Hi,
I saw berowne's thread on downwind technique and i wondered how someone would handle bigger waves going downwind more, is there a difference stance?
I catapult if i get on a big wave because the foil overflies (despite my weight forward and mast base pressure)
Im on 9.0 900 front wing and i think 225 back wing (i'd have to check fuselarge)
My upwind are very controlled as long as i maintain mast base pressure.
Thanks alot

I think it's more of a strategy of when in the waves/set you move downwind vs just moving in a straight line.

One thing I notice that I do when going over the back of a bigger swell, when heading downwind, is to turn upwind a bit so I take the swell on an angle

Hi Roy

Your gear sounds like an iQ setup which is for course racing... so I'll assume you want to go fast downwind. In Swell.

This is all about ToW and experience. Going slow in swell is not necessarily safer as you will go over the back of a wave and out, or up the back of one and catapult anyway!

Read the swell! Look at the patterns in the waves and anticipate when you will be too high or too low and adjust in advance. Watch out for cross chop as the waves power can add up and send you higher than the last 3 regular swells.

There are a LOT of ways to get the nose down!
1. Front foot down pressure
2. mast down pressure from front hand
3. mast down pressure from back hand (sheet in, nose down! and bonus, over-sheet for less power!)
4. back foot heel down for windward rail down. Foil at an angle has less lift than a flat foil
5. leeward rail down - and turn downwind as much as 30 degrees!
6. harness pressure down through the mast
7. wobble the foil (trust me it can help)
8. harness weight forward - move hips on long lines

My first 30kt run was in 10cm chop and I was SCARED! it felt huge.


Last month I did 27+kts in 20cm-1m swell (reaching). GoPro's really don't do wave size any favours!
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2022-10-18&team=33



Or 24kts in max 30cm swell during a course race.
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2022-10-29&team=33


Practice going fast whenever you can! It gets easier, but no less scary!

Select to expand quote

berowne said..
Hi Roy

Your gear sounds like an iQ setup which is for course racing... so I'll assume you want to go fast downwind. In Swell.

This is all about ToW and experience. Going slow in swell is not necessarily safer as you will go over the back of a wave and out, or up the back of one and catapult anyway!

Read the swell! Look at the patterns in the waves and anticipate when you will be too high or too low and adjust in advance. Watch out for cross chop as the waves power can add up and send you higher than the last 3 regular swells.

There are a LOT of ways to get the nose down!
1. Front foot down pressure
2. mast down pressure from front hand
3. mast down pressure from back hand (sheet in, nose down! and bonus, over-sheet for less power!)
4. back foot heel down for windward rail down. Foil at an angle has less lift than a flat foil
5. leeward rail down - and turn downwind as much as 30 degrees!
6. harness pressure down through the mast
7. wobble the foil (trust me it can help)
8. harness weight forward - move hips on long lines

My first 30kt run was in 10cm chop and I was SCARED! it felt huge.

Last month I did 27+kts in 20cm-1m swell (reaching). GoPro's really don't do wave size any favours!
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2022-10-18&team=33

Or 24kts in max 30cm swell during a course race.
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2022-10-29&team=33


Practice going fast whenever you can! It gets easier, but no less scary!

wdym by wobble the foil?
I sail in very wave and choppy areas
i have a similar setup to iq

Select to expand quote

Roy1000 said..

berowne said..
Hi Roy

Your gear sounds like an iQ setup which is for course racing... so I'll assume you want to go fast downwind. In Swell.

This is all about ToW and experience. Going slow in swell is not necessarily safer as you will go over the back of a wave and out, or up the back of one and catapult anyway!

Read the swell! Look at the patterns in the waves and anticipate when you will be too high or too low and adjust in advance. Watch out for cross chop as the waves power can add up and send you higher than the last 3 regular swells.

There are a LOT of ways to get the nose down!
1. Front foot down pressure
2. mast down pressure from front hand
3. mast down pressure from back hand (sheet in, nose down! and bonus, over-sheet for less power!)
4. back foot heel down for windward rail down. Foil at an angle has less lift than a flat foil
5. leeward rail down - and turn downwind as much as 30 degrees!
6. harness pressure down through the mast
7. wobble the foil (trust me it can help)
8. harness weight forward - move hips on long lines

My first 30kt run was in 10cm chop and I was SCARED! it felt huge.

Last month I did 27+kts in 20cm-1m swell (reaching). GoPro's really don't do wave size any favours!
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2022-10-18&team=33

Or 24kts in max 30cm swell during a course race.
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2022-10-29&team=33


Practice going fast whenever you can! It gets easier, but no less scary!

wdym by wobble the foil and ToW?
I sail in very wave and choppy areas
i have a similar setup to iq
Thanks alot

Awesome response, thank you, Berowne

ToW = Time on Water. Short hand for experience.

Wobble means wobble. Sometimes I find it hard to get enough leverage over the rail to keep it down so I just wobble it a bit. Disturbing the water flow.

Select to expand quote

berowne said..
ToW = Time on Water. Short hand for experience.

Wobble means wobble. Sometimes I find it hard to get enough leverage over the rail to keep it down so I just wobble it a bit. Disturbing the water flow.

Sorry, I just dont understand the wobble part what like rail the board flat then to windward ?
Thanks alot for my incompetance