Waterstarts

Question
Hi I am just learning to waterstart. I am starting in calf deep water. My prob is when I get the sail out of the water I can't stop the board from heading up before I even start to put a foot on the board. How can I control where the board is pointing before getting up on it. Thanks  Phil

Answer
Hey Phil,

The key to waterstarting is getting the starting set up right. For starters I think you are trying in too shallow of water. You need to be at least waist deep so that you are floating. You should always have the board at 90deg or more off the wind before flying the sail. Once you get the sail flying, you can control the board by positioning the sail. Holding the boom with your forward hand just a bit forward of normal sailing, sheet in the sail with the back hand and straighten out the front arm. This will cause the same reaction of sail to board as tipping the mast forward for a longboard jibe. The nose of the board will go offwind. This also brings the tail of the board closer to your rear foot so that you can swing your leg up and place your foot on the board just between the front and rear straps.

Hold this position until you are feeling comfortable with the sail, board, and body postion. Now straighten both arms and sheet in slightly to get the sail to fill up and pull you onto the board. While the sail is pulling you up, pull your rear foot towards you to get the board underneath you. Once your hips are out of the water and getting up over the board, lift your front foot out of the water and place it in front of the front foot strap. You may need to sheet out to keep from getting pulled over the board. Keep your hips low and hang from the boom until you have control and then start sheeting in and getting the board on a plane.

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover