Came back to sailing after way too long... First ride with my point 7 rig and about the fifth ride on my 2006 Starboard carve 94. Still lots to learn but having a ball blasting around the bay !

Welcome back

What difference/s did you notice?

Speed and control, plus how light the rig feels...

Welcome back, the only thing you will regret is taking so long to get back. Nice water start. I noticed that you seem to be having a bit of trouble getting your back foot in the footstrap. Try widening the strap so you can get your foot (and bootie) in far enough so you can see you toes come out the other side.

Cheers guys. Yep luckily I'm nailing the water starts, because I'm stacking on most of the gybes ! And that damn foots trap. Keep missing it. Would you go front or back foot into the strap first ?

For me it depends.

If it's after a gybe or getting going and I'm trying to do it properly, then front foot first, and not till I'm planing.

If I'm sailing out into waves I try and get the back foot in ASAP, planing or not and keep the front foot jammed against the mast until I'm planing.

If I'm tired and or feeling a bit unco I'll jam the back foot in first for security, but it's a horrible habit.

Thanks for that advice. Looking forward to more time on the water

I'm front first then back. The back foot strap is always harder than the front, especially on slalom boards where they are located on the rail of the board. If you hang of your boom, as you put your foot in, it seems to be easier.

I've also seen some very good sailors put their back foot in first.

Try both and see what works best for you.

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Abdillam said..
Cheers guys. Yep luckily I'm nailing the water starts, because I'm stacking on most of the gybes ! And that damn foots trap. Keep missing it. Would you go front or back foot into the strap first ?

Front first, always front.

Try Guy Cribb's "Elvis shuffle" - pivot your back foot on the heel to get it in the strap.