None of the professional meteorological models predicted much wind today despite the fact that there was a very obvious pressure gradient over the WNY area. On top of that it was forecasted to be sunny most of the day which can sometimes induce a thermal lake breeze. I felt that there was the probability of a 15-20mph session favoring the Rochester area as the gradient favored a NW wind, but as luck would have it the wind I had hoped for blew right here in Buffalo on a WSW direction. Even better.
It wasn't a lot, but it bounced up and down between 15-20mph for a few hours. I rigged 5.3m on a small board with the intent on practicing tacks. Light wind tacks on a small board have never been easy. The first two tacks made no progress. But as I was falling in the water on the third tack I realized that the tail of the board was sinking as I leaned the sail rearward and tried to transition to the other side of the board. On the forth tack I leaned the sail rearward and this time I weighted the front leg. The tail did not sink, and I stepped around to the opposite side of the board without falling in the water. Progress made. Four more times I repeated the tack while weighting the front leg, and four more times I completed the move without falling in the water.
If you are working on tacks on a small board try weighting the front leg more. It helped a lot today.
It wasn't a lot, but it bounced up and down between 15-20mph for a few hours. I rigged 5.3m on a small board with the intent on practicing tacks. Light wind tacks on a small board have never been easy. The first two tacks made no progress. But as I was falling in the water on the third tack I realized that the tail of the board was sinking as I leaned the sail rearward and tried to transition to the other side of the board. On the forth tack I leaned the sail rearward and this time I weighted the front leg. The tail did not sink, and I stepped around to the opposite side of the board without falling in the water. Progress made. Four more times I repeated the tack while weighting the front leg, and four more times I completed the move without falling in the water.
If you are working on tacks on a small board try weighting the front leg more. It helped a lot today.
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