How to Steer Windsurfing... round the clock?! Ride-Along Sessions with Cookie

Steering a windsurf board is simple- but not as simple as learning the sail forward and backwards as most people think!
Through this Ride-Along session I'll explore the key moments needed to control the board at slow and high speeds!
As usual the Ride-Along session is filmed with a multitude of on-board and cameras to ensure you get all the action!

[@jemand8462]

I really like this guy's voice and english. So good to understand and pleasing to hear.

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks Jemand I've been practicing English since I was very young! Hope you've managed to check out a few of the videos not he challenge!

[@jemand8462]

@@Cookiesports Holy sh*t it's not your first language? Chapeau man! Yes, I'm surfing right now in Gran Canaria and watch your videos afterwards :)

[@user-zi5pw8pi7s]

Game changer for a beginner like me thanks. Makes total sense.

[@Cookiesports]

Great! 👍👍👍

[@andrewrignall9107]

Definite light bulb moment for me! I have been struggling to understand why I stall half way through my wobbly jibes, hopefully this is the piece of the jigsaw that enables progression. Thanks very much!

[@Cookiesports]

Hope it helps! Let me know how you get on once you’ve had a chance to try it!

[@peterjones7170]

Thanks for finally making sense of what the books oversimplify

[@Cookiesports]

Happy to help!

[@iotarask77]

These explanations work great. I like this channel since surf school concepts are ported to everyone’s home

[@Cookiesports]

Thank you! really happy to help as many people as i can. Hope you've managed to check out some other videos in the series, and pass the ones you like onto you friends to subscribe too!

[@charlesarcher9626]

Awesome helpful to my windsurfing..thanks

[@Cookiesports]

Thank you! 👍

[@kristianmartincic3011]

"sails to the outside of the turn"is the perfect note to end on!

[@Cookiesports]

👍👍👍🤙

[@Cookiesports]

Have you tried this video?… kzbin.info/www/bejne/maraqImcpb56l7c

[@piterbrito4590]

Great video, loved it. being able to see the Tack from the top camera having the drawing of the clock and wind direction helped so much!! wish had the Jibe as well.

[@Cookiesports]

Keep practising, it’s well come! 👍👍👍

[@EmiJones]

OMG! Your riding videos are soooo useful! I didn't know about stearing like that, I just always drop the mast back 🤦🤦🤦 Thank you so much!

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks Nata, going OUT then round and BACK will make steering into the wind world easier! Thanks for watching and sharing around you windsurfing friends!

[@markopanger412]

Brilliant stuff. Makes me wish for a live clinic next year. Must be eye opening.

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks Marko! Stay tuned for an announcement through the winter when I know where I'll be for next summer- for sure somewhere hot and windy where I'll be doing regular clinics! Be great if you can come and join!

[@Cookiesports]

Looking like back to Vassiliki, Greece for summer 2021, be great if you can make if for a session or two! 👍👍

[@maxpenner9907]

You are doing a great job. Keep it up. Much appreciated

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks Max!!

[@athertones1775]

nice analogy

[@Cookiesports]

Thank you! It's not commonly taught, but I really like it!

[@aeroegnr]

Another great video, Cookie

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks!

[@JeepWSurf]

Awesome thanks cookie 👍🏼😆

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks Simon! 👍👍👍👍

[@Mariz650]

You make it look easy 😂

[@Cookiesports]

Just takes practice! 😜

[@11ingham]

Another clearly explained informative guide, I would really appreciate a guide to turning through 360 degrees in planing conditions i.e, a comprehensive guide to foot steering ?

[@Cookiesports]

Hi Colin! Foot steering is covered a lot in many of the blasting videos I've done. In particular covered during the video "how to sail a sinker" as the smaller the board gets, the more important it is. Try these videos out.... How to sail a sinker...kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4CZc2ybbM2CmKM How to get going in light winds... kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHPHiJZserqLY80 Soften up and ride.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4PFY42NrbxsiKM Unless you mean a carving 360? (like a downwind 360?). Thanks on my list to film soon!

[@jannek8953]

Great video - could you do a video explaining how to succeed on the duck-jibe?

[@Cookiesports]

Hi Jannek! Thanks for the comment, I've got Duck gybes on the list to film!

[@juliansudano1286]

great video, could you please do a video about how to go upwind?

[@Cookiesports]

Hi Julian, Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it! Try this video for improving you windwindsailing... Getting going in light winds...kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHPHiJZserqLY80 The elements of windsurfing.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/maCUfYeiaq97fZY

[@oskarnewstream]

Great video, I think I got the concept and will think about it next time surfing. But don´t you mix up the clock half time through the video? In the beginning it seems like the back end of the sail is the clock hand. Half way through it changes so that the mast side of the sail is the clock hand if I understand it right...

[@Cookiesports]

Always the mast is the clock hand… to steer DW (and gybe) the mast goes forward and across… so on port the mast must go to 11/10 (on a clock from above)… then as the wind is directly begin you it moves towards 9, then 8 (ish) then a rig flip to exit

[@marcosgallodgp]

Damn that was super helpful! the entry part of the Jybe would be the exception right? since you are over sheeting the sail with back hand and extending front arm? Thanks cookie

[@Cookiesports]

Hi! Thanks for watching Marco. This question could well open a discussion... the doors are open! This will be quite some typing to explain think.... What you're describing here is a laydown gybe, power gybe, or slalom style of gybe... over sheeting and pulling the rig down and to the inside of the turn. I'll explain my points here using the video in the link here as an example, POV ride-along. kzbin.info/www/bejne/boOYaWNnh6xjp8U I demonstrate a laydown gybe at 8.40 in the POV video. I the one in that video the gybe is a tight arc and it looses all the power in the sail very quickly. The laydown/slalom gybe is great for all these reasons. ...However I would consider it a skill to be learnt well AFTER getting pretty good at a gybe where the mast stays up and opens through the turn, much more like a non-planing gybe but done on the plane. Non-planning video... kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWWTqJyHgpJjo5o They reasons why... With both gybes the sail MUST return to the outside of the turn and go round the clock before the rig flip. Most people (to generalise) want to plane out of a gybe. To do this we NEED the power, and we need to learn how to handle the power and channel it well- not just dump the power on the exit as a laydown gybe does. The fact that the laying the rig down causes you to make a tighter turn is not way most people want/need either- doing this tight turn causes you to loose speed and more likely to drop off the plane. A large more progressing cave/arc will maintain speed. I've done another video that shows and explains this quite clearly- "The formula of gybing". kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXTRmGuDn5t2iq8 As you improve you might lay the sail over for the smallest fractions of a second (as in gybes at 01.30, 05.00 & 07.00)- but I can't stress so minusculely, tiny, smallest possible laydown movement to the indside it is- not a full laydown at all- more of a twitch then directly bring the sail out of the turn again and continue around the clock. It can help lock the board through the little chop, but immediately quickly move it out and you see it go round the clock very slowly towards the exit. I did this "mini laydown" at 4.00 but wasn't really necessary and it caused me to loose power and speed. I would have been better off keeping the mast up and to the outside of the turn to maintain power in the rig. Gybes at 3.20, 4.00 the mast does not go to the inside at all, immediate move to the outside and round the clock To summarise- - On the entrance you must decide if you need to keep the power on- keep the mast up and go round the clock, steer the board with the feet and the rig combined. - If it's choppy the smaller lean into the turn with the rig can help, but only for a small split second. - If you want a tighter turn, dumping power rememberexit -Remember... which ever start you decide be sure to bring the rig back up through the mid-point and exit and continue with the clock (movement of the mast). Tactuallysmoothlymaintain control. Hope all makes sense, feel free to add some thought and comments! Thank again for watching and sharing these videos around your windsurfing friends!

[@marcosgallodgp]

Ride-Along Sessions with Cookie! Awesome reply! I will have to check those videos again! Thanks Cookie!

[@mikebremer9644]

What size board are you on with the black tape on the deck for clock position while in minimal wind. You look so balanced and boyant while easily moving moving around.

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks for watching Mike! The black & white board with her "clock" marked on it was a RRD Evolution 155. If you can make it to Vass this summer for a clinic we have them there, and other similar one, I can coach you directly!

[@wcarstairs]

Excellent thank you, have been trying to figure out why my gybes keep stalling at the transition, totally can see now as I have only been moving the rig to 9 o’clock and not continuing through to 8 and 7 into the flip. Definitely getting onto this next sailing day cheers!

[@Cookiesports]

⏰ You’ve got it! 🙌🙌🙌

[@darrenhumphrey8946]

Hi Cookie, recently when out in the Solent on my starboard start with a 5-9 sail and 18-20 knots of SSW wind. When trying to tack the board really struggled to go around. There was a strong tide ripping from east to west so unsure if this also played a part as I did not have a great deal of speed entering the tack and it was very choppy. Is the board at 220ltrs too big for these conditions as someone who is learning? Or possibly my technique is not good enough yet. But ended up doing almost a static turn and very unstable

[@Cookiesports]

Hi Darren. 220ltrs board is big, no doubt about it- but it will still work and turn in all conditions. What you'll have to do a lot with the bigger heavier boards is use your feet to drive the board as well as the sail. When you're pulling the sail out and around towards the back, steering towards the wind and around the clock, use a lot of back foot pressure to drive the board at the same time. The combination of rig and foot steering will spin the board quickly into the wind. It is used a lot at higher levels and controlling smaller boards, but still very effective on big boards. This film shows a little more on it.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/maCUfYeiaq97fZY

[@darrenhumphrey8946]

Thank you once again for a great instructional video, I am struggling with the theory practice gap right now but I am determined and will keep trying. As a beginner, can you give a guide to sail size based on conditions, ie wind speed please. I am sure this is much more technical than the question, but I am on starboard start, 220 Litres and I’m 95 kg. However also a novice. Any guidance would be appreciated. I have 4m, 4-2, 4-4, 5-2 and 5-9 in my arsenal at the moment. Thanks

[@Cookiesports]

Hi Darren, Thanks for the message. I'm afraid it's not a simple as 15knots=4.4m sail, but i can give you some thoughts.... You're looking for enough power to get you up to a good speed, without being so much power that you cannot hold onto the sail any more. To begin with a "good speed" will be a steady non-planning speed, just a comfortable amount of power to match the control you have. As you get better you'll need power to get the board fast and lift it onto the plane (where it begins to skip across the top of the water). But how much power? A larger car will need a larger engine, so if you compare to other people sailing on the same place than you, if you and your board combined weight is more than theirs you'll need a larger sail to achieve the same power and lift. EG me weighing in at 80kg with a 150 board will weigh less than you on at 95kg on a 220lt, so if you seem on a 5m, you can think it's ok to take the 6m (providing you have the required skill level to hold the power of course). Another thing to consider is as you get better is that the more skill and control you have the more efficient you can be with the sail. So (again providing you have the skill to control the power) adding an extra 0.5m will give you more power and lift, and could compensate for a slight lack of skill in getting the board going. I could be very efficient with my power and how i channel it to make the board speed up and be very happy on a Xm. In your rigging decisions you've added 1m for the weight difference, but then maybe another 0.5m for the skill difference. On any given day on the centres I work at we'll have people on the same water, same wind, but often a range of 4m-7m with people happily powered up and sailing around! Final thought when it comes to selecting and buying your next kit- sails rig and tune very well now. I tend to buy 0.5-0.8m apart in my quiver- bigger gaps in the larger sizes, for example my current sails are 3.5, 4.0, 4.8, 5.6 6.5 & 8.1m. I hope that explains a little of the thought process. feel free to ask anything more if you think i can help! This video will help a lot too I think... kzbin.info/www/bejne/maCUfYeiaq97fZY

[@darrenhumphrey8946]

Ride-Along Sessions with Cookie! Thank you for taking the time to reply and sorry for my slow response but first time I have had chance to get back on. That gives me a lot to think about and makes good sense. Please keep doing what your doing. Darren

[@Cookiesports]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@anthonylock2004]

I'm on a 150L first board without a daggerboard.. learning to gybe. head, hands harness,hips,hoves work well, going in to the run, all good, I'm wobbly when I do the foot transition and then I struggle to keep the board moving and to turn further past down wind. I frequently just disco gibe it round, I can't work out how far to tilt the top or the mast over. From this video... yes, moving round in an arc but how far do I tilt the top of the messt ti to wind at the start ?

[@Cookiesports]

Disco gybe exit is ideal for the exit… it means you can release the rig whenever you like and still make it round happily! 👍👍

[@tetkinsin]

Im 50 years old and Im planing to get my beggener course in few days ahead. Am I to old !?

[@Cookiesports]

Never too old…. You’re going to love it!

[@LeroyYue]

This is subtle and extremely important. So instead of just pulling in hard on a tack, release a bit first, then go gradually, and be aware of the clock so the board turns smoothly? Do I understand it correctly? Thanks

[@Cookiesports]

Exactly correctly! For tacking. Ease out, sail out, and around progressively- which is pulling in as you do! 👍👍👍

[@LeroyYue]

@@Cookiesports Cool! I am having problem with the board always trying to turn into wind when I start to accelerate and move me feet back. Part of it is that I am still on a rental board that has a center board that cannot be retracted.... Other than that, do you already have a video that talks about how to keep course while trying to go fast? Thanks, from Fukuoka Japan. Too windy and choppy for me here, but I am trying my best!

[@Cookiesports]

@@LeroyYue Hi! I'm sure I can help you out... Two videos can help you... "The Elements of Windsurfing". In this video you'll learn the 5 key elements, and how you can use them to work out whats going on (the good and the bad!), and how to correct it. Heres the link... kzbin.info/www/bejne/maCUfYeiaq97fZY For example- board turning up as you speed up. - Vision, are you looking forward across the wind, or even slightly down wind? - Trim, as you sped back and you still driving through your front foot to keep the board flat and fast, or dropping your weigh back, sinking the tail and turning up wind? (this is a common fault at with this skill!) Second video is "How to get in the foot straps". While the straps may seem a little far away right now it won't take long and you'll be locked in the and charing around. This video will help you stop the board turning into the wind as you say it currently is, and it uses the Elements as mentioned in the previous video. Thank for subscribing and passing this channel around your friends! Only been going with it a few months but people seem to be liking it so will keep going! Thanks for watching!