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Bio - Eric L. Mihelbergel is an intermediate/advanced windsurfer, kiteboarder, and foiler living in the Great Lakes Region of New York State who enjoys sharing about windsports and fitness.
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Light Wind Water Starts (Windsurfing)
By Eric Mihelbergel (Written October 2018)
Being able to waterstart in light wind is a very valuable skill for a windsurfer. It can save you from a long swim and a long walk back to where you started. Today I will share with you a few tips that have helped me to be able to waterstart in light wind.
First, let me define "light wind" for purposes of this article. Light wind shall be defined as: wind light enough that you would not be able to get your windsurfing rig on plane. For example, when I am riding my 4.2m sail I need about 24mph of wind to get my board on plane. However, I can still waterstart with 18mph of wind while on my 4.2m sail. This has saved me from many long swims and walks during sessions when the wind drops. As long as I can waterstart I can slowly sail back to the beach. For most windsurfers, if they have enough wind to get on plane then they have enough wind to waterstart. But the problems arise when the wind drops to less than what you need to get on plane. This is where many windsurfers struggle to waterstart.
Here are my top tips for waterstarting in light wind:
1. Keep your hands closer together - If you keep your hands closer together you are able to reach the sail higher and expose more surface area of the sail to the wind. For some people it is natural to spread the hands wide when waterstarting because it allows more control of the clew in gusty winds. But when winds are light we can move the hands much closer together and get better lift. I always sail with a fairly low boom because it increases power and maneuverability when sailing, however, it also makes it easier to waterstart in light winds because you can reach the sail higher into the wind. Consider sailing with a lower boom.
First, let me define "light wind" for purposes of this article. Light wind shall be defined as: wind light enough that you would not be able to get your windsurfing rig on plane. For example, when I am riding my 4.2m sail I need about 24mph of wind to get my board on plane. However, I can still waterstart with 18mph of wind while on my 4.2m sail. This has saved me from many long swims and walks during sessions when the wind drops. As long as I can waterstart I can slowly sail back to the beach. For most windsurfers, if they have enough wind to get on plane then they have enough wind to waterstart. But the problems arise when the wind drops to less than what you need to get on plane. This is where many windsurfers struggle to waterstart.
Here are my top tips for waterstarting in light wind:
1. Keep your hands closer together - If you keep your hands closer together you are able to reach the sail higher and expose more surface area of the sail to the wind. For some people it is natural to spread the hands wide when waterstarting because it allows more control of the clew in gusty winds. But when winds are light we can move the hands much closer together and get better lift. I always sail with a fairly low boom because it increases power and maneuverability when sailing, however, it also makes it easier to waterstart in light winds because you can reach the sail higher into the wind. Consider sailing with a lower boom.
2. Pull the board right under your butt with the rear leg - When waterstarting in light wind it helps to waterstart with the rear foot on the board and the front leg still in the water. As you reach your arms up, pull your rear foot and the board directly under your butt. You are not trying to stand yet, but rather you are trying to pull the board under your butt by bending your knee as your bring the heel of your rear foot toward you.
3. Keep your butt low, almost touching the board - As you pull the board under your butt with your rear foot KEEP your butt low, almost touching the board. You are not trying to stand just yet. STAY LOW!!!
4. Extend your arms and REACH - As you are pulling the board under your butt with the rear foot extend your arms upward and REACH. Really, really REACH for the sky. Don't pull on the boom, but, instead, REACH upward with the boom.
5. Kick with your front leg - Visualize this....you are almost in the position with the board under your butt, your arms REALLY extended upward, and your front leg still in the water....now, consider this....It would be very difficult to do a deep one-legged squat from this very low position if you were in the gym unassisted. But, you are not in the gym, and since your front leg is still in the water you can use it like a dolphin uses their tail. Kick with that leg to propel yourself upward, and at the same time, REACH further into the sky to expose more of the sail to the wind AND start to stand by pushing hard with the rear leg like you are doing a one-legged squat in the gym. All of these actions together, and at the same time, will help you to waterstart in light wind.
6. Increase your flexibility and strength - In order to accomplish the actions above you are going to need to improve your fitness. You will need to improve flexibility in your hamstrings, glutes, and lats. You will also need to improve strength in your glutes, quads and hamstrings. Consider doing one-legged squats at the gym in the off-season and throughout the regular season (here is an article on "Off-Season Training"). And consult a trainer or physical therapist to develop a flexibility program.
Those are my top tips for improving light wind waterstarts. Combine steps 1-5 into one fluid motion, develop a strength and flexibility program, and you will be able to waterstart in wind that is lighter than what you need to get your board on plane.
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