TIPS FOR POINTING-REPORTED BY BILL CONNETT
Bill has attended a couple of clinics, and he wrote up this little
summary of the approach he learned for sailing upwind:
1. Feet -- heels together and heels on the centerline (toes on leeward
side of board so board slopes down away from you -- provides a lot of
waterline to keep the board from sideslipping.
2. Hands only a thumb's width apart and balanced against the pull on the
boom. I'm always having trouble with this as the sail pulls very hard
when you have your hands far enough back. When I think I have it right
I generally need to move my hands back another six inches or more.
3. Dagger board down.
4. Eyes forward.
5. Bring the mast across the board, sit back to sheet in.
5a. Elbows in and hang your weight from the boom- should be able to
lift either foot from the deck
6. Rake the sail back.
7. As you pick up speed you can begin moving back on the board.
8. As speed increases the lift on the daggerboard will cause the
board to rail up further. When you are starting to slip off the
board to the leeward side then you should be in the straps and
harness.
9. Get in harness without flattening out the board (tricky)and into
the straps also without flattening out the board. It is not possible
to do this unless your weight is hanging from the boom.
10. At this point one or both feet are in the straps and your feet are
riding the side curve of the board like having them sit cupped over a
basketball
but with your weight hanging from the boom not on your feet.
11. Your sail should be raked way back so your body is leaning forward
and your arms are pointing toward the back of the board probably with
your front hand turned under for comfort and you are flying like a
screaming banshee.
Something like that -- sounds easy in print. I have done this and have
indeed flown upwind like a rocket ship. I also know from experience
that if you put your weight on the board so that it comes off its side
and flattens out it will surge to a halt like a sack of cement.
-- Bill