Hello anybody !

Whilst I am trying to perfect my planing ability, I'd like to know the best way to head upwind in light winds , in sub-planing conditions, from a broad reach course, without engaging as yet in a full reversal with a gybe.
In other words how to steer from broad reach towards beam reach and then into the upwind zone. In either cases, it involves upwind steering. It is not easy with a short-board, even if the upwind steering is done, as it should, in small angle increments.

I have just purchased a 145 lt Tabou Rocket, which comes with a longish 46 cm fin.
My quiver of sails is a 7.5 Freeride Ezzy sail and a 6.5 Gaastra Pilot.

I was coming around pretty well towards planing with the beginner Starboard Rio , even with the daggerboard fully retracted, but with the new Tabou Rocket it seems I have to re-learn the trade. I find it very nimble, responsive and " rearing to go", allright, but a bit wobbly.Perhaps I was spoiled with the Rio, but I am not worried. I'll get adjusted quickly. What concerns me is the sub-planing upwind steering technique.

Usually I start moving slightly downwind in a broad reach, out of the harness and the footstraps. Before I get too far downwind, I must sooner or later head back upwind to engage in the return path towards the launching point.

At this point, i.e. when I am in a sub-planing broad reach course, am I still supposed to steer upwind with the backward forward/tilt of the rig ? I tried backward tilting the rig, but it sinks the tail. Do I have to forget this and bank instead with the heels on the windward rail to have the board carve upwind?
What is the proper position of the body and the weight distribution along the board when correcting the course more upwind? Will scissoring the board help, when sub-planing?
I know somebody will tell me :" why don't you get planing, once for all? Steering is so much easier with speed and planing!" My answer is : true, but until I get there, I must cope with sub-planing/light wind conditions. So it is essential I learn how to handle a short-board accordingly.

To wrap it up: can somebody give me the right upwind technique ( sub-planing)?

Thank you

Francone

www.guycribb.com/userfiles/documents/Look%20Depressed.pdf

This summarised it nicely for me. Shows how the rig + rail pressure can be used in non-planning conditions.

Oppose the rig:

Rig goes back, you go forwards. This stops the tail from sinking, and makes you head upwind.

Leaning forward helps in going upwind even when planing...

nebbian said...

Oppose the rig:

Rig goes back, you go forwards. This stops the tail from sinking, and makes you head upwind.

Leaning forward helps in going upwind even when planing...

That's well put.

I find in none planing conditions things work a bit differently. I use a fairly short 125 litre slalom board in the ocean and in less than 10 kts I must stand with the front foot up near the mast -as far forward as I can without the nose going under. The back foot pushes the tail away to point hard up wind and to stop the board going right into the wind and stalling I tilt the sail forwards and away from me. It is a fine balance as the forward sail wants to push the nose away and at the same time I am steering hard to windward. This way I can sail very high into the wind (not planing of course) Practice makes perfect. Tilting the sail back will only make you go up wind until you stall.

nebbian said...

Oppose the rig:

Rig goes back, you go forwards. This stops the tail from sinking, and makes you head upwind.

Leaning forward helps in going upwind even when planing...

Not to confuse Francone I hope - the above is correct, but not always. Just thought I'd mention for those who may be reading this thread and are thinking of boards that are small (145L is not small ) that the mast goes forwards.
On a waveboard you need to lean the mast forward a LOT - so much that you can't hook in with the harness) or else the tail sinks real bad.

As nebs says, get your weight forward and sail back to turn upwind,
When going upwind non planning it's very easy to oversheet. Most underpowered sails, centre of effort will be further forward than when powered up.

Thank you for your hints!
There is one more point, however, which is unclear. Guy Cribbs, I believe, proposes a " reverse steering" for upwind as an alternative, i.e. you don't bank on the windward rail to go upwind, but, instead, on the leeward rail! . I fail to understand the physics of this, because the braking ( or carving) action being on the leeward rail, the board should turn downwind!

Can somebody comment on this, please?

Thank you

Francone

Francone said...

you don't bank on the windward rail to go upwind, but, instead, on the leeward rail!

ah...when planing, I do this, slightly riding the leeward rail. not sure to the physics of it, but it feels to increase board speed and therefore pointing ability (although this might just be my imagination)
it's only sub-planing I dig the windward rail in (which makes it sound more exagerated than it is...it's essentially just favouring one rail over the other, instead of the usuall flat trim on a normal reach while planing).

I find fin size is also important.
I find it challenging to sail upwind with a 30cm fin on my 85L sonic (stock fin), but easier with a 32.