Proficient windsurfing comes from balancing the forces of the wind power in your hands against the fin power under your board.  You are the rigging in this connection of forces, so getting comfortable in the harness is a key step towards increasing your control and reacting more efficiently.

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In windsurfing, the faster you go, the more force you create, the more force you create, the more the rig components flex and move. This can be a deteriorating cycle of reactions and can greatly affect the performance and handling.  For the best rig response and handling it really pays to be attentive to connection and fit of your rig components when assembling them.  For peak performance, try to get as much play and connection flex out of your set-up. These are some of the key component fit points to pay attention to:  boom to mast connection; boom extension length; mast extension height and fit; batten tension; clew gap at the boom end; footstrap tension; universal connections; and fin fit.  Most of these flex points are not performance breakers in their individual effect, however, addressed collectively, the group of them represents the best way to sharpen rig performance, without upgrading any of the components.  Here’s a quick run through them and why getting the fit right is important to overall performance.

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Guest post by Ellen Wylde

I wasn’t sure I was going to do this race, having suffered an ignominious result, as in DNF, in the last long-distance event I did the Gorge Junior Blow-Out last July. I went along on the Blow-Out with the delusional idea that I would be the chaperone to my 12 year old daughter, Fiona, who was doing the race for the first time.  I ran out of wind and crawled out of the river while Fiona went on to finish admirably.

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Its easy to get powered up just by carrying a bigger sail, but control issues begin to develop when you have excess power.  There's a powerful rig handling technique I use when I'm lit up that's based around leading your sail control with your front hand. 

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