On Apr 18, 3:55=A0am, sm...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
> Interesting how this string has focused on volume. I'm going to throw
> out the proposition that length is im****tant too. Why? Because modern
> boards have become so short that most moderately tall people can't put
> the boom on the back of the board to float the sail. I'm "lucky"
> because I'm short and it's not a problem, but I've seen people
> struggling so hard to fly the sail on one of those new "improved"
> short boards that they give up and uphaul. And when I try to explain
> to them the virtue (and the necessity) or learning to waterstart, they
> point out how difficult it is to fly the sail. I can't blame them if
> they're trying to fly a 6.5 or more.
> So I'd consider looking for an older board, like an old E-Rock, that's
> about 9 feet or so. At your height, your boom is probably pretty high
> and you'll need that length in the back. There are some good old
> boards around, with plenty of sailing left in them. Probably someone
> on this group would even give you one that's taking up space in the
> garage.
> Just my two cents.
Placing the booms on the tail of the board is NOT the way to learn to
waterstart, though this ability certainly is nice once the water
starting skills develop. The reason for my view is that resting the
booms on the tail prevents the sailor from controlling the angle of
board directly through mast base pressure. The best way, IMHO, to
lean to waterstart is to practice the basic beach start.
By beach starting, the sailor can practice rotating the board upwind
and downwind using sail pressure, and can practice clearing the sail
independent of board motion. Separating these elements really helps a
sailor understand the what's involved in flying the sail, and how to
do it without relying on the tail to keep the sail flying.
Once the sailor can confidently control the angle of the board with
sheeting action alone, he or she can wade out beyond the depth of an
easy beach start but shallow enough to still push off the bottom. The
only way this will work is to rely on the sail to sup****t the rig
weight and to push down through the mast base in order to step up onto
the board. It forces the sailor to step forward and "kiss" the sail
(props to Andy Brandt) and pretty much eliminates the dreaded downwind
drift of a deep water waterstart form the very beginning.
In the end, all who can waterstart effectively know that resting the
sail on the tail of the board happens only after the sail is cleared.
If you drag the booms across the sail the board can flip more easily
and you will either turn upwind rapidly or sweep sideways downwind. I
understand that large rigs weigh a lot and the tail flotation can
help, but learning to waterstart should be done on the smallest sail
possible anyway. Again, resting the booms on the tail is a crutch or
maybe a luxury best left for those who have mastered the waterstart,
not those just beginning.
For the ordinary person I would not suggest a board purchase decision
based on whether or not the booms can rest on the tail. Cart before
the horse, and all that.
-Dan
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