Do smaller boards require a lower boom height more upright stance? I had trouble with my 95ltre board rounding up as I tried to beach start yesterday & noticed I had the boom pretty high like I have on my 125ltre bigger board. I was buggered so lack of energy was an issue but wondering if the boom had been lower at chest height if it would have been easier...

Bender said...

sboardcrazy said...

Do smaller boards require a lower boom height more upright stance? I had trouble with my 95ltre board rounding up as I tried to beach start yesterday & noticed I had the boom pretty high like I have on my 125ltre bigger board. I was buggered so lack of energy was an issue but wondering if the boom had been lower at chest height if it would have been easier...

i think two seperate things are going on here.

I lower boom will mean you will be lower to the water and more weight on your feet. This could be casing the tail of your board to sink making it round up.

A boom that's too high with short harness lines will rake the rig back too far causing the the baord to round up also.

Generally in more wind (smaller kit) you can set your boom lower to gain control. IMHO the difference between high and low is only 50mm.

The same boom hight when used on a narrower board will feel higher compared to a wide board as the rig is tipped over less to allow you to hook in. I hope that makes sense.

The small board is of course narrower so that makes sense.I did notice I was raking the rig back + I didnt have the strength to push the nose away and put weight in the harness to bear off.It was rounding up as the overpowering gusts were hitting..

Mark _australia said...

If gusty and overpowered at times, it could also be as simple as the conditions meant that you were not game to lean forward as much as you should when water/beach starting, and putting too much weight on your back foot as a self preservation mechanism.

Much easier to diagnose the problem if you've used the same setup in a very constant wind of same strength, as when it is very up n down, or very overpowered at times, all manner of things can go wrong as you over compensate

I've only sailed the board 4 times so I suppose it wasn't the best learning conditions..

mineral1 said...

I was buggered so lack of energy was an issue

That was the issue, just about 100 parrrcentages guaranteed.
When not buggered, point fraction more down wind, and make sure your feet land in the middle on take off, or toe pressure, no heal pressure. Doesn't take much to dig the inside rail in on a small board compared to the larger one you have.

Got a solution for the getting older lack of energy problem..

sboardcrazy said...

Do smaller boards require a lower boom height?

this works for me personally, particularly on boards with minimal volume in the tail, and helps get more power onto my front leg

i'm only talking about a difference of moving it from shoulder height down to nipple height (on a bloke)

Small boards just round up quicker than bigger ones. If you were a bit buggered, that compounds the problem. You need to get well planing before hooking in, or be well practiced at leaning on the harness but keeping the board flat and pushing it downwind. I'm a lazy bugger, so I'm well practiced at that approach.

sboardcrazy said...

Do smaller boards require a lower boom height more upright stance? I had trouble with my 95ltre board rounding up as I tried to beach start yesterday & noticed I had the boom pretty high like I have on my 125ltre bigger board. I was buggered so lack of energy was an issue but wondering if the boom had been lower at chest height if it would have been easier...

I don't think the boom height had anything to do with the rounding up.

I think you just had the sail pulled in too far with the board in a stalled config.
When the board is going very slowly, as it obviously is when you are starting off, the fin and rails provide very little resistance to sideways forces.
Just start with the board pointed a teeny bit more downwind and start with the sail let right out.
Once you are up and moving, then slowly pull the sail in.
This applies to all size boards but is more critical on a smaller board.

sboardcrazy said...

mineral1 said...

I was buggered so lack of energy was an issue

That was the issue, just about 100 parrrcentages guaranteed.
When not buggered, point fraction more down wind, and make sure your feet land in the middle on take off, or toe pressure, no heal pressure. Doesn't take much to dig the inside rail in on a small board compared to the larger one you have.

Got a solution for the getting older lack of energy problem..

Get a toy boy

h20 said...

sboardcrazy said...

mineral1 said...

I was buggered so lack of energy was an issue

That was the issue, just about 100 parrrcentages guaranteed.
When not buggered, point fraction more down wind, and make sure your feet land in the middle on take off, or toe pressure, no heal pressure. Doesn't take much to dig the inside rail in on a small board compared to the larger one you have.

Got a solution for the getting older lack of energy problem..

Get a toy boy

Sounds good except he still wouldnt be available to help me waterstart when I'm exhausted and stuck out the middle..Still be good to have help to carry the gear + put it on the car. Actually the last few sails I've had ( both times when i got someone to video me with the camera..I'm jinxed..[}:)]) I've had some helpful males carry the gear back for me..I'm usually not keen to be the helpless female but gave in.. The first time I was out with some others and heavy rain came over .. everyone else came in but I stayed out & got some ok runs..the rain was so heavy it flattened the water and looked aqua upwind..I got below where I needed to get out and was coming in and the guys came to help but I wasn't about to be rescued so I gybed intending to work upwind and clear the jetties and come in..Looking at the next whiteout of rain coming & not knowing if there was a squall in it ( I had the 6.6m up ) I decided to be helpless and come in & let them carry the gear..Thanks guys! The rain was so heavy we had a fresh water shower standing under an earth overhang at the end of Coal pt..
Lat sail when I crawled in exhausted they carried the rig up the beach..Lucky as usally when I sail there is noone else around..