What's the best thing to do when you feel too out of control to try and pull it back in?

Hang on and keep trying to pull it back in!

As soon as you feel the fin let go dig your heels in and lift your toes to stop the leeward rail digging and spitting you of.

After that try to pull your heals back under you, generally ends up being a chin-up under the boom.

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elmo said...

As soon as you feel the fin let go dig your heels in and lift your toes to stop the leeward rail digging and spitting you of.

After that try to pull your heals back under you, generally ends up being a chin-up under the boom.

Agree with the first part, I then drop my bum into the water and use that as a brake, come to a complete stop, then start again.

If you're spinning out downwind at speed, for no apparent reason, the front of your fin may be too thick.

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lao shi said...

Hang on and keep trying to pull it back in!

+1 and do it ASAP

Unhook <-- important!

Clench

Pray

Sheet out

Push on your front heel

If all else fails then bail out and live to sail another day

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decrepit said...

elmo said...

As soon as you feel the fin let go dig your heels in and lift your toes to stop the leeward rail digging and spitting you of.

After that try to pull your heals back under you, generally ends up being a chin-up under the boom.

Agree with the first part, I then drop my bum into the water and use that as a brake, come to a complete stop, then start again.

This was my intention but I forgot the first bit

Thanks for the responses. Was kinda hoping for some magic safe bail-out method I think next time I'll try harder to recover as quick as I can. If it keeps happening I'll try a different fin too.

Depends how gnarly the conditions are. If normal comfortable day I will try to pull it back. If it choppy & already on edge unhook, drop ur bum & get outboard, keep the board on leeward edge kinda like nebs said- keep the rail weighted with front foot but pull the back around so board tracks straightish. All that should ensure you dont trip the front & start to slow you down to a point where you can stand back up and get fin back into it's groove.

Talking to others i sail with everyone tends to do it a bit different, thats just what i do & really only go over front when im being stupid or hit something.

Just say for example you are sailing along at the pit at about 20 or so metres per second about 130 degrees off the wind and about 2 or 3 metres from the beach and damn it all the arse steps way out. You could stay hooked in, get low and climb off the windward side of the board just as it hooks the leward rail. You might just end up with a broken mast and a knee through the bottom of the missile.
Alternatively you could stay standing, unhook while muttering hail marys and wait for the rail to catch and pitch you over the mast to land somewhare down wind clear of the rig. The proximity to beach makes it difficult to find a safer strategy.

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Squid Lips said...

What's the best thing to do when you feel too out of control to try and pull it back in?

Buy a C3 Venom. I thought that was the first rule! But I'm sure you've probably tried that

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buzzy said...

Squid Lips said...

What's the best thing to do when you feel too out of control to try and pull it back in?

Buy a C3 Venom. I thought that was the first rule! But I'm sure you've probably tried that

Yep cause then you'll be used to sailing with spinout all the time

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REDhat said...

Just say for example you are sailing along at the pit at about 20 or so metres per second about 130 degrees off the wind and about 2 or 3 metres from the beach and damn it all the arse steps way out. You could stay hooked in, get low and climb off the windward side of the board just as it hooks the leward rail. You might just end up with a broken mast and a knee through the bottom of the missile.
Alternatively you could stay standing, unhook while muttering hail marys and wait for the rail to catch and pitch you over the mast to land somewhare down wind clear of the rig. The proximity to beach makes it difficult to find a safer strategy.

Just for example...

One of my best two sec times was going sideways during a spinout! I eventually dragged it back and recovered. Unhooking never occurs to me, I'm too busy trying to drag the tail of the board back.

Jarrod,bad luck with the bingle.I hope it wasn,t my advice that caused it. It was a tough day to start your speed sailing.A few methods work at the Pit, 1......Jamb your heals in, keeping the lee edge clear and slow the board. Then flick the back foot under your bum. (High speed method,but square to the wind)
2.....Quickly straighten front leg,while flicking the back leg under your bum (Low speed, up wind)
3...... Sheet out and push off the boom and into the water. Cross your arms and keep your body flat. Feet first. (High speed, very broad off the wind) This will hurt but the gear usually will go down wind and away from you.

Try running closer to the bank in the smooth water and don,t be in a hurry to load up the fin. Above all keep calm and smooth with your feet. Hope this helps

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mkseven said...

buzzy said...

Squid Lips said...

What's the best thing to do when you feel too out of control to try and pull it back in?

Buy a C3 Venom. I thought that was the first rule! But I'm sure you've probably tried that

Yep cause then you'll be used to sailing with spinout all the time

At lest you can pull them back in not like those death trap selects you use

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Squid Lips said...

What's the best thing to do when you feel too out of control to try and pull it back in?

Go for a Flaka!

Cheers kato, some good tips there. It definitely wasn't your advice on the day that made me crash but having to cross over from the other bank to start the run contributed. That was hard work! I think following what you said in your last line will help most.