot in. If the wind is fairly strong, you can pull your back hand toward you a bit to oversheet the sail but still have enough power to keep the board planing. The advantage compared to sheeting out for less power, is that you are less likely to get catapulted as you get your back foot in, as the pull is more across the board.

I always go front foot first. As a tip, keep the weight of your back foot toward the centre of the board otherwise you are going to rail your board and it will tend to turn into the wind and stall. After you get comfortable in this position, then you can slip the back foot in, but one thing, as it was explained to me when I was learning, getting the back foot in is a leap of faith.

Raf, if you are using that big plastic board of yours then you might not get completely comfortable, as discussed the other day, they just aren't as easy to sail as the new stuff.

You will for sure find it easier on your new board, even if it is a bit smaller than I would have recommended for you.

As above, try getting your front foot in, leave the back foot till last. So front foot in, harness hooked and loaded, pressure on the mast foot (so your weight hanging off the boom). Then once plaining you will find it reasonably easy to lift your back foot and slide it into the strap.

If you are back at the Broadwater have a look for Justin for some pointers, or at Manly I am sure Simon or some of the guys up there will give you a tip or two.

I nearly always put front foot in first for exactly the reason you state.
Use front foot pressure to bear away slightly, sheet in, hook in, front foot, back foot, is the sequence I use.
If it's really windy I may put my back foot in first right at the beach start or waterstart, but you need to have the board pointing downwind.

As you move back, keep looking forward and sheeted in. Get a more experienced sailor to have a go on your kit to check your set up.. if your harness lines are too far forward it could be causing all your problems...

Hi Raf,

I'm a beginner and have only been using both straps the last 3 sessions. Just a couple of points that helped me get into the straps. Some of which may be bad habits which more experienced people on the forum can correct.

1. I suggest leaving out the harness part just till you work out getting in the straps. So you can commit all to getting the straps working.

2. This is important. Make sure you have enough speed. If you don't have enough speed then you'll sink the tail and always round up into the wind as you attempt to get in the straps.

3. To have enough speed, make sure the rig is raked forward towards the nose. This wil make sure you're downwind enough to generate good power.

4. Your forward hand on the boom needs to be as far away from the mast as possible. Go as far back as you can hold with your forward hand. If it gets too much release some wind from the sail using your back hand, trying to stay sheeted in. You will be leaning back to hold this position which will give you lots of power and speed.

5. Now you have speed and ready to go for the front strap. Make sure the back foot is not far from the centreline of the board. Do this so that you don't bank the board as you go for the strap with your front foot. As I'm going for the front strap make sure you have as much power in the sail as you can hold. Otherwise you will slow down and turn into the wind as your back foot pushes the tail away from you. If the wind is light enough as I'm going for the front strap, I throw the rig a little more forward then sheet in to make sure you don't loose any speed.

6. Once the front foot is in now go for the back one. If you lost some speed getting the front in (happens when you're a beginner), hold off getting the back foot in. Build some more speed again. Do not place any weight on the heel of your front foot. That will make the board turn into the wind and loose speed. Lift your heel up (on the front foot). This turns the board down wind and helps you pick up speed. Now you can commit more force to the rig for really good acceleration as you have at least the front foot locked in. Remember forward hand on the boom as far from the mast as possible for max power.

7. Build up speed. Once you have speed, start slowly sliding the back foot near the harness. Do not lift it off the board. Just slide it till you can feel the strap on the side of your foot. Once you've found it ready to get it in, again slightly throw the rig forwards till nearly all your weight is on your front foot due to sail pulling you forward. Make sure you don't over weigh the heel on your front foot or you'll turn into the wind killing momentum. Now your back foot is light. Go for the strap get it in.

8. You may have lost speed again getting the back foot in. However you're now in both straps connected to the board fully. So you can now commit max force to the rig. So be brave, slide the forward hand away from the mast that little bit more. Lean back, pull as hard as you can. Keep weight on your toes to stop turning into the wind.

9. If the wind is there, at this point you'll be moving fast. If it's choppy, stay out of the harness, knees slightly bent to absorb the bumps. If it's smooth, have a go at hooking the harness in. Or just leave the harness and enjoy your moment of triumph. Always keep as much power in the sail as you can or you'll slow down.

10. If the wind drops or things go wrong and you're slowing down, step out of the straps or you'll end up turning into the wind or sinking the tail. Straps only work if you have enough speed.

Hope this helps.

now I feel enlightened. Thanks to everyone who replied. Seems like everyone backing everyone else up in different ways... basically suck it and see

If anyone wants a laugh I think I'll be making some photo worthy attempts this weekend at the Train! Speed and front foot first... Speed and front foot first... Speed and front foot first...

Cheers All!

are you actually starting to plane along before you try getting into the straps? it might just be lack of speed

the more speed you've got, the less hull is in the water and the further back the pivot point (red dot) gets, and the easier it is to work your way back down the tail of the board without it rounding up into the wind. as the board loses speed and drops off the plane, most folk need to quickly move their feet forward again

Generally most people learn using the front foot first approach (but not all)

most seem to find it easiest to head across wind or slightly down wind on their first attempts

once you get the front foot in, concentrate on keeping the board flat (bottom pic). First attempts often result in too much pressure on the heels and therefore rounding up into the wind. to avoid this it may require you to conciously put pressure on your toes, pulling up on the strap with the arch of your foot, and lift your heels a bit. This will keep you going in a straight line

once you get both feet in and are maintining speed, you can tilt the board (A & B bottom pic) and make it turn left or right like a surfboard, but you gotta be planing to do it

here are a couple of really bad pictures that might help

raf1200 said...

ok. I'll give it a go. Thanks for the tips.

If it helps, 80kg
5.8m sail
155 litre board
42cm fin

Agree with front foot first and most of the other advice.

No insult intended, but many intermediates trying to get in the straps think that you must get into the straps to go fast. Not the case - you use the straps because you are going fast . Thus I suspect you may be trying to get into the straps too early - most people do.

With that setup, an advanced sailor of your weight would be using it in 20knots plus (it would be hard to make the board not plane, and hard to not get in the straps)
I guess you may be using it in much weaker conditions- where it feels like it may plane soon but it is not strong enough wind to get onto the plane without a bear away and pump and very careful correct weight placement.

You may need more wind, probably front foot first, and always 50% (plus) of your weight on the boom whilst moving the feet back into the straps...... possibly all 3.

Congratulations !!
I was at the Train for an hour on Saturday. I wonder if I saw you ?

raf1200 said...

After following everyone's advice today I think my windsurfing went to a new level. 30 knot winds might have helped!

Thanks to everyone who offered an insight. Worked a treat.