check your beers are stacked and chilled for after session rehydration recovery!!

seanhogan said...
more downhaul

...and less outhaul.

Only do short runs so you gybe and tack more, they are the hardest things to master.

Never slow down to go into a gybe and lean forward, if your not about to be thrown over the front of your board and into your sail, your not leaning forward enough.

Move where it's windy...

The gybe is a K - it is not reach to reach.

The numbers on your extension are probably not correct as you can't downhaul to zero in most cases - learn how to rig by eye and feel (along with experimenting as above)

Mast Foot Pressure.

Many good suggestions above so I won't repeat them. My top 2

1. When you gybe really, really bend your knees and get your weight forward. Too many people have straight legs with bum hanging out over the back - just sinks the tail and stalls the board

2. See how many gybes you can do without falling - start with 5, then go onto 10 then 20, you will get really tired as the number increases, but it will improve your gybing

Mark I agree, get a ruler out with your extension and measure, think about how far it can physically downhaul, you never get it all the way to the bottom. I didn't have my set correctly last weekend, deep down I knew but went out anyway and it was rubbish, I kept getting pulled over.

sausage said...
Don't get married and have kids

Agree with the above statement. You'll have soooooo much more time to get out and sail with out them. Hence your sailing will improve

look where You want to go! not at your feet.

Don't chicken out 100% each sail every sail.

Make the most of the gear you have and HAVE FUN!

Get professional help. I mean, do a course with any of the really good instructors mentioned on the site from time to time.

Increases your skill exponentially from what ever level you are at.

PhilSWR said..
Move where it's windy...

You've had a lousy season up there Phil..mind you ours hasn't been brilliant but looks good compared to up there.

Wear and approved GPS device

These are my tips if (like me) you live a bit of a drive from the sea:

(a) Don't forget to pack all the essentials in the car -- e.g. masts (done that), mast base (also done, more than once), boom (yes, done that too)

(b) Do take as much gear with you as you can fit inside whatever vehicle you own and still drive it with reasonable safety, because you cannot trust and therefore should not plan what to bring on the basis of the weather prediction for the locality you are going to.

That said, as long as you did (a), even if you didn't do (b), still go out on the water, because you've driven a long way, its against to rules to arrive at the beach and not get wet, and you will learn something and even maybe still have fun.

PS -- if you didn't do (a), then still go for a swim or a nice walk on the beach

sausage said..
Don't get married and have kids

Yeah because it decreases your chances of getting to Maui with Hargs & Greenie & co. lol