I've been practicing waterstarts a lot lately, and (of course) it's very tiring.
Do you have any tips for trimming the sail/board in a way that allows you to just chill out for a little while and think / rest?

lairdkilgour said..
I use this (eg while waiting for a gust)to keep the sail from sinking back down when waterstarting in very light winds: one hand on the mast, the other holding the rear footstrap and resting the boom on that arm. Allows me to float for minutes without having to do more than tread water lightly.

When treading water in that configuration, do you find that you have to swim torque into the rig to keep the mast perpendicular to the wind? or is there a way to trim the sail so it does this automatically?

Buoyancy vest.

Imax1 said..
Think of sharks , instant water start

yep, If I need a rest it will be on top of the board not beside it.

olskool said..
Buoyancy vest.

+1, and chinook waterstarter is great for learners - and for huge sails

The best way is to master gybes.
Without falling.
My first success was to learn waterstart and neglect need for uphouling.
Catapulting also is old past , so only gybes remains
Then with improvements in gybes (as main reason to fall) there is no need to waterstart.
Then real problem appear.
Sailing dry for an hour or more make your body overheat and hand loose the grip on dry boom.
Sharks! everybody knows they are there below - so really no reason to stay in water any longer that is absolutely necessary.