Just wanted to start a thread about techniques and strategies for sailing when it is gusty conditions. I sail in a bay with choppy conditions which is fine but to add a bit of spice, the prevailing wind is a Westerly and it is always gusty. You can be ensured that the gusts are going to be twice the base wind. So on a 10 knot day the gusts will be 20 knots.
Boards are a 149 litre JP Magic Ride and a 114 litre JP FSW. Big boards you say? What would you like to be on when you are in the middle of the bay and the wind drops to 10 knots? To further add to the problem, I am now the wrong side of 60 and I am getting a bit stiff in the back and legs. I can't get on the smaller board to uphaul but I find the Magic Ride stable enough to get back on. So for this board I use a smaller sail, typically a 6 metre. Board for the lulls, sails for the gusts. By the way, the Magic Ride has been great and doesn't feel like a big board to me. It performs very well.
I have the FSW for stronger winds and I have set it up as a wave sail with the straps in-board, one centre strap on the back. When the gusts hit and it is going a bit pear-shaped, I move my weight over the centre of the board, similar to what I imagine a foiler may do. I can then ease out on the boom and open the sail like you would on a sailboat by easing off on the main sheet. The board gets under control and I can vary the power in the sail as much as I like because I am not using it for balance.
I would be very interested in picking up any other tips people have for these conditions. And yes, getting a planing gybe is a bitch.
