Helpful tips for sailing in High winds

[schweitzer]

So: You are doing what I might do ON PURPOSE
I. E. I went out two weeks ago on Pend Oriellee
Lake in north Idaho on a "Suprize" Notherly 22 (20-2 +
A 130 liter board that is uphaulable so if the other windsurfer
does not show, then, as always, I Rescue myself !
The 6.6 sail was just because I am Greedy!
To Survive:
1 Downhaul, a lot, but stop before the shape
in the bottom of the sail gets bad.
2. Outhaul. Pull on it until the slack near the mast is gone.
stop there. do not let the sail have a lot of additional shape
that forms when you sheet in, or POW, Over the handle bars!
That's not a Gust! that launches you.
#3.#
MOVE THAT BOOM UP!!!
Let your weight carry down from your harness,
through the mast, into the board.
This keeps the board leveled off and cruzin'

Do not be afraid to go fast!

Take Note of what Isobars has said.
He Was out there at Roosevelt last Tue.
So was I.
In those conditions my 4.3 would be considered huge.
But I am Greedy.
Paid for it with a well deserved Black eye.
Sure it's Gusty, but, WAY FUN
As a new Guy you already have storie(s) to tell.
Go Get Some More.

[jingebritsen]

steady state wind was 30? or gusts?

counter intuitive: way over powered? sheet home harder. let the kit run. if you hold it back, it will kick your ass. another trick: run way off the wind when really over powered. apparent wind drops when you are running with it.

most times, when people sheet out, they forget they still have to exert mast foot pressure. worse yet, people tend to stiffen up. crash happens soon after

[ascott72]

* harness and at least one foot in the footstrap at all times
* push your back hand out if you need to (the opposite of sheeting in)
* may have to lean forward at the same time
* find that balance point
* if you can't sheet in at all don't bother to gybe. just slow down and drop your sail in the water to leeward in good waterstart position.
* if you can sheet in a little, you can try to gybe. heading off the wind will reduce the pressure in the sail - but it will feel scary fast
* waterstarts- keep the sail low until you're ready, both feet in the straps.

[Sailboarder]

Fully agree with sheeting in to keep the kit running well with MFP. I prefer to head upwind instead.

It also feels better to shorten my adjustable lines when overpowered. I'm not sure if it's the best thing to do however...

Getting the back foot first in the strap feels more natural in more wind too.

[isobars]