Well as we have a new 'wavesailing' forum then I thought the old salts from around Oz could pass on a few tips to sailors taking their first dig at the waves.

I have some surfing knowledge, whats the difference on a board that you don't have to paddle?

It may be helpful to add tips for others who haven't even surfed, for the sake of full knowledge and a helpful thread

So whats you tips?

Don't break anything.

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Wet Willy said...

Don't break anything.

What he said...

And, avoid nasty dumpy shore breaks

Or more specifically, if you're heading out at a wave that looks like it might dump on you, what would you choose?

a) chicken gybe,
b) stop,
c) bear off to a non-breaking section
d) sheet in and do a back loop,
e) take it on the head
or
...?

Funny, only this morning I was thinking about my first foray in the waves.

a few things I learned:

1> get an instructional dvd . I recommend Serious About Waves 2 and Pro Secrets - Real World Waves.

2> build up gradually. Find a spot that has small waves so you get the feel for sailing in 3D . Aim for a sandy spot with plenty of beach downwind (you don't want to wash up on the rocks when you inevitably get munched). If you've never sailed in swell, hold off on the waves and try this first. Try to choose a spot with side/side-on winds. Onshore winds make it very difficult to get through the break!

3> buy a cheap wavesail and a strong board. When you're learning the ropes gear damage is inevitable so don't go straight out and buy the latest or greatest unless you've got a money tree in the backyard. I ripped my sail in the shorebreak the first time I hit real waves and was super glad i'd only paid $60 for it!

4> talk to locals when you arrive at a new spot. Find out where to launch, if there are rips or any other features to be aware of.

5> know the rules. Right of way is critical at popular wave spots. Give way to upwind sailors or the sailor who is already on the wave. Wave riding has right of way over jumping. But if you're riding, try to give room to outgoing sailors if they're about to get munched.

6> use a waist harness. Seat harnesses are fine for blasting back and forth but you need the maneuverability of a waist harness for wave sailing.

7> hit oncoming whitewater straight on. It's amazing how much whitewater you can clear if you hit them perpendicular. Pre-jump white water (at least kick the back of the board down to lift the nose above the white wall) and try to be in the straps but not in the harness.

8>pre-empt the wave's effect on the wind. While sailing out in side-on conditions you tend to be in a wind shadow as you approach the wave face. As soon as you sail over the back of the wave you're back in the wind and combined with the effective forward angle of your rig (cos you're sailing "down") you will get powered up. In cross-off the opposite is true and you will find yourself pumping the sail to maintain speed over the back of the wave (in the wind shadow).

9> loosen footstraps. You don't want to get your feet stuck in the straps while you're getting rag dolled so make sure they're not too tight! Looser straps also help you to jam your feet in further to get your foot across the board for more effective turning.

10> raise your boom. A higher boom gives you a more upright stance that is conducive to the quick changes in body position required for wave sailing. It also helps you to use your weight to apply the necessary down-force to engage the front of the rail for your bottom turns.Lengthen your harness lines at the same time

11> while swimming in the break, always keep your mast pointing out to sea. Make it the first thing you do when you fall in (if you can't waterstart before the next wave). It will save you a lot of $ on broken masts.

12> don't go out in conditions you wouldn't swim in. Cos there's a good chace you will have to at some point.

good advice leech, i'll be giving you a call the first time i venture out!

I hope to hear from you soon, then!!!

Quick water starts are a bonus to, Peter Hart recommends to learn clew 1st water starts to save time in the water and just flip the sail around when you get up. Not that easy to do for me I even have trouble beach starting clew 1st Can anyone of u seasoned wave sailors do the clew 1st start ?

Just a few small comments to leech's great list.

4 and 5 combine these, We sail Leech's rule here, but some places may be different.
A lot of people say sailor going out has right of way period, this means if you're on a wave you have to always be looking to the side to see if anybody's blasting out on a collision course.

7) especially if you're underpowered, take all the weight off your back foot while the fin is in white water, it also helps to stop leaning out on the sail and put your weight over the board. This will reduce the chances of going sideways.

13) Be very careful going over the back of a wave fast, you're blind to surfers, or worse bodyboarders that may be wave riding.
If somebody's already sailing down the line, don't ever go over the back anywhere near them.

In fact unless the waves are small enough to see over them, or it's uncrowded enough to keep tabs of where everybody is, it's best not to go go over the back of a wave fast, as anybody could be crashed/wiped out in the impact zone.

Get out there and have fun, thats what its all about after all.

I found it easiest to learn at a cross/onshore spot, made it easier to bear off and out run stuff you don't want to hit and was just a bit easier in getting used to the environment. Everything is moving, I remember looking backwards on my first time out and seeing my wake getting eaten up by waves and going over lumps and bumps everywhere, and just thought how cool.

I must admit, I have been wave sailing for about 20 years and can't remember a time I have done a clew first water start (I do have a pretty crap memory though).

And for Laurie's question, sheet in and hang on.

12> don't go out in conditions you wouldn't swim in. Cos there's a good chace you will have to at some point.


ahhh thanks for the reminder of that day at lano

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laurie said...

Or more specifically, if you're heading out at a wave that looks like it might dump on you, what would you choose?

a) chicken gybe,
b) stop,
c) bear off to a non-breaking section
d) sheet in and do a back loop,
e) take it on the head
or
...?

C then usually turns into E then F. f)= swim like hell.

Don't paddle, you'll drop the sail!

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Leech said...

7> hit oncoming whitewater straight on. It's amazing how much whitewater you can clear if you hit them perpendicular. Pre-jump white water (at least kick the back of the board down to lift the nose above the white wall) and try to be in the straps but not in the harness.

This was a very helpful tip for me as I spent most my time learning on the inside takling that bloody white water
To get a wave you first have to get through them and out the back.
Then Id have to say get your waterstarts happening.
Then learn to gybe

Scariest thing in waves can be all the moving shadows caused by sand being swirled around etc...for those of us who are paranoid about sharkie warkies... the worst one is that big long shadow which always seems to be following you!

Any tips on controlling you board when it decides to go backwards in lightwinds after going over a heavy wave?

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Bladez said...

Any tips on controlling you board when it decides to go backwards in lightwinds after going over a heavy wave?

This one always gets me too, Ive found it really helps if you throw all your weight to oppose this force backwards, as you get to the peak of the wave force your board over it as much as you can. But at the end of the day its all about momentum the more you have the easier it is to get over.

Have $600 in your bank account.

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Bladez said...

Any tips on controlling you board when it decides to go backwards in lightwinds after going over a heavy wave?

a few good pumps before it hits you helps.

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P.C_simpson said...

Bladez said...

Any tips on controlling you board when it decides to go backwards in lightwinds after going over a heavy wave?

a few good pumps before it hits you helps.

Get out of the straps fast, stand near the mast, weight low, pump the b@$t@rd and try not to fall off...you may have a chance!

IMHO,
Start at a nice spot like Gerroa in NSW or Dutchies in Perth,

Join your state association and start getting to know the people you can sail with at your local spot so you will spend more time sailing and less time getting rolled.

I went out on a windsurfer with non retractable daggerboard and a sea skip sail at Palm Beach by myself, hated it so spent the next few years bored sh.t.less with one design and D2 racing.. ewwww.. now I wish I'd gone wave-sailing with friends earlier.

Equipment has changed a lot though so get the Associations free gear (some brand new from sponsors) to start with first..!
That's what it's meant for..!

Good tips all, cheers

Only prob with the last one Spaghetti (for those who don't live near big cities with dedicated windsurfing mobs)- I live in Coffs. Not much in the way of associations out here hey. Guessing there are some advantages of living in the big smoke now. Thinking Trial Bay is a must.

Mate, you have a few guys down your way that are very into wave sailing and great guys to catch up with.

Head down to Nambucca Heads and try to catch up with Lloyd Ellis, or his brother Richard, they will certainly point you on the right direction (Richard used to own the Nambucca Surf shop...not sure if this is still the case).

You also have the guys from NSW wavesailing usually up your way at least once a year. Their comps are usually at Woolgoolga on the back beach.

I know a few ex Sydney and Newcastle guys were living up your way at one stage however I don't know if they still are or not.

Hopefully that all helps, I tend to get down there from time to time as well but it's been a while now. I usually head to Woolgoolga.

Yeah can't wait to see the NSW Wavesailing at Woopi later this year

It'd be great to see a mob of windsurfers, all I see is the pics on this site, a couple of windys here, surfing and a couple of kites is what is done here mainly

Hope in not stuck in Armi for uni at the time hey

Yeah apparently Richard owns Coastal Curves www.coastalcurves.com/ in Nambucca