I am currently using a bic vivace (i think) 90ish litre board. It is supposedly a slalom board and it is very short and not great to learn on (but its all i've got). I wonder if i am not using large enough sails on the board or if my skill is just not up to it but i can never seem to get in the footstraps. Few days ago I went windsurfing and it was blowing about 20 knots with some 25 gusts. I had my 4.7m sail rigged and got the board onto the plane easily but for some reason whenever i moved back to try using the footstraps the back of the board just sunk and i essentially stopped. Is it me or the board? :P

im about 80kgs and do not have a lot of experience windsurfing and sail predominantly in flat water (at least until i improve) and very occasionally in choppy ocean.

sounds like you're going pretty well with not such an ideal board. You can check some of the other posts about starting & progressing, there is lots of feedback.

I would recommend a board in the 110-130 litre range which generally will get you planing in 10-15 knots with a 5m sail or probably even with your 4.7. Most of the experienced slalom/race sailing guys use 7.0m+ even up to 25 knots, but they want to!

Ask around when you go sailing, someone might have an older board just gathering dust. Is there a sailing club near you, they might even have windsurf boards tucked away, not used.

A bigger & more suitable board will allow much quicker progression than getting a 5.5-6.5m sail which will be hard to manage come 20 knots.

Also remember that if you simply move back on the board to get in the straps, all your weight goes with you, and sinks the tail, and you stop planing. You must put your weight through the boom (via arms and harness) which is then directed down to the mast foot, keeping the board trimmed right. In this manner you will be very light footed, and can carefully slip your feet into the straps without the board even noticing. In theory anyway. In practice, this is the point where you catapult over the handlebars, until you get the balance right.

Thanks for all the replies! :D

@Cluffy I do believe the sail is a wave sail and i have another 5.5 but i don't know if i could hold it in too much wind.

@Tomp I knew when i got the board that it would not be ideal for learning and in light of recent times sailing it i am thinking it may be a good idea to upgrade to something more suitable for my skill level

@GusTee I think i have been a bit too keen to try the straps and on most occasions i have moved back which has meant the board has just turned straight into the wind subsequently killing the speed, definitely something to think about next time!

@Easty I didn't think about that, but it makes a lot of sense!

@BenKirk I have noticed the straps are right out at the rails but im sure i will get used to it

Again thanks to all who replied :D

it's you!

but don't worry because you're doing what everyone does at this stage.

yes it would be easier with a wider more modern board. but.....

easty has the right advice. because you are not loading up your harness you are weighting the rail. that is turning your board into the wind and stalling the tail.

could also be your boom is too low. your boom should be around chin height.

get planning along hook into your harness.
once comfortable move your feet back along the centreline of the board.
then place your front foot in the front strap and practice that for a bit.

try, to keep the board flat. ie. try not to push down on your feet which will result in carving the board to windward.

once you've got the feel of front foot in then slip your back foot in.

you'll know when you are doing thing right as you'll start to get catapulted. this is a sign you are getting your weight off your feet. from there you will learn to use your weight to handle the sail and stop the catapults.

also check out this

Gestalt said...

could also be your boom is too low. your boom should be around chin height.

get planning along hook into your harness.
once comfortable move your feet back along the centreline of the board.
then place your front foot in the front strap and practice that for a bit.

try, to keep the board flat. ie. try not to push down on your feet which will result in carving the board to windward.

once you've got the feel of front foot in then slip your back foot in.

you'll know when you are doing thing right as you'll start to get catapulted. this is a sign you are getting your weight off your feet. from there you will learn to use your weight to handle the sail and stop the catapults.

also check out this

Thanks for the Vid Gestalt, just about to start using a harness and got a few good ideas from that. and from your advice above as well. I will be following and hopefully get the hang pretty quick.

Thanks everyone for replying! I now have some food for thought and will definitely put these techniques into action :D