Hi guys . It's my first season in the sport and am loving the challenge and the people involved . Much better vibe than supping/ surfing .
Question is
I'm 51 70kg and pretty agile fit.
Am currently beach start water start most attempts. Lol
Planing in harness but just can't get into straps.
My board is 100ltr rocket wide.
Would it help speed up learning process straps gybeing ect if I bought a bigger board. 130l for example . ?
Love the sport . Frustrated to go next level .

Thanks in advance for any advice .

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boilerchippy said.. >>>>
Would it help speed up learning process straps gybeing ect if I bought a bigger board. 130l for example . ?
Love the sport . Frustrated to go next level .

Thanks in advance for any advice .

I doubt it, a bigger board is handy when learning to uphaul, but you are way past that stage.

It would be helpful to know why you can't get into the straps.
If you are planing you should be powered enough.
Maybe you are sinking the tail as you move your weight back???
You can't maintain course?
Or you loose balance?


Although it seems to happen fast when an experienced rider does it, there is a constant change of trim as it happens.

As weight moves back the centre of lateral resistance also moves back, so the sail has to track this movement other wise you go downwind.

But the rear of the board can't support the same weight unless you go faster, so either you move back slowly as you pick up speed, or you put more of your weight through the boom, to stop the tail from sinking.
The less board in the water, the faster you can go, as long as your going fast enough for the smaller whetted area to support you.

So it's a progressive thing, not a sudden change.

Another thought, some straps are very outboard, this is for counteracting the rotating force of the fin at speed. So if the fin isn't producing enough force. and you put your weight on the rail the board will sink the leeward rail and want to turn upwind. In that case it will help you to move the straps inboard if possible, or try a bigger fin

My wife was 50 when she started, and had trouble getting into the straps. She suggests water starting with one foot in the strap, she says, that's what helped her.
I think she started with front foot in, but I prefer back foot in, I have more control of the board, and can pull the back of the board under my bum as I get up. If under powered, I adopt a very wide stance until going fast enough to bring front foot back into the strap.

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boilerchippy said..
Hi guys . It's my first season in the sport and am loving the challenge and the people involved . Much better vibe than supping/ surfing .
Question is
I'm 51 70kg and pretty agile fit.
Am currently beach start water start most attempts. Lol
Planing in harness but just can't get into straps.
My board is 100ltr rocket wide.
Would it help speed up learning process straps gybeing ect if I bought a bigger board. 130l for example . ?
Love the sport . Frustrated to go next level .

Thanks in advance for any advice .

I'm wondering if your boom needs to be a little higher.

Learning to catch the footstraps is one of the truly joyous times when learning to windsurf, where you'll also start to learn to do proper catapaults.

as decrepit said, can you provide a little more info? Are you struggling to get back far enough to try to get in them? Or trying to hook into them, and finding the boards fluffing out on you in the meantime?

go big then sell it on
works a treat

Thanks for the replies and advise guys. Every little bit helps at the moment.
Update. I got into the straps on the 100 litre rocket wide and it was amazing . A decent run finished of with a spectacular catapult. ?? fin hit the bottom .typicaly what has been happening is that as soon as I get the front foot in either start zig zagging all over the place or just sink the tail and lose all speed head up wind. Fall off ...
Well I bought the 130litre funride. It's pretty much the Same physical size as the 100litre just thicker
First outing today novara boat ramp.
I got into the straps a few times with a lot more control. Concentrated on loading up the mast foot while moving my feet.
Still seem to be losing speed ? The bigger volume board is certainly a lot more forgiving of my clumsy fumblings..

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boilerchippy said..
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Still seem to be losing speed ? The bigger volume board is certainly a lot more forgiving of my clumsy fumblings..

Maybe you are sheeting out while you load up the boom, that will slow you down. Or even over sheeting, that will slow you as well.

As Decrepit says, keep your weight through the boom. If more volume is helping you I'd think this is the problem, once planing stay sheeted in and when comfortable your feet will be in right position, front foot in then back foot, don't look at your feet while doing it.

I'll be at Novara this arvo, old guy, KA sails, come and have a chat.

Also maybe not powered up enough or fast enough.

Don't think you have to get into the straps. You progressively move back and once planing you kinda get into the straps because you have to.\
If you jump back into the straps too early because you think it is a "good thing to be in the straps" then no amount of mast base pressure will help

That's one of the problems with so many articles for intermediates about getting in the straps and getting in the harness, I think so many people see that as a goal that they then try too early

Have a look at your boom height. You might need to be a little higher so you can hang off the booms a bit to get some drive off the front of the board.

Cheers for all the help fellas. I think we,'ve narrowed it down to not enough mast foot pressure. Being a pussy and sheeting out when hit by gusts. not fully committing to the harness. Soooooo I'll get shorter harness lines 28'' from 30.
Or even get some adjustable ones. And rustle up a seat harness. Waist harness keeps riding up. Mong body syndrome lol.
Thanks again and stay tuned.