Asymetric Sailing

Is it only me or others had similar problem ?

Going up wind one direction is much easier and faster that another one.

Usually my favorite is right foot at back strap. Change direction everything is going much slower.

If there is something I can do to overcome this asymmetry in sailing ?

I don't notice a lot of difference in speed, but I'm definitely more comfortable on port tack, and after I've adjusted my harness lines to feel neutral on each tack, there's about 50-70mm difference in their position.
I think it's a left/right hand thing, I tend to put more pressure on my right hand whether it's front or back hand.
So on Port tack I'm controlling sail power with my stronger right arm, and harness lines are end up tad forward.
On starboard tack my stronger right arm tends to sheet out, so harness lines end up a tad back, and sail power is controlled by my weaker left arm.
This may be similar to your problem, or you may not be running quite square to the wind, try running more downwind on your slow side, and more upwind on your fast side.

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barn said..

Easiest way to get your symmetry back would be to sail slower on your fast tack..

When I was learning I had this problem, but not for ages.

Sometimes I found its a problem where the wind direction is not right for the direction you want to go, so one way is easy and the other requires a lot more effort. Are you sure this is not the problem?

Does anyone remember those asymetric boards ? The ones with one side cut out , you had to buy 2 - they were wrong !

I mainly sail in a bay, so heading out (cross to cross-on wind mainly), it's slower due to the chop/waves, but coming back in with the movement of the water is much faster. Out is for jumps & chop-hops...In is for blasting & some wave-sailing or mucking around with turns on wind-chop.

Also, when the wind comes from the opposite direction (East), it feels awkward - jumps go pear-shaped and blasting seems uncomfortable.

When I'm sailing upwind on my old longboard or my formula there is almost always a favoured tack that feels better. This is because most breezes, even oscillating breezes that shift all over the place, are still slowly but persistently shifting in one direction.

My hypothesis is that the tack on which you are more comfortable is the same as your preferred board stance, i.e. regular or goofy. (Not that I surf, but I used to skateboard in the days when I used to have hair). I've always felt more comfortable with my dominant foot in the back strap.

I'm a regular, so right foot back, and preferred tack is port.

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fjdoug said..

i'm sure everyone here jumps better on one tack, surfs better one way than the other etc..

i jump and surf equally terribly in all directions....i must be ambidextrous!

Just kidding...im pretty farkin awesome at all of it really

Hey Peter, remember the current on the Broadwater can be quite strong so sometimes you are on a reach with the current but on the return the current forces you to point. This can give you that sensation that you are not performing as well on the opposite tack.

I had the same problem, a mate of mine pointed out a stance defect. My issue was that I was too upright (legs too straight) and didn't rake the sail back while putting my weight forward on port tack (just like the other forum guys are saying it was my less favorable side). This greatly reduced my ability to get into a settled position and coax the board upwind without pushing on the tail. When I managed to get it locked down I noticed a big difference.

You should definitely try a seat harness out when on your big sails too mate, personal feeling is that you'll get more performance out of your slalom gear when you do (I've got one you can try if you want, but its "big boy size")

Nicks right too the tide can be a mofo sometimes and really wreck's the uphill performance on some tacks, especially when your heading back to the beach from the bank and trying to stay as high as possible

That's how I sail asymetriic

Bought it in Geraldton 20 yrs ago for $150
Love that board apart from carrying it back car after a sail