Hi everyone. Being my 1st season windsurfing, x-mas eve was the first day i've been out on a true seabreeze . I had a 5.3 wave sail (my biggest sail), I'm 85kgs and once i realised i was fairly powered up, i cranked on some more downhaul and my board, JP 160 Funster, became easier to handle. I'm still in the 'intermediate' footstraps and i am struggling to workout how to balance the rear footstraps vs harness position vs mast base position . When i try the rear straps the board wants to head up wind and come off the plane and i find myself pushing the mast forward and getting up towards the forward straps just to stay on the plane. Is this a technique floor? should i look at getting some 1 on 1 lessons?
Any info/advice would be awesome.

When I was beginning, to avoid that upwind direction when getting in the rear strap I was advised to aim my board full downwind so when I would fit my rear foot the board would go upwind but not so much as to loose the plane.

It worked...

Stu, a common problem. Easy to fix. remember you core skills, mast position reference forward back left to right. If you are heading up-wind, normally means you have healed the board over, over sheeted and loss drive from the sail, as you try to get into the rear strap. Remember to keep the board flat with front foot toes down, heal slightly up, head down wind a tad then slip the rear in. Don't get concerned if you miss the slot a few times. It will come as you progress.
Try this web site all about core skills.
www.guycribb.com/windsurfing_technique_holiday0056v01.aspx?awvariantid=1
Soon as you register (its free) then look under magazine articles pdf files.

keep your weight on your toes not your heels.
keep the weight through your harness as much as you can.

I agree with bertie, probably placing too much weight on the board through your feet and not enough in the harness. This will heel the board over and it will turn upwind. The idea is to keep your weight in the harness and the board flat.

Thanks for the advice everyone
Just need more time on water now

Get into harness, bear away slightly, front foot in, concentrate on keeping weight in your harness, slide your back foot so the outside of your foot is just touching the front of the back strap. That way you know just where the strap is. Let the harness take your weight again and slide foot into strap. Push with toes of the front foot to bear away again.
When you get confortable with being able to slide your back foot straight into the strap you can omit the middle step, but that may take a while.