Need some help with wavesailing

[scooper]

I practice that move a lot, (it's in one of the Peter Hart wavesailing videos). I move my rear hand back on the boom, do a gibe, leave my feet in the straps and sail switchstance, clew-first, and try to stay on plane. I practice in flat water, chop and waves, any time I can. I find it helps to be really powered. I can do it pretty well going about 3/4 of the way through the turn, good enough for side-onshore conditions, but going all the way around, for dead-onshore conditions, is still very hard for me. It's a precarious position, all twisted up, leaning foward to try to keep planeing, up on my toes, with the sail clew first and tugging. It is fun to practice though.

[jsampiero]

Hey Amateur,

I've got a bit of experience wave sailing in NW Florida- and yes, it does exist.

Directly on shore winds make for difficult wave sailing - as somebody said earlier, the direction is all wrong. the key is to find a spot where the wind is sideshore, side-on, or, if the beach is clear of condos and other windage, side-off.

If I recall, you're in PCB, right? if so, you're quite close to one of my favorite spots, Cape San Blas. On a good Northwest it can be a helluva good time.

For a strong NE, check out the State park at St. George's Island.

SW, try Alligator point, or the opposite edge of Cape San Blas.


http://thewindmap.com/wiki/index.php/CSB_%3D_State_Park-North_America

Zoom out from here to get a good idea of launches in the area.

And oh, yeah - don't be afraid to slow down and stall a little to catch the wave.


EDIT - On that page, if you click on "View on Main Map", in the top left corner, it will take zoom you out so you can see other sailing sites in the area.

- Josh