Sorry I couldn't think of what to call the topic.

I haven't been doing the GPS thing for long but I've noticed that I seem to get my PB's when I'm in survival sailing mode. Both times as I was reaching / bearing off I felt like I was going to be lifted up and over the front ( but sort of slow mo). I brought it back down again in control but is that a typical feeling when you bear off really overpowered up?
I haven't noticed it just freeriding but when I was really powered up I suppose I used to work upwind..

Welcome to speed sailing sboardcrazy

Yep that's the feeling and the more you do it the more you get comfortable with it.

If it not scary then its not fast!!!

If you bear off a bit more the sail pressure decreases, and the rig is more manageable. There's just that transition period between going square and starting to turn downwind that can be a bit scary.
After that it's just a matter of keeping the board on the water! (That's why it's nice to find somewhere flat.)

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Waiting4wind said..

If it not scary then its not fast!!!

Not sure I agree, scary feels fast, no doubt about that, but my fastest runs haven't felt scary at all.
And my scariest runs haven't been that fast.
I guess because I'd found some flat water and everything was under control for my fast runs, and it was more choppy than my skill level can accommodate when it was scary.

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decrepit said...
If you bear off a bit more the sail pressure decreases, and the rig is more manageable. There's just that transition period between going square and starting to turn downwind that can be a bit scary.
After that it's just a matter of keeping the board on the water! (That's why it's nice to find somewhere flat.)

I reckon Luderitz would throw up the most extreme case of this feeling bearing away looking at the videos. That's a very sharp turn they take entering the course thats only 4 to 5 metres wide.

I'm new to GPSTC and have just started to chase better top speeds. I discovered in my last session that I hadn't been bearing away deep enough in the gust. As soon as I did, everything settled down and the pressure in the sail eased to point that I actually felt underpowered. Each time I did this I found an extra couple of knots, then the wind eased, damn it! Cant wait for the next big westerly because I think I'm onto something. I'd say push it a bit deeper into the bear away and see how it feels.

Yeeehaaarrr!

I would say when you do decide to bear off and you're already really powered up, do it gradually. Don't change direction too quickly and make sure when you go you also move you're body back towards the tail of the board. It also helps to make a small adjustment with your foot angles in the straps to reflect the change in forces. Ensure you also very slightly sheet out the sail and don't suddenly sheet out!

Welcome to speed sailing indeed!

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Bonominator said..

Yeeehaaarrr!

I would say when you do decide to bear off and you're already really powered up, do it gradually. Don't change direction too quickly and make sure when you go you also move you're body back towards the tail of the board. It also helps to make a small adjustment with your foot angles in the straps to reflect the change in forces. Ensure you also very slightly sheet out the sail and don't suddenly sheet out!

Welcome to speed sailing indeed!

+ 1

And if your sailing with short harness lines, go longer, it will help you get a better / safer stance for charging down wind.

Ah that's good then I must be doing something right!
It wasn't scaring me I just wasn't sure if it was noraml.I realise as I bear away the apparent wind will lessen- most of the time I don't have enough wind.
I sailed more powered up than usual yesterday and finally got some decent gybes and 4 PB's! Got the heart rate up though so I'll need to get fitter although I was doped up on pills with a headcold. I'm feeling it today- the cold didn't approve but I had a ball!