Straps, Planning and Daggerboard

[Mark1754]

An intermediate longboarder, I am using harness, trying to gain speed and
think about straps. The question which I have yet to see addressed in
articles about getting in to straps is, do you have to kick up daggerboard
to plane and use straps?
If no, can you still "steer" with the mast position while in straps?
If yes, is toe steering any easier in the straps (it seems really
difficult the few times I have tried "shortboarding" on the 328 with the
daggerboard up)?
Comments appreciated.

[TomBuckOb2]

Mark:

Put the daggerboard up before you begin moving back. Move back a little
at a time until your feet are right beside the straps. I can never get in
the straps on my longboard unless I am hooked into the harness - don't know why.

Your big problem will be the board rounding up into the wind. Try to
point it way off the wind as you are moving back. Once you are back there
(and crankin') you should be able to foot steer it enough to keep it off
the wind. Also, you have to have your feet back there but your weight and
body pointing forward, hanging from the harness lines. This forward
orientation will give you your "mast steering". Make sure you have the
mast track all the way back.

Good Luck - TO'B

[S1turner]

I sail a Superlight II and couldn't get into the straps until I took the
advice of Mike Fick (NLWTFWNM), and what he told me made all the
difference. Of course you need to be in full planing conditions to do
this, and that means having the mast track almost all the way back and the
centerboard retracted. Then after suspending most of your weight from the
harness lines onto the boom, reach back with your BACK foot and put it into
the strap....AHH! gonna round up, you say....nay, say I, because you pull
the tail of the board toward you slightly with that back foot in the strap
and that causes the board to bear off. Then with the weight still
suspended from the harness, quickly slide the front foot into the front
strap, and just ride away.....the technique really works! I'd tried the
front-foot-first technique and could only get in infrequently, but this way
works all the time!

The board steering works just like a surfboard IF the centerboard is FULLY
retracted....tilt left to turn left, and tilt right to turn right.
However, if that board is down just any at all, it tends to dampen your
steering action and keeps the board on a straight track.

SamTurner
Tampa,FL

[Kent Browning]

A few comments, first do what works for you. Suggestions below work for
me. First, get planing with the centerboard up. For my 240 lbs, that
means in the harness with my weight in the harness, not on the board. I
also find that the mast track position needs to be where ever is
required to sail 'balanced' at that point, not a lot of foot pressure to
to keep the board pointed across the wind on a beam reach. That is
usually center to just back of the center of the mast track. Then keep
your head and shoulders and sail forward while you work your feet back.
Rake the sail back slightly if you need to for steering, but no large or
quick sail movements. Once you back foot is on the forward edge of the
back foot straps and centered on the board sail that way to make sure
you are stable and compfortable, don't get in a hurry. At my weight I
keep my back foot on the centerline of the board and weight the toes of
my back foot a little. Then lift my front foot and poke my toes into
the front strap. Sail that way for a while to get stable and balanced.
Then lift with my front foot and put my back foot in. I have to get the
windward rail up out of the water or I stick my foot in the water as I
go for the strap. Besides, weighting the lee side and lifting with the
front foot usually gets my going even faster. Go luck and keep trying.
Also get sone one to sail with you for a few minutes and give you
advice.

Kent
Kentn...@aol.com
(I have similar posting on AOL windsurfing boards last year)