Waterstart

A windsurfer performing a waterstart
A windsurfing sailor has just flown the rig and is now steering the board towards an optimum direction

Waterstart is a key windsurfing maneuver for recovering after a fall and getting back into the sailing position by using wind. It is a more efficient method, but requires the presence of adequate amounts of wind to perform. Variations of waterstarting include the clew-first waterstart and the light wind waterstart.

Overview

During a waterstart, a sailor clears the sail of water and powers it up in the wind. The powered sail then pulls the sailor out of the water enough so they could step up and onto the board.[1]

Waterstarting is faster and less tiring compared to climbing back on the board and positioning back into sailing position, but requires enough wind (about 14 knots or more, depending on the skills, weight and agility of the surfer) to perform.[2] Waterstarting requires flying the sail and getting the mast to be as vertical as possible, which enables one to pull themselves up "under the boom."[3]

Mastering this technique is an imperative in sailing conditions where high wind and swell make uphauling the sail tiring or impossible;[4] or for sailing smaller boards.[2]

Variations

Clew-first waterstart

Waterstarting clew-first, note that the mast hand is closer to the tail of the board

A clew-first waterstart is a variation used to start in the opposite direction from the one the board is initially pointing. It is very similar to a standard waterstart. The main difference is that once the sail is flying, the board is on the mast side of the sailor and points a bit further downwind, on a broad reach. The sail is flipped once the sailor is up and on the board.[5]

Light wind waterstart

Waterstarting in light wind is also possible, but is more difficult to perform, and may even require a different technique such as controlling the rig by foot of the sail and lower part of the mast.[4] As such, it is considered to be an expert-level skill. Experts can waterstart in winds as light as 7-10kt.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Baker, Nik; Moreno, Daida Ruano. The Ultimate Guide to Windsurfing. New York: Lyons Press. pp. 40–41. ISBN 9781585743056.
  2. 1 2 Carter, Amy (2 July 2014). "Waterstart". Boards Magazine. flowatersports. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  3. 1 2 Hart, Peter (November 30, 2014). Windsurfing. New York: Crowood Press. pp. pt171–173. ISBN 9781847979636.
  4. 1 2 Conway, John; O'Shea, Farrel (July 1, 1989). Advanced Windsurfing. Adventure Sports (Paperback). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. pp. 28–31. ISBN 0811723038. ISBN 978-0811723039.
  5. ↑ Bartholdi, Royn. "Clew 1st Water Start" (Video). Wind Surfing Tutorials. Retrieved 9 January 2016.

Further reading

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