WindDoll

updated May 22 2008 with more about how to steer

Download using-the-harness or read it here.

Waist Harness: Easier to steer the board when you’re not on a plane, because it’s less restricting in how far you can move your booms. (Waist harness requires longer lines when powered and planing.)

Seat Harness: Easier to weight the booms, because it requires less rigidity in your body.

Harness Lines Length: Adjustable lines allow you to change the length for the amount of power you have. Long for slogging, medium (the length of your forearm) for planing OK, and short for powered.

Harness Line Placement: Fore and aft lines should be right next to each other-no space in between. This allows you a wider steering range, it allows the sail to seek the wind so you’ll go faster, and it allows the sail to spill wind in a gust.

HOOKING IN

1. Sail along on a beam reach with a comfortable amount of power. Stance NUMBER 7.

2. Lift your hips up and hook in. (If you’re just putting around, you can give a little sheet in with the booms-bend the back elbow and push forward with the front hand-and swing the lines closer to your hook.) After you connect hook to lines, LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.

3. Gradually weight the booms with your harness, testing to make sure your lines are balanced enough. (If not, move them fore or aft depending on which hand you need to pull on. Move them toward the pulling hand.) Tuck your pelvis and pull down and out over the windward rail.

4. Grip the booms LIGHTLY. Steer the sail as you normally would, mast toward the nose of the board to fall off the breeze, toward the tail to head up. The faster you go, the less sail movement is required to change the direction of the board. Begin to steer with your feet. Move your back foot fore and aft, to leeward and to windward. Press on leeward side (toes) more forward to head off the breeze, on the windward side (heels) more aft to head up. You’re ready for the footstraps.

TROUBLESHOOTING HOOKING IN

I fall over backwards.

a) You sheeted out and/or headed upwind when you tried to hook in. Lift up with the back hand and push the front hand toward the nose. This powers the sail and points the board off the wind a little. Hook in on a beam reach, when you’re traveling perpendicular to the wind.

b) Your lines are too far forward and you’re moving the booms to get your hook near the lines. This sheets out the sail. Adjust your lines and/or stand closer to the mast.

c) You don’t have enough power for your line-length and/or your boom height. Wait until you have more power to hook in. (You may need longer lines. Are they as long as your forearms? You may need to lower your booms. Are they higher than your shoulders?)

d) It’s just not windy enough for your sail. Are you able to putt along with enough power to lean back against pull of the sail?

I get launched.

a) You were sailing off the wind. Head up to a beam reach before you hook in.

b) Your stance is too closed. Open your hips to the direction you’re going. Point your front foot toward the nose of the board. Your back foot is perpendicular across the centerline.

c) Your lines are too far back. Hooking in causes the mast to drop to leeward.

d) Your lines are so short and/or your booms are so high, that you had to lift up to tippy toes to hook in. Lengthen your lines and/or lower your booms until you can stay in your Number 7 stance as you hook in, body weight over the rail.

e) You’re too far forward on the board. Move your feet back-your back foot should be between the footstraps.

I always have to look at my hook when I’m trying to get in the lines.

a) Your harness lines are too out of position.

b) Your hook is floppy. Tighten your harness.

It’s too big a stretch to get my hook up to my lines.

a) Start with a free-ride set up that allows you to hook in without being mega-powered (longer lines and higher hook/lower booms). Advanced riders with a slalom set up have lines too short and booms too high to hook in without being just about to plane.

b) If you’re just putting around: Lengthen your lines and/or lower your booms and/or try a waist harness.

c) If you’re past putting and trying to sail powered: Your sail doesn’t have enough power so you can rake it back to where the booms are down to harness-height. Use a bigger sail.

TROUBLESHOOTING SAILING WHILE HOOKED IN

I can’t steer the board and/or I can’t go upwind and I’m not in the footstraps.

a) The more power you have, the more you can steer. If you can’t steer as much as you need to, you’re too underpowered to be sailing hooked in. If you can’t get upwind, you’re too close to the sail. Unhook so that you can get the sail back and away from your body.

b) Lengthen your lines and/or lower your booms and/or try a waist harness.

I can’t weight the booms.

a) Trust your equipment. Lean out over the rail with a NUMBER 7 stance.

b) Tuck your butt and pull down with your belly button.

c) Adjust your lines. Move them toward the hand that wants to pull on the boom.

d) Shorten your lines and/or raise your booms and/or move your universal back in the track and/or try a seat harness.

My harness rides up.

a) Tighten harness.

b) Maintain the NUMBER 7 stance.

I unhook by accident.

Shorten your lines and/or raise your booms and/or move your universal back in the track.

I hit a lull.

Swing your body weight inboard, but still weight the booms. If it’s bad, unhook.

As soon as I get hooked in and going, the sail turns into a handful.

a) Weight your booms and lean back. Start USING THE FOOTSTRAPS.

b) Rig the sail with more downhaul tension.

My arms and back are getting tired.

You’re not weighting the booms.

I’m going along nicely, but my arms are bent.

Lengthen your lines.

I’m going along nicely and I’m in the footstraps, but I want to yank on my front arm even though my lines are positioned far enough forward.

Add downhaul tension and/or move your mast track back.

unHOOKING

1. Press down on the booms a little and take the load of the sail in your arms.

2. Maintain your stance.

3. Lift your hips up and lift the hook off the lines.

TROUBLESHOOTING unhooking

My hook won’t lift out of the lines.

a) Check to see if the hook is floppy. Tighten your harness.

b) Your lines are too short. Make them as long as your forearms.

c) Lower your booms and inch or so. (You don’t want to do this if then you won’t be able to weight them.)

d) You’re using a low-hook harness slalom style, and you’ve been happily zipping around but you’ve hit a lull: JUMP!