Windsurfing Water Start Cheats

When water starting doesn't go right the first time using the water starting basics, you need to get creative. Here is couple cheats. Using your board to flip the rig when it is clue first into the wind and then using the tail of the board to support the boom while clearing the sail from the water.

[@AdrianTregoning]

Keep your front foot in the water. It acts as a brake otherwise you drift downwind effectively making the sail less powerful. When the wind is light you're going to struggle with both feet on the board. All the best.

[@gusthunter8780]

Thanks! That make so much sense. I have to work out the bad habit.

[@AdrianTregoning]

@@gusthunter8780 the beauty of windsurfing is that we never stop learning!

[@Red-Door]

On starboard tack I used to put the front foot on early as well. (Counterproductive in light wind) I found it helps to put the back foot a little further toward the front straps. This way there is less need for the front foot to keep the board off the wind. Also keep your hands close to the harness lines. Good tip flipping the board

[@jani00]

@@Red-Door, exactly. People tend to think that it is the speed that gets your up on the board, but it actually is the surge of power.

[@kyledrake9750]

Hard to tell if you were fully leaning on the sail, but it also helps to get the sail as vertical as possible before you weight it. You can rock over your back foot and tuck your foot under your butt while extending your arms up. Once you get power in a more vertical sail, it is much easier.

[@teeropita3208]

A great tip is to flip the sail from the leach, that way, first, its easier because the wind does most of the job and the mast wont sink in at all.

[@lukeheatley4148]

you are making life hard for yourself by trying to do it 2-footed. 1. leaving your front leg in the water makes it harder for the wind to push you downwind 2. with just one foot out the water, it is easier to get your body closer to the board. the closer you are to the board the less windpower you need 3. with just one foot on the board you can "drag" the board towards and under you, as you come up.

[@herrb.6696]

Nice Hack. Btw. Your voice reminds me of Jim Halpert (The Office)

[@gusthunter8780]

LOL! Halpert, that is so funny. Thanks.

[@walterl2006]

It is great what you did, i can not do that yet. And the trick of fliping the board is also interesting to apply. Thanks!

[@carolpuchalski]

Great tip thanks for sharing

[@dr.franciscotorresmarquezc7352]

Keep working, try learn the clew first waterstart as well it realky helps with waves

[@gusthunter8780]

Oh right! I will try that next time out. Windy season is about to start for me here in Southwest Florida.

[@dr.franciscotorresmarquezc7352]

@@gusthunter8780 good luck and winds

[@Windsurfingaddict]

Will try the board flip next time out, I always use back of the board to fly the sail, my way it’s to grab the back foot strap with arm under the boom and this lifts the sail up ready to catch the wind, thanks for sharing 😎😎😎

[@aeroegnr]

You had some nice chop down there. Hah! Looks like the board flip trick worked.

[@whynowind]

Nice job my friend! Keep doing whatever works for you. There's always a "better" more efficent way to do anything. But being able to do a waterstart consistently is a huge effort-saving benefit. Good on you for this acheivement! I do mine differently on each sides: Post side I put my back foot on the board first and on the starbord side I do exactly the opposite. Which means that my right foot really "wants" to be the one first on the board no matter what! Ha! 😄

[@Drumbuoy545]

Good job Jake! It's all part of the fun brudda! Ya gotta take your falls in order to learn. When water starting, try using more mast foot pressure to nose the board off the wind while keeping the sail trimmed and then pulling up on the mast foot to steer the nose back up into the wind before you flip the sail. Board steering techniques.

[@gusthunter8780]

Will do. Thanks for watching and all the encouragement and tips!

[@Drumbuoy545]

@@gusthunter8780 Yeah.. the trick is to learn how to steer the nose of the board downwind and then upwind without touching bottom with your feet which is exactly the conditions when you're in water over your head. You have to keep the sail up out of the water just slightly but always in control. A good place to practice this stuff is in chest deep water so you can try it without touching bottom but you can still cheat by touching bottom if you get tired. Practicing mast foot pressure techniques pushing down to point the nose off the wind and pulling up to round the nose back up into the wind will help you gain confidence and control of the rig while you're steering the board back and forth. You'll get it.. just keep practicing it and you will be able to water start quickly with much more control. Peter Hart has a good YT video called Faster Water Starts with Peter Hart. There's a real handy trick on there also about how to use the sail to flip the board over too. Keep grinding bro... Liked the commentary on your new vid also!

[@defenderoftheadverb]

Ha, been there, go there regularly. You have my sympathy.

[@gh0strid3r92]

leave your front foot in the water as long as possible... rear foot is enough, and u can pull the board under you much easier. then stand up on it, so especially in lighter sinds, that works much better ;-)

[@nickfield596]

Back foot on only. Learn to fly the rig by holding the mast just above the boom, not going to the tip each time and working your way to the mast. Hold the mast when you flip the rig, not the boom.

[@martyc5674]

@ 55 seconds- only hold the mast when bringing the rig through the wind, this would have kept the rig clear of the water

[@FORTDavid]

You could also have tried waterstart clew first, which is not that different of traditional waterstart. As big sails tends to end in water you flip them...

[@gusthunter8780]

Will try clew first next time. On my list to learn.

[@ggem5775]

Hi, As some have already commented, your foot technique is wrong. It should be back foot first, bringing the board next to your hips, push the mast up, turn the board, climb on the board and then put your second foot on the board. Your technique can only work with good and not too strong wind, you may have experienced catapult with the way you do it in strong winds. And in light winds it simply can’t work as it is not wind that bring you on the board in that case.

[@ROCKETRICKYH]

Not necessary to leave your front foot in the water. The key is bringing that back foot in and underneath you and sail as vertical as possible. However, on really big boards (130L +), might need to as they slide sideways so easily.

[@ROCKETRICKYH]

...I just watched myself waterstart...back foot first, then front foot in less than a second after. If it's windy, stick them both on and turn the board (usually it will point into wind)