18 COACHING WINDWISE TECHNIQUE
Too small?
Your board is too small, narrow or soft
railed if…
1. Compared to similar level sailors on equal size sails
you’re always much slower to plane.
2. You have problems staying upwind, despite being
powered up with a sensible sized fin.
3. The board feels very sluggish, sticky and slows down
very quickly.
4. The board either heads into wind a lot or sails nose high.
5. The board sinks below ankle depth when you’re not
planing (exception to this would be speed or very
experienced wave sailors on small wave boards).
6. The board fits neatly under your arm you might well have
bitten off more than you can stand on!
Answer: pile on a few litres of volume, spread the board’s
waistline and go for a flatter rocker and sharper rails.
Sailing small boards, even in very high winds, actually
requires good early planing skills, otherwise you’ll be too over
powered. Getting those feet inboard, forward and adopting a
‘Straight 7’ stance by lifting, locking and tightening your torso
will help get that submarine planing. If you are in the straps
and feel like you’re coming off the plane use the cheats way
to keep planing by looking and leaning the body and rig
forward massively to keep it going.
Quick fin guide
We will go into this in more detail in coming months, but in
very simple terms.
Your fin is too small if…
Your finding it hard to get planing, the board spins out a lot
or it’s a real struggle to keep upwind.
Answer: try a larger fin(s).
Your fin is too big if…
The nose or whole board bounces, lifts, rails and constantly
heads upwind and your ankles and rear thigh aches (Note
that outboard straps will help control a large fin).
Answer: try a smaller fin!
We hope this feature will get you thinking about you and
your kit for the coming season. As ever if you have any
technique requests, questions or suggestion please send
to [email protected]
Windwise UK: improver-advanced coaching throughout the year
Unique skills training system www.windwise.net
uk
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