I'm posting this as someone asked me about how I found the easy uphaul but I can't find the post to reply to them..So..
I haven't really mastered it yet.I do ok in flat water but yesterday I was out in choppy gusty 8 -18kts ( the chop felt bit for my 125) and I found it hard to balance to uphaul. I think I used to rely on my old uphaul for a bit of stability as I stood up and the new one isn't as good for that.
I still haven't got the length sorted ( I think I'll have worn out the velcro by the time I have..[}:)]).I think it may have been a little long but any shorter and I think I would have overbalanced into the sail as the board bucked around under me.
I was using it in conditions where it would have been easier to waterstart ( except the rotten sail always falls so the cams aren't popped the right way and I don't have the strength to pop them.
or if I did I'd be buggered after). That's why I prefer to uphaul it.
I suppose I'll get used to it but I must admit I expected it to be easier to get used to..It was less effort to rise the sail out of the water when I got it right.
Any tips?
No tips but a user report...
Started using one yesterday
I'm having a little difficulty getting the length correct. If I have it short enough to lift the sail I then have difficulty getting low enough to engage the loop on my seat harness hook
I think this problem is a combination of not being flexible enough to crouch low enough and the seat harness crunching up and blocking the hook. Orrrrr it could be my bear gut bulging over the hook when I crouch down to engage
Plus I fall off the board if I'm engaged but not lifted and the sail is swung by the wind across the nose or tail.
Once engaged and I'm using the up-haul as designed I wish it was shorter so I could lift the sail a little higher.
However I want to keep at solving these problems as it does certainly take the back aching grunt out of getting the sail underway - a big positive
It also takes out the back strain when swinging the sail around the board to get it downwind.
Early days yet
Cheers Jeff
Forget the uphaul.......... Waterstart.
Go out in 10 - 15 kts, loads easier to windsurf when you have wind more than 5 kts almost calm conditions.
Maybe its me .. I'm sure others have found them great! I'll get the hang of it sooner or later..
I have had one for about a 18 months I only use it on larger race sails either formula or raceboard as I find it easier to uphaul them then try to water start. I only really use it to drain the water off the sail which in my opinion is the hardest part of uphauling. So for me its better to have the length longer rather than shorter, if its to short it tends to make me feel like I am getting pulled off balance towards the sail. Its also good for a rest I can stand on the board leaning back against the easy uphaul and it doesnt matter how choppy it is.
The system works great however both mine and my sons easy uphaul have broken the elastic that goes over the mast base, not a big problem as I just tied it back on but has made me question the quality also the velcro on mine slips sometimes right when I have the most weight on it and I end up going in backwards. I will have to find a way to set the length right then secure it permanently.
Despite it not being perfect I still use it every time I haul out one of those big sails and wouldn't be without it, it saves a lot of energy, saves your hands and back and saves time.
I have one that was used a lot before I finally learned waterstarting. It worked great at first once properly adjusted but then the velcro began slipping so I tied it in a knot but then it was adjusted wrong and I had to bend over too far, now I have noticed the bottom elastic bit that slips over the base has stretched thin to the point of imminent breaking.
So I would say excellent design but poor quality.
Perhaps I can remove the bit that goes over the hook and add it to a regular uphaul?
I think they are probably good for flat water learning or uphauling from a big stable platform but not so good uphauling from shortboards in chop.
I just taught myself to uphaul the 95ltre with my usual uphaul rope and I think one of my problems is I use the base of the sail and uphaul rope to help me get upright on the board and stabilise myself. With the easy uphaul its thinner and a bit shorter so I can't use it that way so it may just be my technique.
Like Cam, I use with large race sails and only to get the head of the sail out of the water, I.e I set the length longer rather than shorter. I finish the up hauling with my arms, but once the head is out of the water it's much easier. With smaller sails (<7.0) I water start.
Sailers who have mastered this technique swear by them.
