22 COACHING WINDWISE TECHNIQUE
Downwind off the plane: Now you’re upwind you
have time and space to head downwind and
learn, learn, learn! You can then try gybes, sail
360s and duck gybes to mix it up a bit, all with
space and time to really sail downwind.
Mission 2: sail triangles
In addition to varying your run length, avoid just sailing back
and forth, sail upwind, tacking for a good 5-10-15 minutes
and then broad reach back. Just get yourself upwind as
much as possible and don’t come back on the same line you
went out. Try to create time and space to dedicate yourself
to learning how to sail downwind, not just a little at the end
of a normal run, truly sail downwind. Force yourself to train,
experiment with fast broad reaching (120 degrees + off the
wind) as soon as possible. This dramatically speeds up your
confidence, gybing success rate and for those that way
inclined, any wave or freestyle aspirations you might have.
On our Windwise sessions we try to encourage this ‘upwind
downwind’ ethos as it makes a monumental difference to
how quickly everyone learns.
So mix things up with very short or longer runs, do more
upwind and downwind sailing, and use these strategies
regardless of the wind strength or your level.
Non-planing upwind – downwind strategy
Get out the big Freeride board, WindSUP or really test
yourself on your small board and sail upwind.
Planing upwind – downwind strategy
When it’s windy blast upwind trying tacks, heli’s or duck
tacks, whatever your level. Spend a good 10-15 minutes
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WIND
SURFING
Upwind planing