Advice needed

Hi everybody. I am new to this group, and just took up windsurfing again
after 20 years off. Bought a new shortboard (Go/Starboard) which is a brand
new experience, compared to the longboards I sailed 15-20 years ago. Have
been out in 12-13 m/s already and had it planing, what a kick !
But: It is obviously quite another technique on this short boards, than what
I was used to on the long boards, and now I am looking for some reading of
"basic knowledge" for these kind of boards.
Question:
Does any of you have any recommendations on books, web-tutorials etc that I
could read ?
My main problem (among many) is that when I start planing and the speed
increases, the board turns downwind, and I have great troubles keeping it
upwind, no matter how far backwards I pull the boom/sail. I live in Norway,
and I am looking forward to be able to sail in heavy winds in Norwegian
winters, you see ! :)
I know I only learn by experience, but some reading would probably come in
handy also.
Thanks in advance,
Brynjulf, Norway

Brynjulf,

Can you tack the board? I am trying to figure out whether you mean you
can't get the board to point like you are used to on a longboard (it won't
even come close) Or you can't make the board turn into the wind.

Jack (Sarasota)

"Brynjulf Barexstein" <brex@online.no> wrote in message
news:0Y_2d.7864$WW4.120906@news4.e.nsc.no...
> Hi everybody. I am new to this group, and just took up windsurfing again
> after 20 years off. Bought a new shortboard (Go/Starboard) which is a
brand
> new experience, compared to the longboards I sailed 15-20 years ago. Have
> been out in 12-13 m/s already and had it planing, what a kick !
> But: It is obviously quite another technique on this short boards, than
what
> I was used to on the long boards, and now I am looking for some reading of
> "basic knowledge" for these kind of boards.
> Question:
> Does any of you have any recommendations on books, web-tutorials etc that
I
> could read ?
> My main problem (among many) is that when I start planing and the speed
> increases, the board turns downwind, and I have great troubles keeping it
> upwind, no matter how far backwards I pull the boom/sail. I live in
Norway,
> and I am looking forward to be able to sail in heavy winds in Norwegian
> winters, you see ! :)
> I know I only learn by experience, but some reading would probably come in
> handy also.
> Thanks in advance,
> Brynjulf, Norway
>
>

Brynjulf
Welcome back!
Try searches just in this newsgroup for different topics, like
"waterstarts" and "jibing" or "gybing". There is a TON of information
already out there.

Heading off downwind sounds like you might not be foot steering once
you are planing, perhaps compounded by oversheeting and stalling the
sail. Try keeping your eyes up on where you want to go (just above a
beam reach for now)and if the board starts to hare off downwind, sink
the windward rail some and EASE OFF on the back hand for a few
seconds. You should notice a big difference. Are you in both
footstraps and really planing fast? - I know it took me a long time to
adjust to the speed of slalom boards after too many years on One
Designs, and I was always out of balance with the forces. Make sure
your harness lines are close together, quite short and balanced so you
can take your hands off the boom for a second or two without the sail
violently shifting. If they are too far forward or back on the booms,
it can cause all kinds of problems, including steering problems.
Morley
"Brynjulf Barexstein" <brex@online.no> wrote in message news:<0Y_2d.7864$WW4.120906@news4.e.nsc.no>...
> Hi everybody. I am new to this group, and just took up windsurfing again
> after 20 years off. Bought a new shortboard (Go/Starboard) which is a brand
> new experience, compared to the longboards I sailed 15-20 years ago. Have
> been out in 12-13 m/s already and had it planing, what a kick !
> But: It is obviously quite another technique on this short boards, than what
> I was used to on the long boards, and now I am looking for some reading of
> "basic knowledge" for these kind of boards.
> Question:
> Does any of you have any recommendations on books, web-tutorials etc that I
> could read ?
> My main problem (among many) is that when I start planing and the speed
> increases, the board turns downwind, and I have great troubles keeping it
> upwind, no matter how far backwards I pull the boom/sail. I live in Norway,
> and I am looking forward to be able to sail in heavy winds in Norwegian
> winters, you see ! :)
> I know I only learn by experience, but some reading would probably come in
> handy also.
> Thanks in advance,
> Brynjulf, Norway

Hi, and thanks for your answer. Yes, I can tack the board. The problem is
that I cannot get the board to point like I was used to on a longboard, no
matter how much I try, AND (main problem) above all, when I really start
racing and planing, this problem increases, the wind seems to force the
board dowwind like a wild horse, while try to fight it upwind. Does not seem
to help to pull the boom and mast towards the aft, I have been used to would
help !?
Perhaps I should use my footstraps more actively ?
Brynjulf

> Can you tack the board? I am trying to figure out whether you mean you
> can't get the board to point like you are used to on a longboard (it won't
> even come close) Or you can't make the board turn into the wind.
>
> Jack (Sarasota)
>
> "Brynjulf Barexstein" <brex@online.no> wrote in message
> news:0Y_2d.7864$WW4.120906@news4.e.nsc.no...
> > Hi everybody. I am new to this group, and just took up windsurfing again
> > after 20 years off. Bought a new shortboard (Go/Starboard) which is a
> brand
> > new experience, compared to the longboards I sailed 15-20 years ago.
Have
> > been out in 12-13 m/s already and had it planing, what a kick !
> > But: It is obviously quite another technique on this short boards, than
> what
> > I was used to on the long boards, and now I am looking for some reading
of
> > "basic knowledge" for these kind of boards.
> > Question:
> > Does any of you have any recommendations on books, web-tutorials etc
that
> I
> > could read ?
> > My main problem (among many) is that when I start planing and the speed
> > increases, the board turns downwind, and I have great troubles keeping
it
> > upwind, no matter how far backwards I pull the boom/sail. I live in
> Norway,
> > and I am looking forward to be able to sail in heavy winds in Norwegian
> > winters, you see ! :)
> > I know I only learn by experience, but some reading would probably come
in
> > handy also.
> > Thanks in advance,
> > Brynjulf, Norway
> >
> >
>
>