When I say fast current, I mean the surface current cause by wind blowing.

If you hold the mast near the tip the board will move downwind into a good position for waterstarting.

If the clew is submerged, when you lift the mast (I find about 1m from the tip is a good place to lift from) instead of lifting straight up, slice the sail out of the water in a plane parallel to the plane of the sail. Reach across your body and pull the sail up and over your head. That way you are not lifting any water other than what is in the luff tube, just pulling the sail out of it.

Don't lift the mast too high until the clew is entirely clear or you will encourage the clew to dig in. Just high enough for wind to flow under it.

Another alternative is to buy a waterstarter, which floats the clew, or attach a bit of pool noodle to your clew.

my two tips would be:

1) make sure you get as quickly as you can to the top of you mast when you stack it.

2) try and swim the tip of the mast to point towards the oncoming waves (only if you have enough time and if the swell isn't to big)

This has a number of advantages:
- it's relatively easy to lift the mast tip out of the water regardless of which direction the wind some from. Once the tip is out the wind will catch the sail and easily lift it free even if the board is upside down.

- if the clew is sunk under the water lifting the tip will allow the wind to catch and pull / flip the sails clear.

- if you are about to get hit by the next set you it's always easier to hold on to the tip of the mast and even better push it under the wave. It's a bit like you are duck diving your rig. Make sure the board isn't between you and the wave though

- it probably wouldn't hurt for you to learn how to flip and upside down board with your feet while in the water start position


Also, you might actually want to practice all of this on a day when the swell isn't too big. Once it gets above a certain size you gear really is your secondary concern.

Don't know if this will help but it's what I do, Swim your kit into position and place the back of the board just under the mast....This helps the rig float a bit. Next swim backwards to let the water drain from the sail, Then holding the back of the board with your free hand grab the boom or the mast just above the boom with the other hand and whip it over your arm and above your head and it should easily start to fly. With bigger sails, like everyone has said its sometimes easier to swim to the tip and lift it enough for the wind to get under then work your way down the mast to the boom. The important thing is to get the sail flying as quick as you can, When it's up and flying it's far easier to survive chop or waves and wait for the right gust to get going.

Windxtasy said...

stehsegler said...


- it probably wouldn't hurt for you to learn how to flip an upside down board with your feet while in the water start position

What is the best way to do that?

Probably Guy Cribb.

jh2703 said...

Don't know if this will help but it's what I do, Swim your kit into position and place the back of the board just under the mast....This helps the rig float a bit. Next swim backwards to let the water drain from the sail, Then holding the back of the board with your free hand grab the boom or the mast just above the boom with the other hand and whip it over your arm and above your head and it should easily start to fly. With bigger sails, like everyone has said its sometimes easier to swim to the tip and lift it enough for the wind to get under then work your way down the mast to the boom. The important thing is to get the sail flying as quick as you can, When it's up and flying it's far easier to survive chop or waves and wait for the right gust to get going.

Looks so easy

[b]how to flip an upside down board with your feet while in the water start position

I never thought about doing this until i saw it in the tricktionary iphone app
(it comes with the free 'lite' version). They list 2 ways of doing it
when ready to do the final jump onto board bit of waterstart, flying the rig, get one or prefereably both feet onto the windward rail near the mastfoot and push it over (or sharp kick is easier) and then as normal, or it can be done as you jump up on to the board in one motion