Windsurf | How to water start
The water start is a game changer for most people. It will turn your 30 minute sessions up-hauling till your arms fall off into longer sessions and easier recoveries after a crash.
1. Kit positioning
First you want to know how to setup your kit once it’s in the water. No matter how the kit currently lays, before you can effectively water start you’ll want the kit setup like this.
Your board should face the direction you want to go and your sail should lie with the mast roughly perpendicular to the wind. It makes it even easier if the top of the mast is slightly closer to the wind.
2. Preparing to lift the sail
Next you’ll need to lift the sail out of the water. If it’s your first time trying the water start then go to the top of the mast to lift it out the water from here the sail is much easier to lift. Once you’ve got the hang out lifting the sail out the water you can move closer to the boom.
Place your upwind hand on the mast and position the mast so it’s just over your opposite shoulder (the downwind one). This is so everything is lined up before lifting the sail.
3. Lifting the sail
Now lift the mast up and slightly over your head but just slightly over your head (not too high), sometimes slicing the sail out the water to windward helps the sail come out the water more easily. Wait until there is wind underneath the sail and the sail starts to fly. At this point you can grab hold of the boom with your free “back” hand. Place it in the standard position as if you were sailing. You are aiming to get the sail fully out the water so make sure the clew has released from the water.
4. Flying the sail
At this point you should be flying the sail. Once you feel comfortable place your front hand on the boom and keep the sail flying using the wind.
This is such a crucial part of the water start as knowing how to control your sail from this position is everything. This comes with practice of flying the sail and I’d recommend sitting in shallow water just practicing flying the sail from this position. Get used to holding it steady. It’s entirely technique and doesn’t require strength to hold up the sail just control.
- Pulling in with the backhand and extending the front arm will lift the sail up.
- Pushing with the back hand and pulling with the front will cause the sail to come back down.
- Remember to let the sail do all the work
5. Lifting yourself out the water
Start to extend your front arm and as the sail starts to lift, look to place your back foot heel between the foot straps.
Keep your front arm extending and the back one slightly flexed as you rise out the water. Let the sail do the work. Bring your body weight over the centre of the board and rise up out of the water placing your front foot on the board somewhere near the UJ.
6. Stabilise
Once you are up control the power by sheeting out the sail with the back hand, stabilise and sail away.
