I've been windsurfing for a couple of years now, and about 18 months ago moved to a 107L JP FSW. It's been a great board, and I use 3 different fins with it (25, 31, 38) and sail anything from a 4.7-6.6 sail on it.
This has meant I've ended up playing around quite a bit with the setup - the mastfoot, straps, and boom height - and the differences they make.
BUT, I've been struggling with upwind sailing, particularly in Port Phillip Bay where we get pretty big chop. I've found I'm spending the majority of my time on the water concentrating on pointing upwind as high as possible, to make sure I avoid the walk of shame. It's rare for me to find myself making plenty of ground upwind.
I've read so many articles about the topic - roll over the front foot, push off the back foot towards the front of the board, lean forward of the mast to maintain mfp, etc - but I reckon there's something fundamental I'm doing wrong. It just shouldn't be this much hard work!
You know how there are moments in windsurfing where you just get stuck on something, and it's not working, and you don't even realise what you're doing wrong? I remember feeling like this about waterstarting, until I saw Guy Cribb's gybing video showing how you place your heel on the middle of the board and "moon walk" it towards you to get the board pointing downwind. Waterstarting is the most natural thing in the world for me now!
I'm hoping that I can find something like that for my upwind sailing. So, if any of you have had a similar experience, and have "cracked" sailing upwind, let me in on the secret! What was it that cracked it for you?
And, does anyone have any suggestions on board/sail/boom setup? For instance, I used to use larger fins but I now generally use smaller ones for the same conditions, because I'm finding that maintaining board speed seems to be more critical than the ability to push really hard off a big fin, especially in heavy chop. But with the boom, I would've thought higher was better, but I'm finding the reverse to be the case. The same with mast position - further back seems to make sailing upwind a little easier, although this may be because I'm in more overpowered conditions.
Help! I'm confused!
Tristan
38 is a big fin for a 6.6, you want big but it is pointless trying to "rail" a fsw board. So fin big enough that you can push on it but have control and not get your ankles rolled.
Going upwind is easier if you have the power to drive you, especially when in chop so try either bigger sail/less downhaul or outhaul.
Going upwind on waveboard I tend to place back foot forward of strap to get upwind a little easier.
Boom use what you are comfortable with, but shorten lines if you have adjustable. Techniquie wise drive off a straightish front leg and try to get your head level with the mastfoot.
So in short use gear when you are well powered up and you shouldn't notice much problem, but not too big where you have control problems or it skips the board around- nice even power. FSW boards can naturally be a bit of a pain upwind, you do have to perservere for a bit. Just remember the basic rules too- when not on the plane point upwind, only bear off if you know you have enough power to get on the plane etc.
Well going smaller in fins certainly won't help your upwind ability!!!!
I was having a bit of trouble getting upwind last time I was out. Had my harness lines too far back, causing me to over sheet, moved them back a centimetre or so and it all came good.
But if you have them too far forward, it can cause excess back foot pressure causing you to spin out, especially if you're using an undersized fin.
on pointing up wind I have found a couple of things made a big difference for me, outhaul being the most profound. A bit more outhaul for upwind than off the wind helps a lot, so a bit bigger sail with the correct downhaul and a bit more outhaul and wooooo hoooooo off we go. Bit less out haul for getting going in light wind then haul it on if you have adjustable outhaul.
Stance is the next one, for me it was chin on shoulder a look up wind and up I go.
Hope this helps a bit, it did for me.
I've been out of windsurfing for more than a couple years now. The gear has got better but I am sure the techniques are still the same.
However the reason I am here is because I am looking to get back into it.
Sounds like you might be missing something basic but sometimes the basics are not spoken about and you may know it already.
As you have read already lean forward with pressure on the back foot but the secret is to keep the board flat. When I first started riding short boards (yep I started on long boards) I tended to rail the board. This tends to be slow as you displace a lot of water. Keep the board flat by pointing your toes (rather than digging you heels in), let the board glide over the surface with all the side pressure on the fin. Flat is fast!
Once your up and planing don't maintain the same course you got planing on. Steer up into the wind. High and slow, low and fast. It's a matter of finding the best compromise between point and speed. You need to stay fast enough to "ride the fin" and let it lift you upwind.
Mast position rearward makes the board looser for gybes but for staying up wind push it forward a bit more and make sure you hang your weight off the rig and unload the board.
Hope this helps.
could it be the board? all the things taught to you are still fine but no matter what if it's a freeride board with not so boxy rails like a slalom one then you're downwind 30% more or less than previous unless really powered up..just my opinion
Alot of boards with sharper rails you roll it onto the leeward rail which engages the rail edge to help the board track upwind. Some boards do this, some prefer to stay flat and ride off the fin.
Sinking the windward rail will not help you upwind, you must keep the board flat with slight bias to the leeward rail.
And yes going fast helps you point, point high- dip off wind slightly to regain speed and repeat.
definately sink the windward rail slightly (carve) when going to windward. don't over do it though.
freestyle boards and wave boards have soft rails.
slalom etc boards you can keep flat or rail to windward as they have sharp rails.
Apparently you are correct Gestie->
www.guycribb.com/userfiles/documents/cranking%20upwind.pdf
Stupid sport, wish they would make up their minds the correct way to do things 
I tended to sink windward rail when not planing and fin has little flow/lift, but convention was when planing you are putting force from fin etc in wrong direction if you sink windward rail.
I tended to sink windward rail when not planing and fin has little flow/lift, but convention was when planing you are putting force from fin etc in wrong direction if you sink windward rail.
Sailing up wind.If you really want to sail fast up wind.Try the hypersonic 105.
The dynamics of this board design has this quality.
i think heal pointing under is a reference to turning your back foot so the heel is pointing more towards the nose of the board. this works really well for going upwind.
with wave gear i just straighten my front leg more than if on slalom kit. that puts a little more pressure on the rail of the board.
other thing for sailing upwind is using long harness lines. that helps the rig stay upright.
as for fin size i am not so sure that makes as big a difference as most people think. sure a bigger fin makes it easier to go upwind but all of the wave guys and freestyle guys use tiny fins and go upwind without problems. wave and freestyle gear have a single rear strap. as you are not ut on the rail you don't need to carry as big a fin. also the stance is more upright.
i think rail shape and rocker are more of an influence on how the board should be sailed.
Used to have the same problem on a 103l, where I spent 90 percent of my time slogging just on the plane, all for a few screaming broad reaches.
Back foot out of strap certainly helped me, but also lead to some spectacular catapaults in chop. How long are your runs?
I'm not trying to insult your skill level but the single Biggest breakthrough for me was learning to sacrifice a bit of ground to build up some real speed. Was so fixed on making headway I never got fast enough to go upwind properly, instead I was pointing upwind as soon as I was planing. Knew about apparent wind but knowing the theory and using it are different when you're worried about walking home. Felt pretty stupid when I finally got it to work. Get FAST and comfortable and you can gradually point upwind much more effectively.
Anyway, worked for me, and makes for a much more enjoyable sail.
Alright!
Today I went out in the Bay in 30kts with a 5.3 on a 87L Fanatic Goya FSW with a 23cm wave fin.
Completely and utterly overpowered, but I focused on keeping up speed and the board flat, and turned upwind more to keep in control than to avoid the walk of shame. Despite not being able to complete a single gybe, and losing ground as I got pummeled waterstarting in the heavy swell, I managed to sail back to the same point and even gain some ground on one run.
So I think the big lesson for me has been to not worry about cranking so much upwind, and focus on board speed first.
Thanks for the advice.
but once again i haven't tried a true wave board anyways
but the profile on these equipment were made to move quicker and not meant for straight line speed..by the way do you sail by any chance with Disruptive
Been so long since i've had a sail when i can get on the plane I've forgotten what it feels like..but i feel like i spend all my time trying to stay upwind while everyone else flies past on a reach..
and if you can master it you will be the ones flying past others wallowing.
