Hanging on for dear life

[isobars]

I'll comment on BFF vs FFF if and when anyone posts something about it that hasn't already been beaten to death. Until then, you guys are welcome to post your same old misconceptions about how it's done and what it accomplishes.

[swchandler]

"I'll comment on BFF vs FFF if and when anyone posts something about it that hasn't already been beaten to death."


Is that a promise? One can only hope.

[Sailboarder]

Darbonne and Konajoe,

I used to do much more planing in the front strap only for the wrong reasons. I had trouble getting in the back strap and thought it was a technique issue. It was not the case, it was more of a tuning issue.

Once I decided I had to sail with both feet in the straps, I started searching for ways to make it happen. When things are trimmed correctly, your back foot will place itself over the back strap, and you'll feel the strap is annoying and in the way. Might as well put it in, and it's not difficult at all by then. If the strap is too far back, it means the setup is wrong.

I see two conditions. The first one is peculiar to the Kona I think. If you are stuck in the slow planing mode I described earlier in this thread, there is no setup possible. You have to change the objective and ride with the nose higher, the board will free up. In the slow plane mode, I had to sail with the back foot close to the front strap, very catapult prone! I also found than if I'm able to be on a slow plane, I can also be on a full plane instead, no excuses.

If you are planing correctly, but still don't have you back foot very close or over the back strap, some tuning is required. What jingebritsen offered is good. A higher boom (readjust the harness lines) and a mast base further back will help a lot. Moving the straps forward and even using a smaller fin can be good too. The last two are maybe more extreme. To sail well with a 6.0 and the Kona, I need to move the straps forward and use a 40 fin. If very well powered, I cannot tune this setup anymore and it's very difficult to get the back foot in. Slapping a 28 onshore fin in fixes the problem right away.

[noshuzbluz]

[isobars]

That was Craig.

[noshuzbluz]

[uchida]

Darbonne; I assume that you sail in an area where there are a few experienced sailors. Don't be shy about asking their opinion as to your rigging technique. Through the past 30 years or so of sailing I've noticed that one of the biggest problem people have with their sailing begins on the beach with improper sail rigging. A properly rigged sail will be one of the most important parts of being able to handle all but the most extreme conditions. Ask. Most sailors I know are more than willing to give suggestions on a properly rigged kit. It makes all the difference in the world. And by the way I'm with Iso, bff!

[PeconicPuffin]

[isobars]

[konajoe]