Sinker Up-haul and Tack.

Don’t forget how to Uphaul.

Many people once they have learnt how to waterstart, seam to forget how to Uphaul or never learn to uphaul a short board. They only go out when there is enough wind to waterstart. If the wind drops they just swim back.

You can Uphaul all boards, in fact the more they sink the easier it is.

When you learn to windsurf, you learn a basic method, which also includes steps to get you into the easiest position to start sailing.

The advanced uphaul is a little different, with not so many rules.

Once you have taken the rope,You must stand up and get your balance. The balance point of most modern boards is half way between the mast foot and the front footstraps. So your front foot will be right next to the mast and the back foot in the area of the front footstraps.

I prefer to have the clew of the sail at the back of the board, with the mast slightly back. You lean against the weight of the sail and wait for the water to start to go off the sail. Be patient.

As the sail comes out of the water the board will start to turn up towards the wind. So like a waterstart I move the sail forwards and up. The wind is helping to lift the sail.

It is not important which hand goes onto the boom, the aim is to get to an active neutral as soon as possible.

So Now we will go onto a small board. I have Taken a 69L Quad to show probably the hardest board to Uphaul. It is very short so the balance point is very sensitive.

The first thing you will have to do is get the sail in the right direction. You can see here that with the sail in this direction it forces the tail down.

Once it is the correct way round it helps the board to be flat.

Timing is everything. With the mast just out of the water, get the board in balance.

The board should be as flat as you can get it. If the nose goes down it is not a problem, it is quite easy to control the amount. If the tail goes down it is a completely different matter. Normally you will fall in. Here the bottom saved me.

 

 

Once you are ready, the sail coming out of the water to being in your hands must be one movement.

Notice how I am over the center of the board, low and everything extended.

Now this is not a maneuver you will learn quickly, it takes practice. But just think, no more swimming back.

When sailing in very light wind you must keep the board in balance all the time.

Now for the sinker tack and you can even get yourself back if the wind goes off shore.

Again balance, trim and timing is all important.

Turn the board up towards the wind and just before it is head to wind, start to step around the mast.

This is the tricky part as the board will go right underwater but  Keep everything in balance. Remember the front going down is not a problem.

Watch out for the tail going down as you level up, This can cause problems. Keep the rig forwards, be low and extend the rig away from you.

Once you have achieved all of this it will open up a whole new world of windsurfing for you, especially in waves.