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The Water Start

The waterstart is one of the gateway skills; it opens up so much more of our great sport. I still remember my first waterstart and the elation that followed. The reason for this move is that we arrive on the board in the sailing position and it is a more efficient way of getting going in stronger winds and bumpy waters. It is a key skill for our progression down to sailing smaller kit.

FOUNDATION

The skill is built from having a strong proficiency in beachstarts. From here a range of drills, including sailing and dragging one leg in the water, sailing kneeling down and sailing one handed helps us to move closer to our goal. These drills can be interspersed through your sailing sessions and a bit of feedback, coaching and video footage can speed up the process

LET’S STEP UP

The waterstart can be broken down into smaller goals or stepping stones. These being:

Beach start
Deeper water beach start
Beach start with leg drag
Chest depth windy beach start
Full waterstart joy

FUNDAMENTALS

Look where you want to go: We need to move forward and in so we look at the mast foot to get up and away.
Rig away: In order for the rig to have the leverage to pull us out of the water the rig is away through extended arms that are shoulder width apart.

KEY STAGES

Rig recovery: Getting the rig out of the water
Board Positioning: Bringing the board across the wind in a suitable position
Up and away: Exiting the water and arriving in the sailing position.

RIG RECOVERY

Check wind direction and ensure the mast is across the wind with board pointing into the wind.

Swim backwards to release water off the rig and draw air under it.

Pull rig over your head and into the wind and place backhand on the boom.

BOARD POSITIONING

Transfer front hand onto boom. Bear board away by pushing down through an extended front arm.

Your body will be moving towards the back of the board as your front arm is extended and bearing board away. You should feel all the pull down through the front side of your body.

UP AND AWAY

Lounging in the sweet spot. Your front leg will be extended down in the water. The rig is above you, low if windy and higher if it’s light. If you are well powered manoeuvre the board slightly upwind. If it’s lighter, point the board downwind for more power. You will be at the back of the board BUT well upwind of it.

You are now ready for action. The back foot is placed between the straps with the heel down and towards the windward rail, toes up. Arms are extended and you are ensuring the board is in the right position.

Action. Pull board in with a bent back leg from your upwind lounging position. The arms are extended and you are looking/eating the mastfoot. Kick your front leg vigorously for extra propulsion upwards.

Keep extending the front armand pull in with the back arm whilst kicking hard with the front leg. The front leg is placed relatively late on the board. Remember you are pulling your back heel to your bottom.

Stay low and keep the back leg bent, as you do not want to go out the front door!

View video of this move:

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High bandwidth [MPEG, 1.8MB]

Get efficient and begin planing by LOOKING FORWARD, maintaining a FLAT BOARD and keep the RIG AWAY. Now get very excited!

Rig recovery across and into the wind
Position the board in the sweet spot
Pull board under bottom with bent back leg
Extend those arms
Look at and eat that mastfoot
Stay low and keep back leg bent

SUMMARY

Believe, focus and enjoy!


Ben Proffitt K-800 "When it's super windy, I put both my feet into the straps just before I waterstart. But you need to have a solid water start before you do this otherwise you'll just slip sideways."

Terry Luxton K-688 "If the wind is too light or your sail has sunk, swim to the top of the mast and lift up the rig and then work your way down the mast."