Hi Guys,

Been windsurfing a little at Bonbeach, did a lesson a year ago at sail HQ. Progressing slowly (slowly is the key here) I just had a few questions about my technique - or lack of it.

I have read that once you are up and moving, the weight of the sail should feel even between both your hands, I find that when I pull my back hand in it makes the sail feel 'heavier' mostly in my front hand. Because of this I find that I then sheet out as I have trouble maintaining it. In the video I think you can see this, as the clew is not near the back of the board. My understanding is these should be a lot closer together when sailing directly across the wind.

Is it possible that you guys can give some insights from the video? Somehow I thought buying a GoPro would make me look like a pro instantaneously... it hasn't... Instead I guess I can use it as a training tool :)



Im also struggling with jibes, thats another story I won't bore you with right now...

Short answer - you are doing it correctly!

Long answer... Since you arn't plaining, you should feel the apparent wind (ie: the wind you feel while moving) over your shoulder and back -> to handle this, the sail needs to be "at the correct angle", which *isn't* inline with the board. If you were to trim the sail inline with the board, the sail will "stall" (aka: not generate any power).

If you were plaining, you would feel the apparent wind almost directly in front of your face and only a little over your shoulder -> in which case, the angle of the sail will be closer to the centreline (but still not exactly on the centreline).

I couldn't tell if you are using a harness... if not, then I would suggest getting one as it looks like you are at that stage - it will help you to sheet-in, which will mostly give you the power-balance that you are looking for.

Note that setup your harness lines can be a little tricky -> there are various techniques, but the easiest are Guy Gribb's technique or to find someone else with a bit of experience and get them to take your gear for a run.

Next time your at Bonbeach with other windsurfers around ask for Stephen and I can give you some help. Plus ask any of the other windsurfers there for help they would be willing to help for sure.

"I'm also struggling with jibes" ......

Gybes: something we all practice, but few master.

Recommendation: Guy Cribb, INtuition Gybe DVD. About $65 for 2 hours. The first gybe he does during the intro is breathtaking.

Hey Ginno,

Early Planing - To get planing early, its all about dropping your hips and pushing through the front foot. Alot of people make the mistake of bending both legs which means your legs act like a shock absorber and you lose our on 50% of your mast foot pressure.

Gybes - In this video you are trying a non-planing carve gybe, your entrance is good, but try and remember to slow your arc! A carve gybe should have 3 steps:
-Preparation - Back hand down the boom, broard reach, unhook, drop low.
-Transition - Iniciate carve through front foot, keeping that mast forwards, looking out of the turn - foot change then flip the rig
-Exit - come out of the gybe on a broad reach, dropping low, and sail away.

I have been teaching in Dahab, Egypt over the past 2.5 years, if you see me on the beach - Severne Sails (ZU Sticker), and Starboard boards come have a chat and ill throw you some tips.

Good luck!

PS: Its a great idea to add your go pro footage up online so we can see your progression.

+1 on the Cribbs video. It seems like its all about gybing, but the core techniques he teaches applies to almost every element of windsurfing. Mast foot pressure, down force etc....

Also the DVD beginner to winner is a good alround reference.

Welcome to the sport!

Got planning last night at Bonbeach at 7!! Mental!! No harness and no footstraps, pretty scared now to think about using one after the few catapults :) but will strap in in some lighter conditions... Found the first few runs I needed to put centre board down on way out to gain some up wind as I was losing ground. Moved my feet to the windward rail a little more after a few runs and found I could maintain upwind better.
Luckily my mate came out towards 8 because wind picked up and 180l board nearly ended up in our faces if he didn't jump on it as we derigged in the dark!!
Thanks guys for the tips... Still buzzing....

Ps John u missed out ( if ur on these forums )

I wonder if your front hand isn't too far back. Try moving it further towards the mast.

nice work!