Can't get in the reaching straps

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Linda
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Joined: 03/16/2002 - 08:58
Posts: 107
Can't get in the reaching straps

I'm sailing a Superlight II and an old Equipe. I can hook into the harness but am unable to get in the reaching straps in spite of studying an article by Tinho on how to do it. Would appreciate some advice.
Linda

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webguy
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Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
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Re: Can't get in the reaching straps

?s:
Sail size?

Wind speed?

Mast track position?

Daggerboard down/up?

Are you planing when you are trying this?

I presume we are talking about the straps at the back of the board, not to the side/forward (the beating straps)

wf

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Randy
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Joined: 05/05/2002 - 10:38
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Re: Can't get in the reaching straps

If you find out let me know.  I sailed mine for six years w/o managing to get into those back straps.  ??? I generally did not have much trouble getting into the straps on shorter boards (Techno, Maxx, Seatrend, and Start).  :)

Randy

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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Linda
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Posts: 107
Re: Can't get in the reaching straps

wf,
I think I have my terms mixed up. I'm talking about the side straps that are angled.
Planing with a 5.0, daggerboard up, wind speed l2mph and gusting, mast track not fully back.
I think maybe I have the harness straps too far forward and am not sheeting in with shoulder rotation. I'm trying to hang down on the booms.
Randy, this is the Superlight I bought from you. But lately I've been using the old Equipe, and I do mean old. It has side straps that are parallel to the daggerboard track and not angled. When I get in them (they are easily reachable), the board doesn't feel right. There are two more sets further back that are angled, but I can't reach them so far.
Linda

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webguy
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Re: Can't get in the reaching straps

You may not ever be able to back to those straps (the ones farther back on the board) with a small sail!  When I had a lonboard a few years ago, I remember that there was just too much distance between the mast track and the rear straps to be able to sail comfortably at all.  A small sail (like a 5.0) will just make it that much harder.  Now with a larger sail (like a 7.5 or bigger), where you are dealing with a longer boom and harness lines that are farther back on the boom, you may be more comfortable getting to those rear straps.  But if you are planing on 5.0 sail, or even a 6.5, you will have an easier time getting into the straps on a shorter board.

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webguy
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Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
Posts: 13783
Re: Can't get in the reaching straps

wf,
I think I have my terms mixed up. I'm talking about the side straps that are angled.
Planing with a 5.0, daggerboard up, wind speed l2mph and gusting, mast track not fully back.
I think maybe I have the harness straps too far forward and am not sheeting in with shoulder rotation. I'm trying to hang down on the booms.
Randy, this is the Superlight I bought from you. But lately I've been using the old Equipe, and I do mean old. It has side straps that are parallel to the daggerboard track and not angled. When I get in them (they are easily reachable), the board doesn't feel right. There are two more sets further back that are angled, but I can't reach them so far.
Linda

The old Equipe and Superlight II have straps that look like

 |       |   - forward beating strap  
 |       |   -  back beating strap    
                                                       
 \       /   - forward reaching strap

     ||     - back reaching strap  

some superlight IIs have just one long beating strap instead of two short ones.

You use the beating straps when sailing close to the wind (upwind)  to oppose the lifting force of the daggerboard when powered up (say, typical windsurfer using 7.5 in 12+ mph)  They also help  you control the angle of the board when railing (sailing with the leeward rail buried) so that the whole leeward rail acts as a daggerboard, too, which helps longboards point well up into the wind.  The only time you really use them is going upwind in a decent amount of wind.  As soon as you bear off the wind, you'll be using the back straps if there's enough wind to plane.

The  back set of straps, the reaching straps, are used when planing- you must be planing before you get into them or you will sink the tail and round the board up into the wind (okay, if way powered up, you can actually sneak into the straps before you are planing but just for a moment).  When planing on a longboard, you need to a) pull the mast track all the way back (heavier folks, maybe a couple of inches from the back) and b) make sure the daggerboard is all the way up.  Just work on getting the front foot in at first, placing the back foot just aft and inboard of the front reaching strap.  Avoid the temptation of putting all your weight on your heels- push across the board with your toes and keep the board flat.  It'll plane faster and decrease the board's tendency of rounding into the wind.

Make sure the harness lines are balanced, even pull on both hands, and not too far apart.  Your old Equipe will go like a bat in 12-15 mph but you may want a bit more sail.  It's a fun board to sail in wind.  

good luck

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ChrisP
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Joined: 03/27/2002 - 05:43
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Re: Can't get in the reaching straps

The last post was good - In addition, though, try hanging forward in your harness, like you're trying to look around the front of the mast - this could help avoid the tendency to weight the back of the board, which can kill speed and cause rounding up.

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Randy
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Re: Can't get in the reaching straps

I'll throw my .02 in.

First, to avoid some confusion, the Superlight 2 she is talking about had some custom "training" straps which I had Eddie Broduer install.  Perhaps they feel strange becuase they are not in the textbook position.  Maybe they do no good at all.  I don't know.  Seemed like a good idea at the time.

Second,  I suspect a big part of my lack of success with the straps on very longboards was due to sailing underpowered.  One of the nice things about a longboard is that you can get planing underpowered by moving the track to the middle.  One of the things I didn't like was when I moved the track near the back was it took more wind to get planing (or a bigger sail.) Even better was to sail with the track forward and cb down, railing the board.  This allows you to go very fast in light winds (say 7-10), esp. if you DON'T try to point very high upwind.  By keeping as close to a beam reach as possible, you can sail fast on the Suprlight 2.  The beating straps can be used, but are not that important.  

Third, you can spend a very large amount of time working on getting into the straps with the wrong gear and/or w/o instruction.  I have proven this.  If you are getting planing, then shorter and (even more important) wider boards make it much easier to get into the straps.  Probably with good instruction (such as one of Tinho's clinics) being able to do so on a longboard would not be so difficult.  While you can read articles or get advice, the main advantage of getting instruction is that the instructor can see what you are doing wrong.  You cannot see yourself, and people who reply on the web probably can't see you either, though they may have very good advice to offer.

Finally, changing gear is often a not the best solution to any problem.  However, in this case changing gear could be very beneficial.  I was able to get into the straps on my HiFly Maxx (165 l) back in 99, and other boards since.  Since getting my Start in November, I am now always in the footstraps.  In fact, it is very hard to sail a short/wide board like the Start or Techno w/o getting into the straps.  Last time I tried to do so on my Equipe 2, it still wasn't interested.    Anybody interested in a used Equipe 2?

Randy

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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Linda
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Joined: 03/16/2002 - 08:58
Posts: 107
Re: Can't get in the reaching straps

Randy, I definitely am glad I can't see myself as I know I would fall over laughing. Oh, and the straps that I can reach, but feel funny, are on the old Equipe. I haven't reached your custom made straps yet.
I'm bowled over by all the wonderful hints ya'll have provided. I think it will be a big help and intend to try them out. Thanks everybody, see you on the water.
Linda

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